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ENGINEERINGTALK
The Independent Weekly Product Information
Guide
for Product Design and Automation Engineers
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ISSN 1470-627X - Free subscription
Last Week's delivered
circulation: 46,822
Published every Thursday from the UK.
Issue 243: 02 December 2004
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27,015 product announcements and technical articles
on our
web site, all fully searchable at
http://www.engineeringtalk.com/
- take a look!
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Engineeringtalk operates a double opt-in subscription policy.
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In this issue:
* Editor's Message
* Our Top new
products selection
[1] Interface panel for real-time operational
access
[2] Ceramic moisture sensor is rugged performer
[3]
Scanning stages take position at speed
[4] Novel grease keeps
bearings running quietly
[5] Actuators offer complete linear
motion systems
[6] Compact format for linear accelerometers
[7] Enclosures offer ultimate protection from water
[8]
Flush-faced couplings avoid hydraulic spills
[9] Gearboxes use
novel backlash absorbing system
[10] Rotary actuator range
expands its coverage
* Other industry news
* New technical
articles & case studies
* Other featured product news
====================================================================
Chris Rand, Editor, writes:
In a 2002 poll of
the "Top 20 Greatest Business Books of All Time", nestling
away
at number seventeen is one of the most thought-provoking books I
have
ever read. Now a venerable twenty years old, Eli Goldratt's
"The Goal: A
Process of Ongoing Improvement" could have been
written today. It has two
things which make it stand out from the
rest of the selections: it's a
novel, and it's about
manufacturing. Those of you who haven't read it will
be thinking
"not a promising combination", but those of you who have read it
will know why I still rate it so highly.
Above all, it
simply makes you think about the whole manufacturing process.
The
famous chapter about the hike is a great example, where the
narrator
observes the interaction between a line of boy scouts
out walking, and how
the pace of the whole group is affected by
the slowest one. Many people I
know who've read it say that they
had to keep putting it down to make notes
about how this or that
idea could be used in their own business ...and not
only in
manufacturing (I understand the book is recommended reading on
academic courses as far removed from manufacturing as
accountancy).
I'll admit the story and characterisation
isn't exactly Dickens (or even
Archer, come to think of it). But
it's still readable, and name me more than
a handful of other
management books which you can sit down with and actually
enjoy.
In fact, when it comes to avoiding management-speak, this book
scores
top marks. Sadly, Mr.Goldratt knows where the money is,
and his own
educational and consulting ventures, which can be
found all over the web,
seem to be as immersed in jargon as
everything else on the subject of
management. However, twenty
years on, "The Goal" most certainly is a good
read. UK readers:
email this link to your better half and express surprise
when you
unwrap it on Christmas day. http://makeashorterlink.com/?L17F229D9
I hope you find this issue of our weekly newsletter useful. In
addition to
the new products, news and ideas featured here, there
are hundreds more on
our website and dozens more being added
daily, so do take a look if you can.
Alternatively, the full
stories behind all the summaries and headlines in
this newsletter
can be retrieved by email alone: see details below. In the
meantime, if you have any suggestions as to how we might make the
site or
the newsletter better, email me directly.
Best
wishes
Chris Rand, Editor
mailto:ne[-email
removed-]ringtalk.com
=======================================================
OUR
TOP NEW PRODUCT SELECTION
=======================================================
[1] INTERFACE PANEL FOR REAL-TIME OPERATIONAL ACCESS
(Red Lion
Controls, 25 Nov 2004)
The G306 operator interface panel
is the latest addition to Red Lion's G3
HMI Series. It features a
5.7in 256-color QVGA Ultra-STN LCD with 320 x 240
pixel
resolution, and a five button keypad for on-screen menus. The G3
HMI
Series is the first to offer up to five communications ports
and a built-in
gateway to web-enable any device connected to the
panel. This capability
delivers remote access, monitoring and
virtual operation - either via
company LAN or the Internet -
facilitating real-time operational access and
data logging from a
remote PC.
Request free details from the supplier:
http://www.engineeringtalk.com/rdx/da/red/134/4
* Read more:
http://www.engineeringtalk.com/news/red/red134.html
or send a
blank email to mailto:red1[-email removed-]ngineeringtalk.com
=======================================================
[2] CERAMIC MOISTURE SENSOR IS RUGGED PERFORMER
(Michell
Instruments, 30 Nov 2004)
Michell Instruments' latest
ceramic moisture sensor combines fast response
and high
repeatability with long-term stability and resistance to
contamination. It responds very rapidly to changes in applied
moisture, both
when being dried (on process startup) and when
called into action if there
is moisture ingress into a process.
