Technology for OEM Design Engineers April 3, 2007 — Volume 3, Issue 13
Wave Spring 3D Models CAD models of Smalley Wave Springs are downloadable at application specific heights. Enter any height between the spring solid and free height in over 60 native and natural CAD formats. Wave springs can reduce spring height by up to 50% with the same force and deflection as coil springs. All Springs Are Not Equal®.
Visit Smalley online.
Close-to-production prototyping: Flexible and cost-efficient
Increasing competitive and financial pressure is forcing the automotive electronics business area to radically reduce development times and costs. Selecting suitable development tools plays a major role in this, alongside clearly defined specifications and modern development methods such as rapid control prototyping. Where the focus is on production code generation as early as the prototyping phase, close-to-production prototyping platforms like the RapidPro from dSPACE combine the main features of production electronic control units (ECUs) and high-end prototyping systems to form a process-integrated and cost-efficient solution. Read the full article
MicroMo announces a Precision Powerhouse DC Motor. The 2232 SR has Precious Metal Commutation, Voltages of 6 to 24, Continuous Speed of 8,000 rpm and Continuous Torque of 10 mNm (1.41 oz-in). Very high power to volume ratio with over 9 Watts mechanical output power. For more info visit MicroMo.
Two-brand strategy spells success for Dow Corning
It was called disruptive. It was called risky. It could even have been called the result of a mid-life crisis. But five years after Dow Corning reinvented itself with a two-brand strategy that included the launch of its online business Xiameter, the bottom line is called success. By changing the way it approached business — putting customer needs first by offering a choice in how to purchase materials and solutions — Dow Corning has experienced double-digit sales growth every year since 2002, with a record sales growth of 13% in 2006. Read the full article
Super sharp engineering prevents table saw injuries
Table saws are involved in more than 60,000 accidents every year — or one accident every nine minutes — according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Lifelong woodworker Steve Gass applied his doctorate in physics to design the SawStop saw, a table-top unit equipped with a safety system that detects when someone accidentally contacts the spinning saw blade — and then stops the blade in milliseconds. COSMOSXpress and COSMOSWorks Designer analysis software played key roles in formulating Gass' impressive design. Read the full article
Electric Replacement for Hydraulics! Exlar's electric linear actuators deliver the force of hydraulics and the speed of pneumatics. The patented roller screw technology offers peak forces in excess of 40,000 lbf., speeds to 60 in/sec, and stroke lengths to 96 inches, all with the ease and reliability of servo control. Visit Exlar online for more information.
Anti-reflection coating touted as true optical breakthrough
A team of researchers from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has created the world's first material that reflects virtually no light. Reporting in the March issue of Nature Photonics, they describe an optical coating made from a material that enables vastly improved control over the basic properties of light. The research could open the door to much brighter LEDs, more efficient solar cells, and a new class of
"smart" light sources that adjust to specific environments. Read the full article
Wheels: Lane changing gets ready to rumble in BMW's new 5-Series
Are consumers willing to wrestle haptic-happy steering wheels? We’ll soon find out. BMW's global launch of its new 5-Series includes an optional advanced driver-assistance feature: the Lane Departure Warning (LDW) system. The LDW system warns of potential lane departures through simulated
"rumble strip" vibrations in the steering wheel. The system consists of a high-dynamic-range digital CMOS camera and a high-performance electronic control unit with advanced algorithm technology for video-based lane-marking recognition. Read the full article
New Products
Let The Countdown
Begin. Throughout the month of April we count down the Most Requested and
most popular new products. Be sure to check in every week.
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