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The latest information on engineering materials September 2, 2008


Nanomagnets, micropores, and ant-size motors.
In this week's issue, big ideas are packed into tiny materials. We'll take a microscope to rapid manufacture with electron beams, the self-lubricating power of powder-metal bearings, and small but mighty piezo motors.

But first, take a look at magnetic nanocomposites, nano-sized magnetic crystals embedded in an amorphous matrix. They could be the next big thing in soft magnetism. Carnegie Mellon professor M. E. McHenry described his recent research into magnetic nanocomposites to Machine Design editor Lee Teschler on tape. Watch the video on Engineering TV.

Jessica Shapiro


Articles

Lightweight but Superstrong Parts
How often has one of your designs been a trade-off of weight versus strength? Too heavy, and you waste material. Too light, and parts might fail. Electron beam melting (EBM) is a rapid-manufacturing technique for fabricating 3D-lattice structures that can replace solid metals and even encourage bone ingrowth in medical implants.
Read the whole story.

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Defining the Direct Digital Manufacturing and Rapid Tooling Matrix

Learn how to determine when to use direct digital manufacturing and rapid tooling matrix through an analysis of timelines, cost and geometries in this one-hour webcast on Wednesday, June 18 at 1 p.m. EST. Register online

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Plastic Parts with Smooth surface finish

Get a smooth surface finish with Ready Part – a process that reduces the need for extra sanding or finishing of FDM parts.

http://www.redeyerpm.com/ReadyPart





Bearings That Lube for Less
Could self-lubricating bearings with a wide temperature range actually save you money? They could if they are made from powder metal (PM). Engineers have relied on bearings and bushings made from PM for over 80 years, and recent advances have made PM parts even more attractive. Reliable test data, quality control, and specifications can help designers select and apply these versatile parts.
Read the whole story.

Tiny Motors Make Big Moves
The plethora of shrinking devices spurred by new technologies need a special type of miniature electric motor that fits their small size. Instead of the typical magnet-and-coil construction, these motors use piezoceramic compounds that pull or push armatures into position using direct physical contact.
Read the whole story.

New Products

Plastic Netting
Inexpensive plastic netting protects products, even during shipping. The inert polyethylene material resists abrasion and withstands most chemicals and solvents. It comes in flat sheets for layering or as sleeves. The netting comes in three different strengths and a variety of colors. Common applications include protecting precision components, glass bottles, and gas cylinders.
More Information:
Caplugs


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Free Guide: Convert Metal Designs to Plastic

Cut your parts count, eliminate welding and assembly. This new guide reveals how design engineers in the know converted their metal, wood and plastic parts to rotationally molded plastic. They cut the weight, cut hard costs and then earned promotions. True case studies highlight award-winning, fully integrated design upgrades for Titleist and Callaway plus lighting, construction, basketball units and more.

Get your free guide, "Rotomolding.com's Most Remarkable Plastics Design Conversions" at Rotomolding.com; call 800.772.7659 or email agirard@modroto.com.

Free guide at www.Rotomolding.com




Polymer Heat Sinks
Thermally conductive thermoplastics for heat sinks and thermal management dissipate the same amount of heat as aluminum but are up to 50% lighter with no antenna effect. E-Series grades are electrically conductive and provide inherent EMI/ RFI absorption. D-Series grades are electrically insulative and produce no signal interference and or magnetic coupling. The polymers have a thermal conductivity of 20 W/mK, thermal diffusivity of 0.1 cm2/sec, and a density of 1.7 gm/cm3. They are available as injection-molding compounds, off-the-shelf parts, or as custom injection molded parts.
More Information:
Cool Polymers Inc.


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Polyurethane Timing Belts
The Fenner High Torque (FHT) Class of synchronous belts have a curvilinear tooth profile. The design is said to produce less noise, dusting, backlash and vibration resulting in longer life. The belts are made of polyurethane with Kevlar or other textile reinforcement for over 1,000-lb tensile strength. FHT belts are available in 1, 2, 3, and 5-mm pitches, 0.97 to 3.4-mm thicknesses from belt OD to tooth peak, and 0.098 to 10-in. widths. High coefficient of friction and temperature resistant grades as well as custom features are available on request.
More Information:
Fenner Precision


News from MD

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Engineering TV is 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

Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) Gives Designers New Freedom and Manufacturers a Higher Degree of Quality Control
Sponsored by Morris Technologies
DATE: September 4th, 2008
TIME: 2:00pm ET/11am PT

DMLS is more than a prototyping tool; it’s a viable manufacturing alternative that can deliver parts in volume with competitive pricing. Primarily employed for rapid prototyping, DMLS now plays an important role in manufacturing by delivering parts in volume with competitive pricing. 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.

Click here to learn more and register!



An Introduction to Non-contact, High-speed Jet Dispensing
Sponsored by EFD
DATE: September 17th, 2008
TIME: 2:00pm ET/11am PT

As today’s products continue to pack more and more features into smaller and smaller packages, manufacturers need new ways to apply adhesives, coatings and other assembly fluids in smaller, more precise amounts than ever before.
Jet dispensing systems combine high production speed with exceptional accuracy and process control. They are ideal for dispensing a wide variety of adhesives and other assembly fluids at speeds up to 150 dots per second in accurate, consistent volumes as small as 0.002 μl (2 nl).
By using piezoelectric technology to jet fluid onto the substrate, these non-contact systems eliminate the need for precise height positioning and time-consuming Z-axis movement, allowing production lines to run at maximum capacity.

Click here to learn more and register!



ARCHIVED WEBCASTS AVAILABLE FOR FREE VIEWING


Click Here for a list of archived Machine Design webcasts.

Industry Update

Metal Casting Reference Website Debuts
MetalCastingDesign.com is a news website sponsored by the American Foundry Society (AFS). It provides metal-casting buyers and design engineers an online resource for metal casting information, including casting alloys, processes, design advice, and a directory of metal-casting suppliers. The Casting Alloy and Process Selector (CAPS) provides design and sourcing information based on seven criteria such as estimated component weight, section thickness, surface finish, and similar factors. The new website will host content previously shown on castsolutions.com such as web-only white papers and industry news.

Featured Links

Boker's 2008 Washer Catalog
Boker's, Inc.'s FREE 2008 Washer Catalog has over 22,000 non-standard sizes available with no tooling charges. A wide range of ODs, IDs and thicknesses, plus 2,000 material variations provide millions of possibilities.
www.bokers.com/mde

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Contact Information
Editorial questions:   Jessica Shapiro 216-931-9850
Advertising/sponsorship opportunities:   Virginia Goulding 216-931-9893

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