Despite this extreme sensitivity to
changes in moisture content,
the sensor is incredibly rugged and is housed
in a protective
sintered stainless-steel guard.
Request free details
from the supplier:
http://www.engineeringtalk.com/rdx/da/mii/134/4
* Read more:
http://www.engineeringtalk.com/news/mii/mii134.html
or send a
blank email to mailto:mii1[-email removed-]ngineeringtalk.com
=======================================================
[3] SCANNING STAGES TAKE POSITION AT SPEED
(Lambda
Photometrics, 01 Dec 2004)
Physik Instrumente (PI) has
introduced the world's fastest high resolution
multi-axis
scanning stages for applications in pixel-multiplication, image
dithering, scanning microscopy and other high precision uses. The
P-733
scanning stages provide 0.1nm positioning resolution in x-y
and x-y-z axes
and are able to move in single steps in less than
1ms or run at continuous
scanning rates of hundreds of hertz, up
to four times the speed of other
scanners and with higher
precision and resolution.
Request free details from the
supplier:
http://www.engineeringtalk.com/rdx/da/lam/140/4
*
Read more: http://www.engineeringtalk.com/news/lam/lam140.html
or send a blank email to mailto:lam1[-email
removed-]ngineeringtalk.com
=======================================================
[4]
NOVEL GREASE KEEPS BEARINGS RUNNING QUIETLY
(NSK UK, 01 Dec
2004)
NSK's latest NSA low noise grease is superior to
conventional lithium soap
based greases in a number of areas,
providing increased sound durability
performance at high
temperatures and improved resistance to fretting
(relative
oscillatory motion, usually of small amplitude, that can occur
between the bearing balls and raceway).
Request free
details from the supplier:
http://www.engineeringtalk.com/rdx/da/nsk/158/4
* Read more:
http://www.engineeringtalk.com/news/nsk/nsk158.html
or send a
blank email to mailto:nsk1[-email removed-]ngineeringtalk.com
=======================================================
[5] ACTUATORS OFFER COMPLETE LINEAR MOTION SYSTEMS
(Danaher Motion: Thomson (UK), 29 Nov 2004)
Servomotors, drives and linear actuators from familiar brands such
as
Kollmorgen, Thomson and Micron are now being offered as an
integrated system
- a complete, ready-to-use, assembly called a
dynamic servo actuator (DSA),
by parent company Danaher Motion.
Engineers can quickly choose from a broad
range of validated
configurations by using a free product selection software
tool,
and the DSA is specified with a single part number to simplify
pricing
and ordering. DSAs are available for stroke lengths from
1.5 to 10m and
speeds from 0.05 to 3.2m/s.
Request
free details from the supplier:
http://www.engineeringtalk.com/rdx/da/tho/133/4
* Read more:
http://www.engineeringtalk.com/news/tho/tho133.html
or send a
blank email to mailto:tho1[-email removed-]ngineeringtalk.com
=======================================================
[6] COMPACT FORMAT FOR LINEAR ACCELEROMETERS
(Inertial
Aerosystems, 26 Nov 2004)
Inertial Aerosystems has a new
range of low-noise MEMS linear accelerometers
in 8mm SMD format.
These rugged devices withstand non-operating shocks of up
to
10,000g and are available with full scale output of +/-4V DC and
ranges
between 2 and 1000g, easily interfaced to generic data
loggers.
Request free details from the supplier:
http://www.engineeringtalk.com/rdx/da/inu/109/4
* Read more:
http://www.engineeringtalk.com/news/inu/inu109.html
or send a
blank email to mailto:inu1[-email removed-]ngineeringtalk.com
=======================================================
[7] ENCLOSURES OFFER ULTIMATE PROTECTION FROM WATER
(Rittal, 01 Dec 2004)
Rittal has a range of compact
enclosures with protection to IP69K category.
The interior seal
is protected against direct hosed water; locks, hinges and
mounting plate are all vibration resistant; and the surface finish
consists
of an aluminium zinc coating, powder-coated on the
outside in textured RAL
7035. The enclosure range also includes
an interior door, ideal for the
installation of indicators lamps,
pushbuttons and display devices.
Request free details
from the supplier:
http://www.engineeringtalk.com/rdx/da/rit/216/4
* Read more:
http://www.engineeringtalk.com/news/rit/rit216.html
or send a
blank email to mailto:rit2[-email removed-]ngineeringtalk.com
=======================================================
[8] FLUSH-FACED COUPLINGS AVOID HYDRAULIC SPILLS
(Parker
Hannifin - Hydraulics and UK Sales, 25 Nov 2004)
Parker
Hannifin has extended its range of flush-faced couplings with the
introduction of the new FEF and FEM Series. They have been designed
for
leak-free connection and disconnection where spillage of
hydraulic oil could
cause an environmental hazard. Both series
meet the dimensional requirements
of ISO16028 and are available
with BSPP threads in sizes from 0.25 to 1in.
