 |
|
What the heck is a hexa-kaleidocycle? It's Protogami, a 3-dimensional folding object that showcases the interaction of materials and surface finishes -- an interactive design aid from Proto Labs. Broaden your knowledge of surface finishes, materials and design techniques by requesting one today. You'll learn, you'll be endlessly amused, and you just might be inspired to come up with the next big thing.
To get your no cost Protogami design aid, click here.
|
In this issue of Designfax |
News |
Cover Image: Nelson Publishing
|
Chinese scientists produce world's lightest material Boeing 747 jet engine-based gas turbines power world's fastest ship New system uses low-power Wi-Fi signal to track moving humans -- even behind walls Better than aluminum: Researchers tap plastics for radiation shielding in space |
|
Rogan's Liquid Silicone Rubber Molding Capabilities In business since 1934, Rogan Corporation is a leader in the injection molding industry, producing thermoplastic and LSR (Liquid Silicone Rubber) components and assemblies. Manufacturing LSR components is a rapidly growing segment of the business. Rogan is one of a few select manufacturers that offer Bondable LSR overmolding. This process involves the injection molding of a bondable-grade silicone directly onto plastic or metal parts, creating a single integrated component. LSR's heat, chemical, shock, and vibration resistance along with its sound-dampening characteristics have made it an ideal fit for integral seals and gaskets, waterproofing complex geometries and electronic interconnects, integral membranes, diaphragms, valves, and switch covers. (Photo showcases .008" thick fins bonded to a plastic tube.)
CLICK HERE to learn more about Rogan's Liquid Silicone Rubber Molding capabilities and Class 100,000 Clean Room.
CLICK HERE for an overview of Rogan's comprehensive injection molding capabilities.
|
| Featured Articles |
 |
When 3D printing's not enough: Proto Labs' short-run production scales up modular mini-robot manufacturing The Mobot is a dimpled cube with one rounded face, rotating hubs on two of the other faces, and nary an arm or leg in sight. But don't let its unassuming and simple design fool you. Mobot units can be hooked together to create all kinds of larger bots with clever functions. When 3D printing proved to be a painfully slow process with no economies of scale for the Mobot's creators, they turned to Proto Labs for short-run production.
|
 |
Mechatronics: Spherical vehicle with balancing drive module A cool mechatronics demonstrator featuring GIGATRONIK electronics and FAULHABER motors balances autonomously on a hollow mobile ball.
|
 |
3D-printed batteries could lead to tiny medical implants, electronics, robots, more 3D printing now can be used to print lithium-ion microbatteries the size of a grain of sand. The printed microbatteries could supply electricity to tiny devices in fields from medicine to communications.
|
 |
Wheels: Ford develops totally new sheet metal 3D forming process How do you stamp out prototype sheet metal parts without "stamping" them in a single blow -- and without a die to boot? No, it's not a Zen riddle. It's a question that Ford engineers have been working on for a while, and now they think they have the answer.
|
 |
Mike Likes: Smalley Steel Ring Company launches new Linear Spring Series Catch the wave ... the linear spring wave, that is. Smalley Steel Ring Company has just announced its new Linear Spring Series, offering a selection of spring loads that react along a straight line, as opposed to a conventional spring that fits in a circular cavity.
|
 |
Engineer's Toolbox: Selecting and sizing ball screw drives Ball screw drives typically provide mechanical efficiency of greater than 90 percent, so their higher initial cost is often offset by reduced power requirements. Jeff Johnson, product engineer at Thomson Industries, gives an in-depth description of ball screw technology, important ball screw specifications and applications, and a lengthy and technical selection and sizing example.
|
 |
Readers tell us: Why I love my car What engineer doesn't like to talk about cars? Now it's your turn to tell us why you love yours -- and the engineering behind it. Email a paragraph or two and maybe even a pic, and we'll post your story in an upcoming issue of Designfax. John from Lincoln Electric never forgot his first car, a used blue Camaro he got when he was 16 ...
