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Noisy Bearing?? Single-turn wave springs are ideal for bearing preload. The spring preloads the bearing through its outer race, taking up play in the bearing. This reduces bearing damage, wear, noise, and vibration. Smalley has stock parts from .188" to 16". Customs are available from .157" to 120". Learn more about Smalley Hoopster Retaining Rings.
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In this issue of Designfax |
News |
Cover Image: Nelson Publishing
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University of Tokyo researchers generate strongest-ever controllable magnetic field New polymer coating cools down buildings: White paint gets whiter using less pigment and more air How a tiny motor on the Curiosity rover identified a massive Martian dust storm |
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Optimizing Micro Motion: One Step At A Time Robust assembly, high speed range, and exceptional performance in the harshest environments make FAULHABER stepper motors ideal for demanding positioning applications. These compact stepper motors range in diameter from 6mm to 22mm, and are available with modular servo components, such as encoders, gearheads, lead screws for linear motion, and more. Learn more about precision stepper motors.
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| Featured Articles |
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50 years ago: NASA solves the 'pogo effect' -- gets one step closer to moon landing On July 18, 1968, NASA announced that engineers had found a solution to the problem that occurred near the end of the Saturn V rocket's first stage during the uncrewed Apollo 6 mission. During the last 10 seconds of that first-stage burn, the rocket experienced longitudinal oscillations called "pogo effect." Had a crew been onboard, they would have experienced severe vibrations and even possible injury.
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Pistons made of sapphire? Mid Michigan Research selects Insaco for critical part fabrication If you want a prototype piston made of metal for research purposes, you have a lot of options -- you can even 3D print your own. But what if you need something much more exotic, like the second-hardest natural material? When Mid Michigan Research had just such a need, it turned to Insaco for the company's long history of custom fabrication of sapphire precision parts, often in unusual forms.
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Researchers identify new metal superalloy Japanese scientists have identified a metal able to stand up to constant forces in ultra-high temperatures, offering promising applications in aircraft jet engines, gas turbines for electric power generation, and more. The alloy is extremely strong compared with cutting-edge Nickel-based single-crystal superalloys.
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Chevy Blazer line comes back to life Like the proverbial phoenix rising from the ashes, the Chevrolet Blazer line is back. This time around, the nameplate is a midsize SUV lineup that is bold, athletic, and filled with options and features -- and it comes ready to do some real work.
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Alternative to traditional drive systems Nexen Group has introduced a stainless steel version of its patented precision roller pinion system (RPS). The Nexen RPS engages two teeth simultaneously to achieve superior accuracy with zero backlash at any length. The system is also extremely quiet and 99 percent efficient. Stainless steel makes the system corrosion resistant, with a long life of up to 36 million meters. Nexen's RPS provides a low-maintenance, durable alternative to rack and pinion, ball screw, and belt drive technology. The RPS is used for a wide range of applications including laser cutting, plasma cutting, and gantry applications.
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Engineer's Toolbox: How to choose the right relay Relays come in a variety of form factors, styles, and technologies. Depending on your application, only one relay type may be suitable. In other cases, multiple relay types may be appropriate. By understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the different relays, you should be able to pick the one that is best suited for the job at hand. National Instruments lays out the options.
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Top Tech Tip: Choosing between brush and brushless DC motors -- What are the tradeoffs? Designing a system that involves motion and performs as intended requires choosing the right motor. The most fundamental decision involves commutation type. In some cases, mechanically commutated brush motors provide the best solution for the budget. In other cases, only brushless DC (BLDC) motors will do. Allied Motion provides a comprehensive review of the technology, along with tips and tricks for choosing the right solution for a given application. Read the whitepaper (no registration required).
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World's first particle foam based on polyethersulfone After two years of intensive research, BASF is now able to present prototypes of the world's first particle foam based on polyethersulfone (PESU). The foam is characterized by its unique combination of properties: high-temperature resistance, inherent flame retardancy, and extreme light weight coupled with great stiffness and strength. It is therefore particularly well suited for complex-shaped components in cars, airplanes, and trains.
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New carbon fiber material for SAAM additive systems from Cincinnati Inc. Cincinnati Inc. (CI) has released a new carbon fiber resin material for its SAAM (Small Area Additive Manufacturing) fused filament fabrication 3D-printing system. The new material is impact resistant, lightweight, and has a very high strength-to-weight ratio. Carbon fiber reinforcement makes the material stiff, durable, and very low warping -- and advanced inter-layer adhesion results in accurate, quality parts with good dimensions. The material's superior surface finish makes it perfect for custom tooling applications, as well as assembly, CMM, welding, and CNC fixtures. Learn more about the carbon fiber material. Learn more about Small Area Additive Manufacturing system.
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New family of EC fans for AC applications Orion Fans has launched a family of electronically commutated (EC) fans that offer low-power, energy-saving cooling solutions for AC applications. The AC-input fans -- available in a range of sizes (60 mm, 120 mm, 172 mm, and 250 mm) -- utilize a brushless DC motor and incorporate voltage transformation within the motor for significantly lower power consumption. This equates to power savings of up to 50 percent, enabling customers to meet energy-consumption requirements from agencies like ENERGY STAR. These fans are ideal for a broad range of applications including appliances, commercial and process control, refrigeration, HVAC, and electronic enclosures and cabinets.
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Automated formed-in-place gasket foam process Formulated to conform to highly intricate metal and plastic components, Fermapor K31 from Sonderhoff USA (now part of Henkel AG & Co.) is a product line of two-component, crosslinking polyurethane formed-in-place (FIP) foam sealants designed to create a barrier gasket that effectively protects industrial assemblies from moisture, dust, dirt, liquids, and other contaminants. Fermapor K31 products offer dramatic cost and performance advantages over prefabricated, manually applied cut gaskets. The technology effectively seals electrical and electronic housings, lighting enclosures, appliances, automotive components, and other contaminant-sensitive consumer and industrial assemblies.
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Army converts heat to electricity at record high rates, breakthrough research shows U.S. Army-funded research at the University of Michigan has resulted in demonstrating a new approach for more effectively converting heat into electricity -- an approach traditionally referred to as thermophotovoltaics -- which is useful to Soldiers because it can generate power from any heat source and can be configured to work day or night.
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Low-cost LiDAR comes to mass vehicle production Chinese manufacturer RoboSense says that its $200 high-performance solid-state LiDAR system for autonomous driving is 1/400th the price of traditional 64-line LiDAR systems and has updated features not found in even higher priced systems.
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Spray-on antennas, which work just as well as current metal ones, could unlock potential of smart connected technology A breakthrough by researchers in Drexel's College of Engineering could make installing an antenna as easy as applying some bug spray. Even transparent antennas with thicknesses of tens of nanometers were able to communicate efficiently.
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| Videos+: Technologies and inspiration in action |
| See generative design in action at GM | |
GM and Autodesk engineers apply generative design technology to redesign a small, but important, vehicle component: the seat bracket where seat belts are fastened. The resulting part is 40 percent lighter and 20 percent stronger than the original part -- and the functionally optimized design is super cool.
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