Request
free details from the supplier:
http://www.engineeringtalk.com/rdx/da/pxv/109/4
* Read more:
http://www.engineeringtalk.com/news/pxv/pxv109.html
or send a
blank email to mailto:pxv1[-email removed-]ngineeringtalk.com
=======================================================
[9] GEARBOXES USE NOVEL BACKLASH ABSORBING SYSTEM
(ZF
Great Britain, 26 Nov 2004)
Offering levels of backlash
below 0.5arc-min and operational efficiency of
over 94%, new CG
compact gearboxes from ZF are aimed at the high performance
and
small size required by the next generation of automation and
robotics
servo systems. The CG gear design features a multistage
planetary assembly
that promotes smooth operation and, coupled
with an optimised alloy casing,
produces a light, compact design
with low torsional vibrations.
Request free details from
the supplier:
http://www.engineeringtalk.com/rdx/da/zfa/132/4
* Read more: http://www.engineeringtalk.com/news/zfa/zfa132.html
or send a blank email to mailto:zfa1[-email
removed-]ngineeringtalk.com
=======================================================
[10]
ROTARY ACTUATOR RANGE EXPANDS ITS COVERAGE
(SKF UK, 25 Nov 2004)
Expansion of the Crab rotary actuator product range from
SKF Engineering
Products includes the Model 05, designed to
provide a compact, low cost
solution for applications where
dynamic force demands are below 100Nm. The
rotary actuators
result from the development of a new, patented Swedish seat
recliner technology, which has been successfully applied in the
automotive
industry, and comprise two planetary gearboxes, which
provide a final gear
ratio equal to their difference. Thus, high
ratios can be achieved with a
simple design and few moving parts.
Request free details from the supplier:
http://www.engineeringtalk.com/rdx/da/skf/261/4
* Read more:
http://www.engineeringtalk.com/news/skf/skf261.html
or send a
blank email to mailto:skf2[-email removed-]ngineeringtalk.com
=======================================================
This week's industry news
=======================================================
DELAY FOR UPDATE TO MACHINERY DIRECTIVE
(TUV International -
Rheinland Group, 25 Nov 2004)
The revised version of the
Machinery Directive is not likely to be
introduced before 2009.
* Read more: http://www.engineeringtalk.com/news/tvi/tvi132.html
or send a blank email to mailto:tvi1[-email
removed-]ngineeringtalk.com
THE FUTURE OF BRITAIN'S
ELECTRICITY SUPPLY
(Institution of Mechanical Engineers, 25 Nov
2004)
One of the UK's leading power experts is to give a key
address at the
Institution of Mechanical Engineers about the
future of the country's
electricity supply.
* Read more:
http://www.engineeringtalk.com/news/ime/ime112.html
or send a
blank email to mailto:ime1[-email removed-]ngineeringtalk.com
EVERYTHING'S COMING UP HANDSETS
(University Of
Warwick, 30 Nov 2004)
Researchers at the Warwick Manufacturing
Group have devised a novel way to
recycle discarded mobile
telephones.
* Read more:
http://www.engineeringtalk.com/news/usi/usi105.html
or send a
blank email to mailto:usi1[-email removed-]ngineeringtalk.com
MANUFACTURING CONFIDENCE POSITIVE BUT ON THE WANE
(Manufacturing Technologies Association, 01 Dec 2004)
The
Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA) Trends Survey for the
3rd
quarter of 2004 saw a reduction in the level of confidence,
although the
percentage balance remains positive.
* Read
more: http://www.engineeringtalk.com/news/mtt/mtt130.html
or
send a blank email to mailto:mtt1[-email
removed-]ngineeringtalk.com
=======================================================
New
Technical Articles and Case Studies
=======================================================
LINEAR ENCODERS AID CONSISTENT PLACEMENT
(Renishaw, 29 Nov
2004)
Renishaw linear encoders are key to the performance of a
new generation of
large-board pick and place machines from
Mydata.
Request free details from the supplier on Linear
encoders:
http://www.engineeringtalk.com/rdx/da/rea/132/4
*
Read more: http://www.engineeringtalk.com/news/rea/rea132.html
or send a blank email to mailto:rea1[-email
removed-]ngineeringtalk.com
INVENTOR IMPROVES
INFRA-RED INNOVATION
(Autodesk, 01 Dec 2004)
Land
Instruments International has boosted its new product development
work
by 50% using Autodesk Inventor.
