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The latest information on Electrical & Electronic Components May 2, 2008


Featured video link: EE demonstrations from MIT
Ever wanted to see what it's like to attend a class at a premier engineering school? You can do the next best thing by sitting in on videos from an MIT course on Electromagnetic Fields, Forces, and Motion. This 2005 clip is from MIT's Opencourseware project and demos principles such as magnetic field behavior, flux linkage, and B-H field connections.
View the video

Articles

Army to recruit electronic bats
Researchers at the University of Mich. intend to develop quantum dot solar cells with double the efficiency of current cells, autonomous navigation systems 1,000 times smaller and more energy efficient than systems now in use, and a communication system that's 10 times smaller, lighter and more energy efficient than today's technologies. The application for all these developments: a six-inch robotic spy plane modeled after a bat.
Here are the details:

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New podcast—Designing with smart cables
Here's an idea: Embed interface electronics in a cable assembly itself. The approach saves board space and costs less than alternatives, when done correctly. Listen to some tips from C & M Co.'s Joe Iamartino on how to devise a smart cable without getting tripped up with unforeseen technical problems. Your podcast host is Machine Design’s Bob Repas.
Listen to the podcast:

Circuit lets you blow out electronic birthday candles
This clever idea from our sister publication Electronic Design creates a set of LED birthday candles that "blow out" just like the real kind. It uses a thermal sensor that's maintained at a temperature above the ambient. When you blow air over the sensor, the resistance changes. The circuit detects this change and turns off the eight LEDs. When you stop blowing, all but one of the LEDs turn on.
Read how to set up this circuit:

So what's a robotics processor?
The recently concluded Robobusiness 2008 conference featured a number of presentations aimed at describing how to devise modern robotic platforms. One such talk by Freescale Semiconductor's Alexandra Dopplinger focused on what types of processing functions are important for engineers fielding equipment with robot-like movement functions as, for example, a mechanized hospital bed.
Download a copy of the presentation here:

New Products

Optical products
A 404-page catalog and Master Source Book covers 15,000 industrial optical components and instruments including 2,360 new optics and photonics advances in 41 sections of application guides and technical articles.
New products include BeamX Laser Beam Expanders and UV Fused Silica Aspheres. There are 15 sections covering optics, fiber components, mechanics, lasers, electro-optics, imaging, machine-vision electronics, microscopy, magnifiers, and illumination.
Application guides and articles cover such areas as selecting optics, laser and mirror coatings, edge blackening, polarized light, kinematic movement, electro-optics, video electronics, imaging optics and many other topics.
More Information:
Edmund Optics Inc.

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Snap-on EMI/RFI gaskets
The V Series variable-finger snap-on BeCu gaskets can give up to 100 dB of EMI/RFI attenuation. Each gasket comes in five different finger or slot patterns. Features include a low closing force, closing of gaps as small as 0.02 in.
More Information:
Tech-Etch Inc.

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Think you know what Engineering TV is all about? Take this short pop quiz and show off your skills! You could win an Amazon Kindle eBook Reader from DigiKey Corporation!
Try it now - the quiz ends May 11th!


Introducing Engineering TV, an innovative online video program by engineers for engineers. Twice a week, each 5-8 minute episode shows cutting-edge technology in action and looks behind the scenes as today's engineers shape tomorrow's breakthroughs. Brought to you by the Penton Media Design and Electronics Engineering groups.
View Videos

Rev up your interdisciplinary design skills

What happens when a microcontroller turns on a power FET, sending a current pulse to a motor coil that develops a magnetic field which turns the rotor shaft, advancing a timing belt that drives a pair of nip rolls suspended on bearings in a web-processing operation on a form, fill, and seal machine installed on a potato chip line at a Frito Lay plant in central California? And how can you be sure that the encoders, prox sensors, and other feedback devices you plan to use will accurately see and report every relevant motion, machine state, and process condition? And will the signals get through the networks fast enough, without being corrupted, giving the controllers time to execute their algorithms as intended? It's a lot to think about, and it only scratches the surface of what many engineers grapple with today. If you happen to be one of them, then the place for you — where you can find answers and meet others with similar concerns — is www.Mechatronic-Design.com.

Backed by some of engineering's top information sources including Machine Design, Electronic Design, Motion System Design, and Power Electronics, Mechatronic-Design.com is the interdisciplinary engineer's desktop, toolbox, library, and lifeline in one easily accessible place.

Find. Learn. Apply.

Mechatronic-Design.com
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Experience National Instruments Technologies From the Comfort of Your Own Computer!
With more than 200 on-demand webcasts, videos, interactive tutorials and demos available for users of any experience level, it is easier than ever to learn about the newest products and features available from National Instruments.
Begin your search here with a collection of webcasts specifically chosen for design and automation engineers.

CAD Library offers advanced CAD Resources
The Machine Design CAD Library, includes millions of configurable 2D and 3D CAD models of components and assemblies downloadable for easy use in new and existing designs. Our models are in native CAD formats. No translation required!

Sponsored by:


UPCOMING IN-PERSON EVENTS
Design-2-Part Shows are America's longest running and most trusted events for sourcing custom parts and services. Ten shows covering the country offer OEMs, engineers and purchasing personnel the opportunity to meet job shops and contract manufacturers face-to-face.

UPCOMING WEBCASTS

Discovering Direct Metal Laser Sintering for Faster Rapid Prototyping & Manufacturing
Sponsored by Morris Technologies
DATE: May 7th, 2008
TIME: 2:00pm ET/11am PT

Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) is an additive technology that can turn 3-D CAD designs with complex geometries into production-quality metal parts in hours. Applications are wide ranging and include inserts for plastic injection molding and die casting, as well as direct parts for a variety of applications and industries including aerospace, automotive, medical, electronics and many others.
During this webinar, our experts will share how DMLS is shattering the traditional limitations of part design, rapid prototyping, and manufacturing.

Click here to register!




2008 Online Manufacturing WebExpo & Conference
Presented by New Equipment Digest and Machine Design
DATE: May 21st, 2008
TIME: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm ET

The Online Manufacturing WebExpo and Conference brings you and your management team the advantages of a traditional trade show without any of the travel cost! Participate in a webcast, visit a trade show booth and pick up valuable literature - all from the comfort of your office.

Webcasts:
This all day online event will feature a series of "LIVE" Webcasts covering a broad range of manufacturing-related topics. Tune in to any or all of the Webcasts. Ask questions during the broadcast, hear what your peers are asking too. Register today for the series featuring Parker Hannifin - Tube Fittings Division, AutomationDirect and Bimba Manufacturing.

Trade Show:
Visit company booths at the virtual exhibition hall where you can learn about new products, subscribe to newsletters, download white papers or literature from Sealevel Systems, AutomationDirect, Bimba Manufacturing, EFD, FactoryMation, Parker Hannifin - Tube Fittings Division and Strong Hold Products.

Stay for an hour or stay all day - you decide. Without burdensome travel costs, you can invite your whole management team to view a Webcast or review product features at company booths.

People who should attend: All types of Engineers, Plant Managers, Facilities Managers, Maintenance, Plant Operations, Analysts, Research and Design, VP of Operation, Managers, Directors, CEO, President, and Safety Directors.

To register for this free event, visit www.newequipment.com/webexpo




ARCHIVED WEBCASTS AVAILABLE FOR FREE VIEWING


Click Here for a list of archived Machine Design webcasts.

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Editorial questions:   Robert Repas 216-931-9319
Advertising/sponsorship opportunities:   Virginia Goulding 216-931-9893

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