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The aliens have landed. Lock 'em up. It looks "alien," but it's the ultimate in box-security fasteners. In fact, the Alien Lock from Micro Plastics is the first and only dedicated box fastener. It is a much less expensive solution than banding or taping your boxes, and it keeps them more secure, too. It's easy and fast to insert, and it's incredibly strong. It cannot be pulled out without it being obvious that the box was tampered with -- it must be cut off. This is a 1-step fastener: Push Alien Lock through the lock port, and the locking process is finished.
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In this issue of Designfax |
News |
Cover Image: Nelson Publishing
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Engineered ‘sand' may help cool electronic devices Singapore scientists testing strong and durable bendable concrete Uber is unleashing self-driving cars on Pittsburgh. What do you think? |
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FREE ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING SEMINAR NEAR YOU FROM 3D SYSTEMS From prototype to production, find the right technology for your parts with 3D Systems On Demand Manufacturing, Quickparts. Additive Manufacturing enables the rapid production of complex geometries and forms that were previously deemed impossible. As such, it opens up a new world in design and manufacturing with parameters that are only just beginning to be explored. RSVP now to secure your seat in the upcoming seminar near you.
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| Featured Articles |
| Design Tips: Industrial 3D printing for production parts | |
 Gus Breiland, Customer Service Engineering Manager, Proto Labs, says that it is important to focus on the process, material selection, and part geometry when designing functional metal and thermoplastic parts for additive manufacturing. This is especially true when volumes are low enough that casting and molding are not cost effective, or where part complexity prohibits processes like machining.
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A look at the sensor solutions that are critical for drones In today's fast-growing drone market segment, sensor technologies are often the unheralded secret sauce inside. In this article, Chris Winkler, Senior Product Manager Emerging Markets, MEMSIC, discusses the current state of drones and the sensor technologies that empower them.
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Lube revolution: Ultra-durable, self-lubricating tribofilm discovered Tribologists at the Argonne National Laboratory have discovered a revolutionary diamond-like film that is generated -- and regenerated -- by engine oil reacting to a nano coating using the heat and pressure of an automotive engine. It could have profound implications for the efficiency and durability of future engines and other moving metal parts.
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15,000 Stock Metric Gears KHK USA Inc offers the largest selection of stock metric gears in North America. With over 175 types, in more than 15,000 configurations, KHK USA offers the broadest selection of spur gears, helical gears, internal ring gears, gear racks, bevel gears, worms and wormwheels, and other gear types.
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Wheels: Audi works on energy-harvesting active-damping suspension Audi is working on a suspension system that includes a prototype subsystem called "eROT" where electromechanical rotary dampers replace the hydraulic dampers used today for a more comfortable ride. The system can also convert the kinetic energy during compression and rebound into electricity.
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Mike Likes: Intel drone developer kit Pre-orders are open for the Intel Aero Platform for UAVs. Designed from the ground up to support drones, the $399 UAV developer kit is powered by an Intel Atom quad-core processor. It combines compute, storage, communications, and flexible I/O in a form factor the size of a standard playing card. When matched with the optional Vision Accessory Kit, developers can create sophisticated drone applications. Also available at the end of this year: Intel's Aero Ready To Fly drone, a fully assembled quadcopter with compute board and integrated depth and vision capabilities.
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Engineer's Toolbox: 3D printer achieves mind-blowing micron details Installation of a highly advanced 3D printer for electronics at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) has opened the door for creating miniature circuits on surfaces and substances that could never be used before.
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Great Resources: CNC Machining Material Selector! Proto Labs' free Material Selector is a quick reference guide to help you identify the right thermoplastic and metal materials for your next machining project. It lists specific measurements like tensile strength, heat deflection and hardness to ensure you have the most suitable material for your part's application, and even includes a detailed chart of threading options. Get a free Material Selector today!
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7 guidelines for cable installation For dynamic applications, the use of igus continuous-flex cables can increase service life and productivity dramatically when compared to traditional cables, which are prone to failures such as corkscrewing, shield/conductor breakage, or jacket abrasion and/or splitting. In this brief tech talk, learn the seven key design features that can ensure a continuous-flex cable will work for your application for millions of cycles -- even in the most demanding environments.
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Springs: Bearing preload series expansion -- smarter solutions for smaller applications Smalley continues to push the limits in coiling innovation. The expansion of the company's popular bearing preload (SSB) series adds diameters ranging from 9 mm to 13 mm. Now over 300 SSB springs are stocked in carbon and stainless steel, with free samples available to test in your application. The SSB series is a popular choice among engineers, because this single-turn wave spring helps eliminate bearing play and minimize noise. Preloading can reduce the possibility of bearing damage due to vibration (vibratory loading) and wear due to repetitive and non-repetitive runout.
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Noteworthy: A revolution in roller pinion systems The Nexen Roller Pinion System (RPS) revolutionizes linear and rotary motion control possibilities. Based on an innovative pinion consisting of bearing-supported rollers and a unique tooth profile, this drive system provides very high positional accuracy, near-zero backlash, virtually no cumulative error, low-velocity ripple, and 99 percent efficiency. This opens up new machine design possibilities and achieves much higher levels of performance.
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Electrical: 'Ice Cube' power relays are cool Wieland Electric has released a new series of general-purpose industrial power relays with transparent "ice cube" housings and integrated LED indicators. Available in a variety of coil voltages and pole configurations, flare Move HC Series ice cube power relays are ideal for use in industrial equipment, construction machinery, instrumentation, automation, control systems, and other commercial applications that require reliable power connections.
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| Most Popular |
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Navy dive helmet display emerges as game-changer The once-ribbing term "four-eyes" now secures a coolness factor, thanks to a team of Navy engineers who have developed a high-resolution, see-through, heads-up display embedded directly inside a KM-37 Navy dive helmet to keep its users safer, more efficient, and more effective underwater.
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Vortex laser offers hope for Moore's Law Like a whirlpool, a new light-based communication tool carries data in a swift, circular motion. The optics advancement could become a central component of next-generation computers designed to handle society's growing demand for information sharing. It may also be a salve to those fretting over the predicted end of Moore's Law.
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Will self-driving cars be bullied? New research project aims to find out Goodyear and the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) recently announced a new pan-European research project to investigate the attitudes and readiness of drivers to share the road with autonomous vehicles. According to a 2015 Goodyear/LSE survey of drivers from 15 European countries, 88 percent of respondents agreed that there are "unwritten rules" that govern driver interactions with pedestrians, cyclists, and other vehicles on the road.
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| Videos+: Technologies and inspiration in action |
| See what it's like to fly the Airbus 380 -- with a 360-degree view | |
| This video puts you in the cockpit for one the A380's high-profile flight demonstrations at the recent Farnborough International Airshow. On YouTube, you should be able to take in the excitement of takeoff with a full 360-degree view inside Airbus' 21st century flagship jetliner by grabbing the screen and rotating it while the video plays.
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| New products |
| Electrical/Electronics | Mechanical | Motion |
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| For advertising opportunities contact: John Holmes jholmes@nelsonpub.com Dan Beck danbeck58@gmail.com (518) 852-9624 |
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