Edited by Terry Persun || Use of light detection and ranging (LiDAR) in the automotive industry is growing exponentially. The two most common variations are solid-state LiDAR and hybrid spinning LiDAR. Solid-state LiDAR are non-spinning systems. Some employ a phased array to steer the laser beam sans moving parts; others include a tiny mirror to steer […]
Additive manufacturing partnership will cut costs and weight for space applications
Oerlikon, a leading technology and engineering group, and RUAG Space, a division of the technology Group RUAG, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to qualify and accelerate series production of 3D printed space components. Oerlikon and RUAG Space are already working together on the qualification of a bracket that would be installed on a payload fairing. […]
Pre-Fabricated Device Assemblies For Electrical Raceway Solutions
ACS/Uni-Fab™ has expanded their line of custom electrical raceway solutions to include five different “job-in-a-box” Pre-Fabricated Device Assembly Solutions. Pre-Fabricated Device Assemblies range from basic assemblies to fully engineered systems, designed and packaged by room to reduce installation time by 60%. By making 50% or more of the connections at the factory, Pre-Fabricated Device Assemblies…
Water Bottles, Other Recycled 3D Printing Materials Could Avoid Military Supply Snags
Soldiers on the battlefield or at remote bases often have to wait weeks for vital replacement parts. Now scientists report they have found a way to fabricate many of these parts within hours under combat conditions using water bottles, cardboard and other recyclable materials found on base as starting materials for 3D printing. They say…
Water Bottles, Other Recycled 3-D Printing Materials Could Avoid Military Supply Snags
Soldiers on the battlefield or at remote bases often have to wait weeks for vital replacement parts. Now scientists report they have found a way to fabricate many of these parts within hours under combat conditions using water bottles, cardboard and other recyclable materials found on base as starting materials for 3-D printing. They say…
How to get the most out of additive manufacturing
When evaluating Direct Digital Manufacturing for production, take a methodical analysis of cost, design, assembly, materials, and process to fully understand its benefits. Here are suggested tips. Contributors Include Industrial Designers and Mechanical Engineers on the FATHOM Engineering & Design Team While additive manufacturing (AM) has mostly been used as a prototyping tool, in the […]
Develop 3D Printed Material For Space Station
Mechanical engineering students at South Dakota State University will help develop 3D printing materials that may one day be used at the International Space Station through a one-year, $25,000 NASA grant, according to assistant professor Todd Letcher. South Dakota State University was one of 10 university teams selected to work on technologies to support NASA’s…
Wide and narrow views of position sensors
By Andrew Waugh, Product Manager, Sensor and Safety Products, AutomationDirect.com When the word “sensor” is used in industrial automation, it usually refers to presence sensing devices such as limit switch, photo eye (photoelectric) and laser sensors. There are many options and technologies to consider when specifying the use of these presence sensors in automated machines.…
New PAEK polymer for additive manufacturing
PEEK polymer pioneer Victrex is preparing new materials for additive manufacturing (AM). The first of these is a high strength material for laser sintering (LS) which attains lower refresh rates, resulting in improved recycling for unsintered powder. The second is a filament with better Z-strength than existing polyaryletherketone (PAEK) materials and better printability for filament […]
Heavy duty air powered conveyor resists wear and transports more
EXAIR’s new 2-1/2-in. and 3-in. Heavy Duty Line Vacs are powerful in-line conveyors that transport high volumes of material through ordinary hose or tube. Designed for rugged, industrial applications, Heavy Duty Line Vacs have a hardened alloy construction that prevent premature wear when transporting abrasive or heavy materials like shot blast, tumbling media or metal…
ROLEC extends its aluNORM enclosures range to 86 sizes
Industrial enclosures manufacturer ROLEC has extended its rugged aluNORM range to 86 sizes across four variants. Tough and dependable aluNORM is ROLEC’s largest range of IP-rated electronic enclosures. They are designed to house and safeguard automation and machine control electronics in harsh and challenging environments. These diecast aluminum cases feature globally patented single screw channels.…
Line Of Enclosures Features 86 Different Sizes
Industrial enclosures manufacturer ROLEC has extended its rugged aluNORM range to 86 sizes across four variants. Tough and dependable aluNORM is ROLEC’s largest range of IP-rated electronic enclosures. They are designed to house and safeguard automation and machine control electronics in harsh and challenging environments. These diecast aluminum cases feature globally patented single screw channels.…
Can coupling misalignment cause vibration?
