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Flexibility in more ways than one! Edge welded metal bellows allow for flexibility in axial, angular and parallel offset motion and provide the most stroke in the smallest amount of space of any bellows technology on the market, by reaching 90% of its free length. BellowsTech can customize size, shape, material, weight, length, and mounting connections to customer specifications.
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In this issue of Designfax |
News |
Cover Image: Nelson Publishing
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How metal melts: Researchers shoot for success with simulations of laser pulse-material interactions Navy and Marine Corps demonstrate the future of amphibious, autonomous warfare |
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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. See what KHK USA has in stock for you today.
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| Featured Articles |
| FAA issues study on drone/human collision hazards | |
 What could happen if a drone hit a person on the ground? What's the risk of serious injury? Can those risks be reduced? Although the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) can't yet definitively answer those questions, studies by a consortium of leading universities have begun to better understand the risks associated with flying small unmanned aircraft (drones) over people and things on the ground.
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Experts answer questions about retaining rings and wave springs Every year, hundreds of technical questions are submitted through Smalley's "Ask the Expert" page. The company's team of engineering experts answers the questions directly, but they also post them in a blog for sharing. This selection addresses some commonly asked questions about retaining rings and wave springs. Very useful info.
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Engineers investigate simple, no-bake recipe to make bricks from Martian soil Explorers planning to settle on Mars might be able to turn the planet's red soil into bricks without needing to use an oven or additional ingredients. Instead, they would just need to apply pressure to compact the soil -- the equivalent of a blow from a hammer.
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Broad Line of Harsh Environment Fans Orion's IP55-, all-metal-, Salt-fog fans and accessories for harsh environments protect against dust, moisture, salt fog, salt spray, temperature changes, humidity and more. In stock at Allied Electronics, Orion offers these cooling solutions, filter guards and filter fan kits for quick integration into your design. In stock at Allied Electronics
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Wheels: Catalytic converter uses 20% fewer precious metals in new Toyota design Researchers and engineers at Toyota and Denso have designed and created a new, smaller catalytic converter for cars that uses 20 percent less precious metal in approximately 20 percent less volume, while maintaining the same exhaust gas purification performance.
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Wings: Sikorsky/Boeing future vertical lift rotorcraft The Sikorsky/Boeing Future Vertical Lift concept is a scalable design based on proven X2 Technology, which aims to double the speed of current military helicopters. Designed for long-range, high-speed, superior hover performance and unmatched maneuverability, the Future Vertical Lift program will shape the U.S. military's helicopter fleet of the future, initially by replacing the Blackhawk and Apache helicopters. The design with working prototypes focuses on vibration reduction, weight reduction, and blade technology; features fly-by-wire technology; and even incorporates elements of the Joint Strike Fighter jet airplane. The RAIDER light tactical prototype helicopter is capable of carrying six troops and external weapons at 276 mph. The DEFIANT Joint Multi-Role Technology Demonstrator helicopter will prove the scalability of the X2 design to a 30,000-lb. class weight. View the Future Vertical Lift video. View the more in-depth X2 Technology video.
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Engineer's Toolbox: New helmet testing hits hard at improving safety To improve helmet testing and ultimately reduce concussions and traumatic brain injuries, the University of Alabama at Birmingham's Department of Mechanical Engineering is developing new testing methodologies using crash test dummies with powerful internal sensors.
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Space: 3 years after disaster, Virgin Galactic tests new spaceship feather system Almost three years after the in-flight breakup of SpaceShipTwo VSS Enterprise on Oct. 31, 2014, Virgin Galactic has completed a successful first test for feather flight for its VSS Unity spaceship. Untimely unlocking of the feather system, which was designed to pivot the tailboom structures upward to slow the vehicle during reentry into the Earth's atmosphere, was blamed for the incident in 2014 that killed one of two pilots. A new "control inhibit" feature should prevent that from happening again. The latest test flight was the fourth glide flight (and eighth flight overall) of VSS Unity. In Virgin Galactic's concept, a passenger-carrying suborbital SpaceShipTwo vehicle is carried by a mother ship, the WhiteKnightTwo dual-fuselage jet aircraft, up to an altitude of around 50,000 ft for air launch, where it reaches supersonic speed within 8 sec powered by a hybrid rocket motor. It cruises into the lower thermosphere almost 70 miles up before performing reentry and then landing back on Earth. Read the Designfax article on the SpaceShipTwo VSS Enterprise disaster.