Request free details
from the supplier on Inventor:
http://www.engineeringtalk.com/rdx/da/atd/184/4
* Read more:
http://www.engineeringtalk.com/news/atd/atd184.html
or send a
blank email to mailto:atd1[-email removed-]ngineeringtalk.com
SOFT STARTERS REPLACE AGING SLIP RINGS
(Fairford
Electronics, 01 Dec 2004)
Fairford's QFE series of optimising
soft starters have been used in three
key pumping projects
recently undertaken by the Environment Agency.
Request free
details from the supplier on QFE soft starters:
http://www.engineeringtalk.com/rdx/da/frf/116/4
* Read more:
http://www.engineeringtalk.com/news/frf/frf116.html
or send a
blank email to mailto:frf1[-email removed-]ngineeringtalk.com
TOLERANCE RINGS AID COOL AUTOMOTIVE DESIGN
(Rencol
Tolerance Rings, 29 Nov 2004)
Vehicle air conditioning motors
are the latest addition to the growing list
of automotive
applications to benefit from the use of tolerance rings.
Request free details from the supplier on Tolerance rings:
http://www.engineeringtalk.com/rdx/da/ren/123/4
* Read more:
http://www.engineeringtalk.com/news/ren/ren123.html
or send a
blank email to mailto:ren1[-email removed-]ngineeringtalk.com
MOBILE TAGS ACCOMPANY FRIDGES TO THE GRAVE
(IDC -
Intelligent Distributed Controls, 26 Nov 2004)
IDC's expertise
in mobile data capture is being used for the tracking of
waste
refrigerators, which are being recycled under the European
Directive
2037/2000.
Request free details from the
supplier on Smart Tags:
http://www.engineeringtalk.com/rdx/da/ikv/103/4
* Read more:
http://www.engineeringtalk.com/news/ikv/ikv103.html
or send a
blank email to mailto:ikv1[-email removed-]ngineeringtalk.com
LASER SCAN MICROMETER AIDS FIBRE TESTING
(Mitutoyo,
01 Dec 2004)
Dia-Stron uses a Mitutoyo laser scan micrometer to
help evaluate the tensile
properties of cotton, hair, carbon
fibre, Kevlar and other fibres as thin as
5um in its automated
testing machines.
Request free details from the supplier on
LSM-500H laser scan micrometer:
http://www.engineeringtalk.com/rdx/da/mto/142/4
* Read more:
http://www.engineeringtalk.com/news/mto/mto142.html
or send a
blank email to mailto:mto1[-email removed-]ngineeringtalk.com
=======================================================
Other featured new product news
=======================================================
LINEAR SYSTEMS HANDLE HEAVY LOADS
(HepcoMotion, 30 Nov 2004)
HepcoMotion reckons its Winkel range of heavy-load linear
components and
systems stands on its own in terms of capacity and
choice of fully
adjustable options.
Request free details
from the supplier on Innovations in motion:
http://www.engineeringtalk.com/rdx/da/hep/156/4
* Read more:
http://www.engineeringtalk.com/news/hep/hep156.html
or send a
blank email to mailto:hep1[-email removed-]ngineeringtalk.com
GEAR REDUCERS BOAST HIGH TORSIONAL RIGIDITY
(Servotechnic, 26 Nov 2004)
The GH gear reducer is the newest
addition to the popular line of rotary
vector (RV) drives
available in the UK from Servotechnic.
Request free details
from the supplier on GH gear reducer:
http://www.engineeringtalk.com/rdx/da/sjm/118/4
* Read more:
http://www.engineeringtalk.com/news/sjm/sjm118.html
or send a
blank email to mailto:sjm1[-email removed-]ngineeringtalk.com
ACOUSTIC FOAM DAMPS OUT AIRBORNE NOISE
(Sound Dead
Steel, 30 Nov 2004)
SDS AcousticFoam is a new range of
high-density sound-absorbent
self-adhesive open- or closed-cell
acoustic foam dampers.
* Read more:
http://www.engineeringtalk.com/news/sdd/sdd101.html
or send a
blank email to mailto:sdd1[-email removed-]ngineeringtalk.com
DISPLAY TERMINAL AIDS PRODUCTION MONITORING
(HBM
United Kingdom, 26 Nov 2004)
The DT85 display terminal aids
production monitoring by showing the current
status of the
process in a simple format on an easily seen quarter-VGA
display
on site.