Bobby Watkins of Ruland Manufacturing on misalignment and vibration: Why is misalignment a concern?Not properly accounting for it can lead to premature coupling failure or system component failure. Clearly define your misalignment min and max early in the selection process. That choice can be of a great help in preventative maintenance. Misalignment again, introduces RPM […]
Ultra-durable LED lights rated with up to 50,000 hours lifespan
Binder USA offers LED lights constructed with stainless steel for a durable shell that is IP69K rated when mated to a binder molded connector. A 120-degree angle of illumination is provided and 50,000 hours of reliable lighting ensures dependable results from the binder LED light bar. For simple and flexible installation, binder provides mounting brackets…
New 3/8-in. Super Air Wipe dries, cools, cleans small diameters
EXAIR’s new 3/8-in. Super Air Wipe produces a 360° airstream that can blow off, dry, clean or cool the material passing through it. The split design can be clamped around continuously moving material such as wire, cable, pipe, hose and extruded shapes. The 3/8-in. Super Air Wipe ejects a small amount of compressed air through…
Creating a winning BattleBot fast
The BattleBots competition has become a popular entertainment. But it is also an opportunity for engineers to hone their fast design practices and study failure analysis. One of the recent match winners of the current BattleBots season is Hal Rucker. Rucker uses Protolabs to make custom machine keys, motor faces and mountings, and wheel guards.…
Telescopic pillars from SKF support heavier loads, efficient lifting
CPMT telescopic pillars from SKF Motion Technologies, Inc. can be integrated into surgical tables, procedure chairs, and similar medical equipment to enable optimized access for patients, support heavier loads, and deliver safe and efficient lifting performance. These complete plug-and-play systems ultimately provide OEM designers with technologies to meet demanding marketplace requirements, gain a competitive business […]
Quick-turn manufacturing readies DUCK! for ‘BattleBots’
With just 28 days to design, build, and test his robot for the 2018 season of “BattleBots” on the Discovery Channel, Hal Rucker had no time to waste. The tight timeline he had given himself due to other commitments leading up to the tournament drove the majority of his design and theme decisions. DUCK!, Rucker’s…
Telescopic pillars for medical procedure tables
SKF CPMT telescopic pillars from SKF Motion Technologies, Inc. for integration into surgical tables, procedure chairs, and similar medical equipment enable optimized access for patients, support heavier loads, and deliver safe and efficient lifting performance. These complete plug-and-play systems ultimately provide OEM designers with ideal technologies to meet demanding marketplace requirements, gain a competitive business […]
3D Systems and Huntington Ingalls Industries partner to transform U.S. Navy shipbuilding
3D Systems (NYSE: DDD) announced its collaboration with Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding division to qualify metal additive manufacturing technologies to build naval warships. Newport News Shipbuilding is the sole designer, builder and refueler of U.S. Navy aircraft carriers and one of two providers of U.S. Navy submarines. Through this collaboration, they will move […]
3D Systems and Huntington Ingalls Industries partner to transform U.S. Navy shipbuilding
3D Systems (NYSE: DDD) announced its collaboration with Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding division to qualify metal additive manufacturing technologies to build naval warships. Newport News Shipbuilding is the sole designer, builder and refueler of U.S. Navy aircraft carriers and one of two providers of U.S. Navy submarines. Through this collaboration, they will move […]
New pipe and valve support helps thermoplastic piping achieve maximum service lIfe
Mechanical stress on plastic piping systems is one of the leading causes of premature leaks. Typical pipe clamp products often create unintended fixed points throughout piping systems that permanently lock in stress. To address this challenge, GF Piping Systems (GF) has introduced a new pipe guide and valve support system specifically designed toeliminate stress transfer to plastic pipe…
Carbon introduces two additive manufacturing materials; one for strength, one for durability
Carbon, a Silicon Valley-based digital 3D Manufacturing company, announced two new additive manufacturing materials: Epoxy (EPX) 82 and Elastomeric Polyurethane (EPU) 41. EPX 82 is an accurate and high-strength engineering material with long-term durability, while EPU 41 is a production-scale elastomeric material with high resilience for making elastomeric products. EPX 82 EPX 82 has a […]
PATLITE CWF LED tool light for industrial workspaces
PATLITE (U.S.A.) Corp. now sells an industrial-grade LED work light that efficiently illuminates workstations, machinery, and control cabinets. Featuring efficient and long-life LEDs, the CWF is available in three sizes (300, 600, and 900 mm) and provides bright and even light through a diffused lens — creating safe and productive work spaces with no hot…
Robot Designed For Faster, Safer Uranium Plant Pipe Cleanup
Ohio crews cleaning up a massive former Cold War-era uranium enrichment plant in Ohio plan this summer to deploy a high-tech helper: an autonomous, radiation-measuring robot that will roll through miles of large overhead pipes to spot potentially hazardous residual uranium. Officials say it’s safer, more accurate and tremendously faster than having workers take external…