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| For design engineers and engineering management
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October 20, 2011
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Why does the U.S. lack skilled workers?
A recent entry in our blog area is getting a lot of attention: "A friend of mine is a science teacher in a 'Tech Program' at a community college in a nearby state. The program lets supposedly advanced students who are still in high school take college classes to get a jump start on their careers. He says a big reason the U.S. lacks skilled younger workers is that kids nowadays can get through school without even knowing, for instance, how to manipulate equations." Read more
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Unit Conversion Tool
|  Convert popular spring units such as force, or retaining ring thrust capacities, into metric units with Smalley's new engineering tool. A simple conversion tool allows for units to be converted such as mass and weight, angular measurements, velocities, temperatures, pressures and densities and more. Additional engineering tools allow engineers to design custom wave springs and Spirolox® retaining rings. Smalley has over 10,000 standard sizes available from stock, ¼" to 16" diameters. Custom designs can be manufactured from .200" to 120" with No-Tooling-Charges™.
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How geeks celebrate Halloween
From the Machine Design blog area: "Here's a neat little tutorial on how to carve up that Halloween pumpkin into a Death Star from the movie Star Wars." Read more
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EAO Series 51 – World's Shortest Behind-panel Stop Switch
|  The EAO Series 51 has a space-saving design and a back panel depth of 18.8mm, to make it the ideal stop switch for Human Machine Interface (HMI) Systems and control panels in non-hazardous, heavy-use applications. It delivers a visual actuation status in equipment for medical diagnostics, handheld devices, machine and process control, and instrumentation. It is dust and watertight to IP 65. Learn more by clicking here. |
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Advice from the engineering career coach
Engineering career coach Joel Orr recently fielded this question in his online Q&A column: "During the recession of 2008 in India I was not getting a job in relevant field. So I became a Bodyshop Advisor and service advisor for Porsche cars. But I want to work in an automobile plant. As a service advisor I am not able to use my brains. We just follow process. So what do I do from here onwards?" Read more
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How to document pumping efficiency and performance
Engineers who devise equipment that saves energy have the satisfaction of knowing that their work both saves their customers money and, on some level, helps the planet. However, there is a catch. Though some utilities will rebate up to 70% of costs for efficiency projects, they (utilities) want to see the energy reductions before they cut checks. Read more
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New Pilot Operated Check Valves
|  Pneumadyne's new Pilot Operated Check Valves are ideal for reliably holding an actuator position in a variety of applications. These rugged valves feature ¼ and 1/8 NPT output ports which mount directly on a cylinder, minimizing space requirements and easing installation. The input port swivels to accommodate valve alignment and contains a ¼ push-in or 1/8 NPT (F) connection to speed tubing installation. With a maximum operating pressure of 150 psi, these valves provide flow rates up to 22 scfm at 100 psi.
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Coming: Self-powered integrated circuits
The National Nano Device Lab in Taiwan has developed a manufacturing process that can build integrated circuits combining a two-sided solar cell and thin-film transistors (TFTs). The underlying process is said to be environment-friendly and is billed as a step toward self-powered chips. Read more
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PVC/TPU jacketing compounds
The Apex P-55003 and P-55004 jacketing compounds for industrial data and control cables are based on blends of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU).
Applications include use in factory-automation networks, industrial robots, and other plant systems requiring data or control cable. The compounds provide resistance to oil and chemicals, toughness at low temperatures, and oxygen indices comparable to those of standard PVC jacketing compounds.
Teknor Apex Co.
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Automotive resins
An expanded range of Amodel polyphthalamide (PPA) resins for automotive-electronics applications is now available. The Amodel Electronic (AE) grades eliminate corrosion problems in high-temperature and high-humidity conditions in sensors, connectors, electric motors, electronic-control-unit housings, bobbins, solenoids, and other circuit-protection devices.
The AE line eliminates shorting out or cross talk between sensitive electrical contacts. The line includes AE-4133, a high-flow, fast-cycling injection-moldable material available in black and natural. The material delivers a heat-distortion temperature of 300°C (572°F), making it suitable for surface-mount technology and laser welding.
