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| For design engineers and engineering management
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September 10, 2009
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I command you to innovate
An increasing number of observers say the culture and environment
within the U.S. does not foster innovation. Gerard “Gus” Gaynor is
in this camp. He was once an engineering manager at 3M and now is a
consultant who has written several books on managing engineers. Gaynor
worked at 3M back in the days when Post-it Notes and other classic
innovations were emerging. The experience gave him a ringside seat on
the development of products now considered textbook cases of innovation.
“The U.S. government is talking about innovation as though you get
up tomorrow morning and innovate," he says. "They don’t understand the
process." Read more
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Why GM failed
"Your editorial bemoaning the longterm lack of negative thinking in
the domestic auto industry (“The upside of negative thinking,” Jan.
8) got me reminiscing about the reasons for my leaving GM back in
1978.....Being a graduate fresh from college in 1972, I was in complete
awe of the stunning technical prowess exhibited by some of the technical
leaders. Yet it soon became obvious that GM just didn’t want to hear
any bad news. So poor quality was accepted by many of the engineers, the
union, and GM management." Read more
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Cut the Wires. Cut the Cost
 The National
Instruments wireless sensor network (WSN) platform delivers
battery-powered nodes that offer industrial certifications, reliable
networking protocols, and optional outdoor enclosures for long-term,
stand-alone deployments. You can take advantage of NI LabVIEW software
integration with NI WSNs to select between Windows and LabVIEW Real-Time
OSs and simplify the extraction of high-quality measurement data.
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Watch your fingers
From the files of safety expert Lanny Berke: A punch-press operator
cycled the press once. When she reached in to reposition the workpiece
according to standard procedure, the press cycled again, crushing
fingers on both her hands.
Two years earlier, the press was converted from its original foot-pedal
control to the palm-button design. The foot-pedal control was also a
"single- trip" mechanism requiring the operator to depress the pedal to
cycle the press, release the pedal, and redepress it for the next cycle.
Read more
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'Specifying Linear Motion Systems'
White Paper Now Available from ROLLON
 ROLLON Corporation is
offering engineers a detailed white paper with valuable information on
critical areas of consideration for engineers who are looking to specify
a linear motion system. With over 25 years of linear applications
experience, ROLLON is a leading international manufacturer of linear
bearings and actuators designed to meet the requirements of design
engineers involved in machine design applications across all
industries.
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What the future holds for
technology
This year MACHINE DESIGN's birthday cake has 80 candles. As part of
the celebration, we invited industry experts to peer into the future and
take educated guesses as to how the technologies they work with will
change over the next several decades. Read more
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Talk to a scientist
NOVA, the well-known educational TV series, has launched a brand-new
Web-only series called The Secret Life of Scientists which highlights
two science and engineering stars every month. In a selection of three
to six short, punchy films, each person describes his or her passions
both within and outside of science. The site will also include
opportunities to interact directly with the scientists through
“questions & answers,” sharing stories, and bonus video that digs
deep into each scientist’s work and life to reveal more about who
these thinkers are as people. www.pbs.org
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Check Out the New EET Website
Are you looking for more information on energy efficiency? EETweb.com
features the latest efficiency updates, information on the basics of
energy efficiency and products available for energy efficient designs.
Click here to
visit the site and learn more!
Now Available On-Demand
The Energy Efficiency Web Conference & Expo
Engineers saw and heard great educational content at the Energy
Efficiency Web Conference and Expo. If you missed the live virtual
event, don’t despair! An archive of the full day’s agenda is now
available.
Design engineers are required to integrate energy efficiency into their
designs while maintaining lower costs, the highest reliability or both.
The editors of Machine Design understand these challenges
and have developed this conference to help engineers understand the
recently imposed energy mandates. The information presented at this
educational event will help engineers compare the different technologies
and product related to energy efficiency. Attendees will gain access to
the technical information needed to help them make the best decisions
without having to travel or take time away from current projects.
Visit the archive to:
- View informative webinars on energy efficiency
- Visit interactive booths where you can contact suppliers
- Peruse the Resource Center where you can download or link to
additional pertinent energy efficiency information
Register Now!
UPCOMING WEBCASTS
Optimizing Mechatronic Systems Using Simulation
Sponsored by The MathWorks
DATE: September 10th, 2009
TIME: 2:00pm ET/11am PT
Are you encountering integration errors in mechatronic systems late in
development during hardware prototyping?
Simulating mechatronic
systems in one environment that combines mechanical, electrical, and
control system modeling makes it easier to find performance errors early
in your development process. In addition, current simulation technology
allows integration of engineering data from different CAE tools, such as
CAD and EDA, reducing translation errors.
Attend this live webcast and learn how simulation can help you:
- Build multidomain mechatronic system models
- Predict and optimize system performance
- Understand and manage complex system interactions
- Detect design inefficiencies and integration errors during
development
- Verify and test mechatronic systems before building hardware
prototypes
Click here learn more and to register!
How to Select the Right Dispense Valve
Sponsored by EFD
DATE: September 17th, 2009
TIME: 2:00pm ET/11am PT
This webinar will provide an overview of the different types of dispense
valves and review criteria for matching valves to specific fluids and
applications.
Topics will include:
- Common types of assembly fluids
- Fluid/valve compatibility
- Matching the valve to the application
- Choosing a fluid reservoir
- Benefits of using a dedicated valve controller
Click here learn more and to register!
ARCHIVED WEBCASTS AVAILABLE FOR FREE VIEWING
Click
Here for a list of archived Machine Design webcasts.
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Minco Flexible Heaters Design Guide
Order a FREE Flexible Heaters Design Guide to learn how flexible heaters
can benefit your design. Also get tips on selecting the right heater for
prototyping. Get your copy today: www.minco.com/heaterguide
Electro-Sensors Inc.
Electro-Sensor's TT420 temperature transmitter, an integral part of the
Electro-Sentry™ Hazard Monitoring System, combines a temperature
sensor, signal conditioning, and 2-wire loop-powered 4-20mA transmitter
into one compact package.
www.electro-sensors.com
Design & Manufacturing Midwest • Expo & Conference •
September 22-24, 2009 • Rosemont (Chicago), IL •
DM-Midwest.com
The must-attend event for manufacturers looking to strengthen business,
improve product margin and efficiency, and emerge from 2009 more
competitive than ever. There is no better way to see and compare
equipment, technology, materials, and suppliers—no matter what product
you manufacture. Register online for FREE expo admission at www.DM-Midwest.com
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