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March 26, 2008
Articles

Precision Actuator Puts New Spin on Solar Power
Hydraulic drives bolster solar field's efficiency, reliability. Twenty-five miles south of Las Vegas, Nevada Solar One, a new 64-MW solar thermal power plant, recently went online. Spanning more than 300 acres, it's the world's third largest solar-energy field and will generate approximately 129 million kW-hr of electricity annually, reportedly enough to power about 14,000 homes. Instead of the familiar photovoltaic solar panels, the facility uses 760 parabolic troughs — holding about 182,000 curved mirrors — to concentrate sunlight on glass and steel receiver tubes.
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Basics of Design Engineering: Linear DC Motors
A linear dc motor, like a rotating dc motor, generates mechanical force by the interaction of current in conductors and magnetic flux provided by permanent rare-earth magnets. It is constructed of a stator assembly and a slider. The stator assembly serves as the body and contains a laminated steel structure with conductors wound in transverse slots. The slider contains one or more sets of magnets, commutation components, a bearing surface, and its body completes the magnetic flux path between the magnets.
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New Products

Resolverbased Servo Positioner
Model 941 PositionServo Drive measures the position of a motor shaft within a revolution. Use of an integrated resolver with a scalable-emulated encoder output gives tight position control and also works in basic torque and velocity applications. The output scales the resolution back into the controller and provides 15 options of positioning resolution.
More Information:
Lenze-AC Tech


Programmable Electronic Controllers/Drivers
The EVDR Series programmable electronic controllers/drivers are plug-in style, general-purpose controllers for use with proportional valves with single or dual coils with molded-in Deutsch DT04-2P electrical connectors. Designed for controlling and optimizing temperature-activated electrohydraulic-fan drives, the ETDR1 regulates and optimizes clutch engagement in transmission and PTO applications. EVDR4–10 controllers are housed in IP67-rated box enclosures for separate mounting. EVDR4 and EVDR5 units control up to four proportional valves plus one on/off valve. The EVDR4 has RS-232 communication capability while the EVDR5 uses J1939 CAN communications. EVDR6, EVDR9, and EVDR10 are multi-I/O units with J1939 CAN network communications. The EVDR6 controls up to six proportional or on/off valves; the multi-output EVDR9 is a slave module for up to nine valves, and the EVDR10 accepts up to 10 analog or digital inputs. Both the EVDR9 and EVDR10 can connect to a J1939 Bus.
More Information:
HydraForce Inc.


News from MD


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

Best Practices for Design Reuse in Product Development
Featuring a special customer presentation by Callaway Cars

Sponsored by PTC
DATE: March 26th, 2008
TIME: 2:00pm ET/11am PT

In this sixty-minute presentation, PTC's Director of MCAD Product Management, John Buchowski, will discuss how Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire 4.0's integrated solutions and advanced functionality ensures improved design reuse, resulting in reduced design cycle times and accelerated time-to-market. In a special PTC customer feature segment, we will hear from Pat Hodgins, Chief Engineer of Callaway Cars, as he shares how Pro/ENGINEER's capabilities have enabled him to achieve rapid design and development cycles, ensuring their competitive advantage in the design, development, and manufacture of high-performance vehicles, systems, and components.

Click here to register!



Two-Shot Silicon and Thermoplastic Molding:
The Innovative Cost Saving Solution for Medical OEM's

Sponsored by Saint-Gobain
DATE: April 2nd, 2008
TIME: 2:00pm ET/11am PT

Medical device designers are facing intense pressure to create innovative designs and maintain the highest quality over a product's lifecycle while also being forced to design for lower cost manufacturing. This is a challenge we recognize, but one that can be overcome by leveraging the cost savings and benefits of two-shot molding technology. Saint-Gobain's engineering team will present on two-shot molding, how this process innovation can provide cost savings, increased design freedom, and provide the quality and performance you demand.

Click here to register!



Gearmotors: Achieving the Perfect Match
Success through optimized motor & gearbox integration

Sponsored by Groschopp
DATE: April 9th, 2008
TIME: 2:00pm ET/11am PT

How do you select a motor and a gearbox (speed reducer) separately, then perfectly match them for your OEM application? Is it better to specify a pre-engineered gearmotor? Does it make a difference?
These are the questions that will be answered in Groschopp's upcoming webcast. Groschopp engineers Matt Decker and Loren Kamstra will share tips, tricks and techniques for specifying the most efficient and cost-effective choices given a variety of application considerations. Review of actual Case Studies will bring their experiences to life and reinforce your new motor/gearbox/gearmotor knowledge.

Click here to learn more and 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.

Industry Update

Hannover Messe — World Trade Fair for Industrial Technology
April 21 - 25, 2008
Every year the world catches up on the latest technology in Hannover, as some 200,000 industry professionals travel to Hannover Messe. This is an opportunity to attract worldwide attention for innovative products and solutions. Ten flagship international trade shows attract knowledgeable professionals from all branches of industry.
More Information

Featured Links

LEESON’s new SM2 Vector Series inverters deliver up to 200% starting torque and control an Inverter rated motor down to 1Hz at full output torque.
www.leeson.com

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Contact Information
Editorial questions:   Julie Kalista 216-931-9458
Advertising/sponsorship opportunities:   Virginia Goulding 216-931-9893

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