Also available is AE-8133, which offers the high retention of dielectric properties. It is processed on oil-heated injection molds and is suitable for power-electronics applications for hybrid vehicles.
A developmental grade, Amodel PXM-11229, is a partially bio-based material that offers up to 5% lower specific gravity and one-third the moisture absorption of comparable glass-reinforced standard Amodel grades.
Solvay Specialty Polymers
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New white papers from HP and Intel:
Realistic User Productivity Comparisons for Upgrade Decision Making
 AutoCAD® users can appreciate the rock-solid dependable performance they demand from HP and Intel® processor-based workstations. The Intel® Core™ and Xeon® processor-based workstation portfolio includes a wide range of machines that fit multiple user segments, from entry, mobile, essential, and digital workbench users.
Return on Innovation: Making Individuals More Productive
The value proposition for equipping technical and creative professionals has drastically changed. The unprecedented combination of economic pressure and technological advancement has rewritten the rules of how to do more with less. Teams may forego new hires or do the same work with fewer staff, yet they can avail themselves to new tools and techniques. The challenge then becomes how to equip these valuable and fewer number of professionals to be more productive and innovative.
Click here to register and download
 Machine Design's WORLD'S SMARTEST DESIGN ENGINEER
The 2nd season has begun! Players from across the globe are still competing for fun, education, prizes and the ultimate bragging rights. Thanks to our sponsors for their support of the exciting online opportunity for engineers! Play Now!
Altech Corp.
Bimba Manufacturing Co.
Maxon Motors
R+W America
Simrit
Smalley Steel Ring
 Also, please download our first World's Smartest Design Engineer Study Guide, provided by Maxon Precision Motors, Inc. Brush up on motion control basics and learn more to help you excel at the game.
Constant Pressure: A New Approach to Hydraulic System Design
Sponsored by: Gates Corporation
Date: Oct 20th, 2011
Time: 2:00pm ET/11:00am PT
Join Tim Deans of Gates Corporation as he discusses how to achieve significant cost savings with hybrid hydraulic hoses and outlines a new take on system design – the constant pressure approach. Selecting the right hose for fit, form, function and cost effectiveness is more important than ever and, thanks to industry advancements, not as challenging as it might seem.
The constant pressure approach to pressure ratings makes it easy to select hoses that meet system requirements based on pressure and temperature. Engineers designing subsystems can select one hose type for an entire circuit and benefit from cost savings and simplicity. Factors such as weight, reduced force to bend, high temperature compatibility or tight space constraints dictate when to utilize a hybrid hose.
Learn more and register today!
Design and Tuning of Digital Controllers for High Performance AC/DC Motor Drives
Sponsored by: Bison and Infranor
Date: Nov 3rd, 2011
Time: 2:00pm ET/11:00am PT
Owing to recent advancement of Power Electronics technologies, low-cost, high performance digital motor drive systems are now designed and used in many variable speed applications in industrial, appliances, military, aerospace, automotive and electric traction (EV/HEV) applications. Presentation will introduce advanced digital control technologies used in DC, permanent magnet (PM) AC, induction, and switched reluctance motor drives.
Learn more and register today!
ARCHIVED WEBCASTS AVAILABLE FOR FREE VIEWING
Click Here for a list of archived Machine Design webcasts.
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Simplify your motion applications
Exlar Tritex II actuators integrate an AC powered servo drive, digital position controller, brushless motor, and linear or rotary actuator in one compact package—allowing you to distribute motion control with one integrated device. www.tritex2.com
Document translation: How to maximize accuracy and lower costs
International Language Services meets your standards for accuracy and expertise. Download our new white paper: "How to leverage translations to save time and cost."
Ceramic Linear Motors: Fast, Small, Sterile, Self-locking, by PI
PI is the global leader in piezo motor technology. Learn more about Piezo Motor Solutions at www.piezo-motor.net
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