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Brushless motors -- What's the difference? Brushless motors are used in an extensive variety of OEM applications, from pick-and-place equipment and robotic joints to GPS-based automated vehicle steering and pumps/fans/blowers. Do you know the difference between a brushless DC motor, brushless servo motor, and brushless torque motor? Learn more about these motors, when they're used, and how to choose the right one for your application. Read the article now -- Brushless Motors: What's the big difference? Allied Motion Technologies designs and manufactures precision specialty motion control components and systems.
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1-hr Tech Exchange: Clutches/brakes for medical applications Keep up with the quickly changing world of medical device and equipment design with a 1-hr technical exchange. SEPAC experts will come to your facility for an informational, no-obligation discussion of critical clutch/brake design issues. In addition to your specific questions, topics include technical nuts-and-bolts issues like advantages of specific designs, considerations for friction materials, and handling environmental factors. Other subjects include best practices for managing engineering resources, budgetary concerns, and project time lines. Learn more about SEPAC complimentary on-site seminars. SEPAC is a custom engineering company and manufacturer of high-precision motion control products, including electromagnetic clutches and brakes for the medical industry.
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Alternative precision linear motion system: Faster, more accurate, zero backlash With high speeds, incredible accuracy, and zero backlash at unlimited lengths, Nexen's patented Roller Pinion System (RPS) overcomes the limitations of conventional rack and pinion, ball screw, and belt-drive systems. The RPS offers longer life, less maintenance, 99% efficiency, and can run without lubrication. Learn more about Nexen's Roller Pinion System. Nexen Group is a leading manufacturer of precision motion control components, power transmission, and web tension control products.
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Light pipes used in jetpack controls Here's a neat application for you: LPC rigid light pipes from VCC were used in an advanced jetpack pilot warning display. Light pipes (light guides) transmit light from an LED mounted on a PCB board to the user interface to communicate vital information. The light pipes offer design flexibility, easy installation, and multiple LED packaging options. The LPC rigid light pipe was selected due to its rugged material, easy assembly, superb daylight visibility, and wide 160-deg viewing angle. Check out VCC's full line of light pipes, indicators, displays, and LEDs.
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| Most Popular |
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Engineer's Toolbox: Army testing no-GPS navigation for Soldiers on patrol A picture may truly be worth 1,000 words to Soldiers who lose GPS while on patrol. The Army Materiel Command's Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center, or CERDEC, is using miniature cameras to create vision-aided navigation capabilities in GPS-denied situations.
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Scientists identify chemical causes of lithium-ion battery 'capacity fade' When a battery enters "old age," scientists refer to its diminished performance as "capacity fade," in which the amount of charge a battery can supply decreases with repeated use. Capacity fade is the reason why a cell phone battery that used to last a whole day will, after a couple of years, last perhaps only a few hours. But what if scientists could reduce this capacity fade, allowing batteries to age more gracefully?
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Fun! LEGO launches NASA Apollo Saturn V set Coming to an inner child near you in June: Make history with the LEGO NASA Apollo Saturn V, the first rocket to put people on the Moon! With 1,969 pieces total, build the 3 stages of this stunning meter-high rocket and display it on the stand or launch it into orbit. Offload the S-IC and S-II sections, dock the lunar lander with the command service module, and complete a successful Moon landing mission! Read all about the new set. You know you want one!
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| Videos+: Technologies and inspiration in action |
| Great Concepts: Next-gen expanding-wheelbase skid steer | |
| It's all about leverage! A company called Extend Manufacturing has created an ingenious proof-of-principle expanding-wheelbase skid steer machine called the Pro-Handler that solves many of the problems faced when using these types of loaders/fork lifts, including handling heavier loads and not tipping over. The reach on the prototype has also been lengthened with an extendable boom, so there are pluses all around for this concept's design. The extensions are done hydraulically with four extra cylinders and telescoping tubes with frictionless pads. Check out all the details on Extend Manufacturing's Fundable page, and watch the video to see it to believe it.
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