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September 17, 2009

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Views abound on planes and plans
Two weeks ago, I listed out some statistics on government spending. Many of you had a lot to say about it - specifically on the loaded discontinuation of the F22.

Greg O. from Chicago would like to bring attention to a PDF defending the F22 design itself, separate from larger spending questions.

"National defense should be the only thing in which the federal government is involved," Mike S. writes. "Let the states handle other issues as they see fit. The government is spending other people's money."

Lee S. from Virginia: "Our growth and stability will be realized with a lower debt-to-GDP ratio, plain and simple. The current administration has taken actions to stabilize the economy. Shortly it will be time to ‘pay the bills' so we can have a balanced budget."

Nabi I. would like to know whether F22 maintenance is mostly parts or labor costs: "Labor in this case is military labor; isn't that relatively cheap?"

J.S. of North Carolina: "We could all have first-class healthcare, educational systems, and infrastructure with a little trimming of budgets to support the military-industrial complex and banks. But few seem to mind when it's the military and their suppliers at the public trough. Or maybe they just do a better job of hiding it in multiple budgets, as well as locating facilities in every Congressional district and state."

Writes international reader Stephen J. from Australia: "I say spend more on people in need, and less on military might. The U.S. and its people deserve better social-support and public health systems. Not to say that Australia is leading the way. However, conservative governments find easy distractions from reality, to blame people who cannot defend themselves."

"Why would you call out the F22 spending?" asks Rich S. "Are you against the program? Yet according to the link, the Treasury department is to get $90,000,000,000 of TARP. Whatever happened to shovel-ready projects?"

You're invited to supply your own commentary on the cut F22, as well as answer the question posed by Nabi I. To Rich S., thank you for your pointed question. Suffice to say that I'm personally a pragmatist. You're right in that the TARP program (which remember, passed in 2008) may be more unfortunate than other programs (such as that for infrastructure or the F22) that might catch flak, to use a term of aviation — if only because of its scale and (in my mind) relatively vague purpose. As always, I welcome all of your additional comments.

Elisabeth Eitel

Articles

DC MOTOR SELECTION: Part 2 of 2
In the first installment of this two-part series we discussed the background of dc motors, brushed types, and ironcore versus coreless types. Here we cover other dc motor varieties and their use in applications.

Unlike brushed varieties, brushless dc motors cannot be operated directly off of straight-line dc voltage. Remember, brushless motors use electronic commutation — so again, no brushes make physical contact with the commutator. A permanent magnet rotor initiates motion by chasing a revolving magnetic field induced by the current in the stator windings ...

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Basics of motion: PID loops
When you want to drive your car at 65 mph, you depress the accelerator until the speedometer reports the target speed — simple. But what happens when you start driving up a hill? The car slows because the torque to move a car at 65 mph on flat road is no longer enough — so you respond by pressing the accelerator further down. Your foot, the speedometer, and your brain have formed a control loop.

Similarly, modern industrial controls are often required to regulate processes as part of a control loop. Let's review.

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Automation: Management involvement, troubleshooting
The situation was perplexing. From the beginning, management seemingly accepted and sponsored the project. But now, they didn’t seem to know how or even want to make it work. The painful lesson: When people in charge are not willing to manage automation on an ongoing basis, more than likely the project will fail.

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C-Lube Unit for Cam Followers

IKO C-Lube Unit for Cam Follower is a lubricating part attached to the cam follower. Since lubricating oil, which is indispensable to the outside diameter surface of the cam follower outer ring and track surface is supplied, periodical oil supplying is not required. It realizes a long period maintenance free operation of the track surface.



News

New White Paper Available!
Control system developers must quickly respond to changing performance, safety and feature requirements. Learn how the Intel® Industrial Control Reference Design facilitates the migration to a flexible modular architecture, simplifying system development.
Download White Paper from Machine Design

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News from MD

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!


Machine Design Video Spotlight

Learn more about Proto Labs
See how Proto Labs, through its First Cut and Protomold services, provides new product designers and engineers with the easiest, fastest and least-expensive way to obtain real parts, really fast.


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

Precision Plastic Components - Micromolding is More Than Small Parts
Sponsored by Accumold
DATE: October 8th, 2009
TIME: 2:00pm ET/11am PT

OEM design projects are increasingly requiring tighter tolerances, smaller or lighter components and high reliability/quality. These are challenges that must be addressed quickly by engineers in order to get the final products to market on time, even if the solution is custom in nature.

The demand for precision plastic components has grown rapidly over the past several years, but this growth has created some confusion about what Micromolding really is, how it can be used and what pitfalls need to be avoided. Jim and Greg from Accumold will present a technical overview on Thursday, October 8th at 2pm and answer your questions.

Click here to 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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