|
 |
Product Spotlight: Precise T-bar controllers have a multitude of applications The SN series precision T-Bar fader controller from APEM features contactless Hall-effect technology that provides reliable, noise-free operation and absolute positioning, which makes the controllers ideal for music studio equipment, video and image editing systems, lighting panel equipment, and sound and broadcast panels. Magnetic shielding protects the SN series from outside interference to ensure the controllers are not affected by other devices, and precision ball race bearings and PTFE guides provide a consistent smooth feel. Plus, the "barrel" and "bullet" aluminum handle options look really cool.
|
 |
Product Spotlight: Viking pneumatic valves go Xtreme Parker Hannifin has expanded its line of Viking Xtreme Valve Series solenoid and remote pilot valves with a 3-way, 2-position option to provide a wider range of applications from general industrial to rugged environments. The Xtreme Series has passed 5-g shock in vibration tests and was specifically designed for harsh applications in transportation, lumber, oil and gas industries, mining, and more. It features stainless steel armatures and a remote air-piloted valve, and it works in temperatures ranging -40 deg F to 140 deg F and pressures ranging from vacuum to 232 PSIG.
|
 |
Product Spotlight: New high-load hexapod production and test facility PI (Physik Instrumente) recently added a new building with more production floors, metrology labs, and R&D office space to its factory in Karlsruhe, Germany. Close to 4,500 sq ft are dedicated for the manufacture and test of heavy-duty 6-axis motion systems capable of moving loads up to 5 tons with sub-micrometer precision. A giant lift and rotation platform is used to spin the 6-axis positioner with its load by 360 degrees to verify performance under the exact mounting conditions of the customer's site. Neat fact: Fifty of PI's hexapods align reflectors in the ALMA (Atacama Large Millimeter Array) observatory, the world's most advanced telescope located in Chile. Click here to learn more about PI's hexapods.
|
 |
Product Spotlight: First blow-moldable thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV) introduced A newly developed extrusion blow moldable Viprene thermoplastic vulcanite (TPV) grade 1748 is now available from Alliance Polymers and Services (APS). The material can be press blow molded, suction blow molded, or 3D sequential coextruded, which offers new opportunities for designers and manufacturers to economically mold automotive, aircraft, and other vehicle parts for applications including hollow boots, bellows, and ducts. This material is a comparable alternative to competitive, higher-priced TPVs and can be substituted for more costly parts made of silicone or ethylene-acrylic rubber. Click here to go to the APS site.
|
| Most Popular |
 |
ISSUE 26: Most Popular Stories And More | Part 2 If you missed Part 2 of our midyear most-popular stories roundup, check your inbox or you can view it here. Go to the Designfax midyear Most Popular Stories 2013 Part 2 issue.
|
 |
ISSUE 25: Most Popular Stories And More | Part 1 If you missed Part 1 of our midyear most-popular stories roundup, check your inbox or you can view it here. Go to the Designfax midyear Most Popular Stories 2013 Part 1 issue.
|
| Videos+: Technologies and inspiration in action |
| Save time and money on large-scale, high-value parts and prototypes with Sciaky's Direct Manufacturing | |
| Sciaky's Direct Manufacturing (DM) is the only large-scale, fully programmable means of achieving near-net shape parts via additive manufacturing made of titanium, tantalum, inconel, stainless steel, and other high-value metals. Starting with a 3D model from a CAD program, Sciaky's fully articulated, moving electron beam welding gun deposits metal, layer by layer, until the part is complete and ready for finish machining. Deposition rates typically range from 7 to 20 lb/hr, depending upon part geometry and the material selected. Sciaky's DM has a standard build envelope of 19 x 4 x 4 ft, allowing manufacturers to produce very large parts and structures with virtually no waste. This is cool to see in action.
|
| New products |
| Electrical/Electronics | Mechanical | Motion |
| View Products... | View Products... | View Products... |
| For advertising opportunities contact: John Holmes jholmes@nelsonpub.com Dan Beck danbeck58@gmail.com (518) 852-9624 |
Questions or comments about the eMagazine or articles? Contact us at: Designfax www.designfax.net |
| Subscribe to Designfax Newsletter |
|
Nelson Publishing, LLC | ww2.designfax.net PO Box 424, Alto, MI 49302 Phone: 941-539-7579 webmaster@ww2.designfax.net |