Request free details from the supplier on DT85:
http://www.engineeringtalk.com/rdx/da/hbm/181/4
* Read more:
http://www.engineeringtalk.com/news/hbm/hbm181.html
or send a
blank email to mailto:hbm1[-email removed-]ngineeringtalk.com
TEMPERATURE SOURCE SPANS A GREATER RANGE FOR LESS
(Land Instruments International, 01 Dec 2004)
A new primary
blackbody temperature source is smaller, lighter, more stable
and
more accurate over a wider temperature range than its predecessor -
and
sells at a lower price.
Request free details from the
supplier on Landcal P1600B2:
http://www.engineeringtalk.com/rdx/da/lad/133/4
* Read more:
http://www.engineeringtalk.com/news/lad/lad133.html
or send a
blank email to mailto:lad1[-email removed-]ngineeringtalk.com
MCERTS-APPROVED ANALYSER FOR SALE OR RENT
(Quantitech, 01 Dec 2004)
The Bernath Model 3006 FID analyser
is billed as the only portable FID to be
awarded MCERTS
certification for total organic carbon emission measurements.
Request free details from the supplier on Bernath Model 3006 FID
analyser:
http://www.engineeringtalk.com/rdx/da/qan/113/4
*
Read more: http://www.engineeringtalk.com/news/qan/qan113.html
or send a blank email to mailto:qan1[-email
removed-]ngineeringtalk.com
PANEL-MOUNTING SWITCHES
COME IN FIVE COLOURS
(EAO, 29 Nov 2004)
New from EAO is
the Grayhill Series 30 snap-in panel-mounting switch,
available
in a choice of five button colours and sealed to IP67.
Request
free details from the supplier on Grayhill Series 30:
http://www.engineeringtalk.com/rdx/da/eao/154/4
* Read more:
http://www.engineeringtalk.com/news/eao/eao154.html
or send a
blank email to mailto:eao1[-email removed-]ngineeringtalk.com
TESTERS INCORPORATE THREE-PHASE ROTATION DETECTION
(Fluke (UK), 30 Nov 2004)
Fluke has extended its range of
compact voltage/continuity testers with the
new T100 Series.
Request free details from the supplier on T100 Series:
http://www.engineeringtalk.com/rdx/da/flu/183/4
* Read more:
http://www.engineeringtalk.com/news/flu/flu183.html
or send a
blank email to mailto:flu1[-email removed-]ngineeringtalk.com
SERVOS COME AS EASY-TO-APPLY PACKAGES
(Wyko
Industrial Services, 01 Dec 2004)
The new MMC smart drive from
Giddings and Lewis comprises a range of servo
amplifiers that
provide 0.5 to 24kW continuous output power in a compact,
easy-to-apply package.
Request free details from the supplier
on Giddings and Lewis MMC smart
drive:
http://www.engineeringtalk.com/rdx/da/wyk/156/4
* Read more:
http://www.engineeringtalk.com/news/wyk/wyk156.html
or send a
blank email to mailto:wyk1[-email removed-]ngineeringtalk.com
SERVO SERIES EXPANDS TO HEAVY-DUTY APPLICATIONS
(LC
Automation, 01 Dec 2004)
Mitsubishi has expanded its range to
include 400V servos for a range of
heavy-duty applications.
Request free details from the supplier on MR-J2 Super series:
http://www.engineeringtalk.com/rdx/da/lca/124/4
* Read more:
http://www.engineeringtalk.com/news/lca/lca124.html
or send a
blank email to mailto:lca1[-email removed-]ngineeringtalk.com
GANTRY POSITIONING STAGES ARE SMOOTH OPERATORS
(Aerotech, 26 Nov 2004)
A new range of x-y gantry positioning
stages combine a large work area
H-frame design with high
performance linear motors, rugged optical encoders
and
magnetically preloaded air bearings.
Request free details from
the supplier on ABG10000:
http://www.engineeringtalk.com/rdx/da/aer/147/4
* Read more:
http://www.engineeringtalk.com/news/aer/aer147.html
or send a
blank email to mailto:aer1[-email removed-]ngineeringtalk.com
MORE CUSTOMISATION FOR ELECTRODE DESIGN SOFTWARE
(Delcam, 26 Nov 2004)
Delcam will preview the forthcoming
release of its automated electrode
design system, PS-Electrode,
at the Euromold exhibition to be held in
Frankfurt from 1st to
4th December 2004.
Request free details from the supplier on
PS-Electrode:
http://www.engineeringtalk.com/rdx/da/dea/224/4
* Read more: http://www.engineeringtalk.com/news/dea/dea224.html
or send a blank email to mailto:dea2[-email
removed-]ngineeringtalk.com
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