Product Design and Development - Industry News Today

GreenPeak Technologies Obtains ZigBee RF4CE Certification

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:25:19 GMT

GreenPeak Technologies, a leading fabless semiconductor company offering innovative ultra low power wireless and battery-free data communication technologies for consumer electronics and sense and control applications, today announced the successful completion of ZigBee RF4CE certification.

Defects In Carbon Nanotubes Could Lead To Improvements

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:35:42 GMT

Most people would like to be able to charge their cell phones and other personal electronics quickly and not too often. A recent discovery made by UC San Diego engineers could lead to carbon nanotube-based supercapacitors that could do just this.

WAGO Launches Free Online CAD Portal

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:44:32 GMT

WAGO Corporation has launched WAGO/PARTcommunity Portal for free access to WAGO’s 17,000+ parts catalog. As an online portal, WAGO/PARTcommunity provides direct downloads of 2D/3D CAD drawings, product information and PDF data sheets.

Banner Engineering’s First FlexPower Solar Supply

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:54:28 GMT

Banner Engineering's FlexPower Solar Supply, BWA-SOLAR-001, delivers a complete solution specifically designed for powering SureCross Wireless Network devices—offering an integrated charge controller, rechargeable battery pack, AC wall charger and mounting hardware.

Record Swim Attempt Between Germany & Denmark

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:14:29 GMT

Last year Christian, who works at TraceParts as a project manager for 3D catalogs, became the third German in History to successfully swim across the Strait of Gibraltar. He completed the swim without wearing a neoprene swimsuit and in water at a temperature of just 18 degrees Celsius (click here for more details about this 2008 adventure: http://www.traceparts.com/news/PR30092008.asp).

Laser Design Installs Portable FARO Arm Laser Scanning System

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:31:56 GMT

Laser Design Inc., the leading supplier of 3D laser scanners for over 20 years, announced that Schneider Electric recently installed a Laser Design-FARO arm laser scanning system in its Cedar Rapids, Iowa facility. The system will be used for verifying plastic injection mold tooling prior to production runs.

Industrial Wireless Kicks Off Opto 22 Online Training Series

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:44:12 GMT

Over the next several months, Opto 22 will be offering free education and training to automation professionals, via a series of free one-hour Web seminars focused on wireless networking and other hot topics in the automation industry.

Parametric CAD Becomes Standard In Geomagic Studio

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:23:55 GMT

Geomagic has combined its three Geomagic Studio offerings into a single package that includes both design-intent and organic shape modeling solutions. The new package is available immediately at the same price as the former Geomagic Studio Shape Edition.

Glimpsing A Greener Future

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:46:17 GMT

Pennzoil.comLook into Shane Stephens-Romero's crystal ball -- a computer model called STREET -- and find that air quality has significantly improved. Greenhouse gas emissions are more than 60 percent lower than in 2009, and levels of microscopic soot and ozone are about 15 percent and 10 percent lower, respectively.

nmLaser Introduces FlexSorb High Performance Laser Shutters

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:50:57 GMT

nmLaser Products, Inc., the world’s leading manufacturer of high irradiance laser shutters, announces its new FlexSorb line of high performance laser shutters incorporating an innovative non-contact electromagnetic design and superior thermal dissipation. The new FlexSorb laser shutters will be on display at Photonics West in January 2010.

NVision MobileScan Helps Custom Gun Grip Manufacturer Improve Quality

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:37:04 GMT

A custom gun grip manufacturer has substantially improved the quality of its products by using the MobileScan HD portable 3D laser scanning system from NVision to reverse engineer the original grips. In the past, the manufacturer used a coordinate measuring machine (CMM) to define the geometry of the mounting surface of the grips.

Virginia Tech Developing Vehicles For The Blind With SolidWorks

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:30:58 GMT

But for the blind, driving is one of life’s most sorely missed conveniences. It means independence, the exhilarating possibility of simply going someplace without depending on friends, family, or public transportation schedules. A team of Virginia Tech students is trying to make this possible by helping blind drivers see with their hands and ears, and SolidWorks CAD software is helping them.

CAN Primer

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:00:23 GMT

CAN is extensively used in automobiles and trucks but has found applications everywhere. There are many “application” layers available for CAN such as ISO 15765 (cars), J1939 (trucks) and CANopen (factory automation) but it is very easy to develop your own protocol that will fit and simplify your needs.

Walking The Video Carpet

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:53:14 GMT

Proudly creating a 60’ x 10’ LED floor for premier Canadian event producers, The Aileron Group launches the next generation LED display developed by Element Labs and supplied and supported by one of the leading US rental companies, Upstage Video.

Avnet Electronics, Fairchild Semiconductor Celebrate 50-Year Milestone

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:42:44 GMT

The Avnet Electronics Marketing operating group of Avnet, Inc. (NYSE: AVT) and Fairchild Semiconductor (NYSE: FCS) are celebrating their 50-year alliance.

'Universal' Programmable Quantum Processor

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:10:35 GMT

Physicists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have demonstrated the first "universal" programmable quantum information processor able to run any program allowed by quantum mechanics—the rules governing the submicroscopic world—using two quantum bits (qubits) of information. The processor could be a module in a future quantum computer, which theoretically could solve some important problems that are intractable today.

DRIVe Around The World

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:01:53 GMT

How well connected are you? With the contest "DRIVe around The World" Volvo Cars takes another step towards harnessing the power of social networking. The contest challenges people to virtually drive a Volvo C30 around the world in 80 days, using only their Facebook friends. Volvo Cars will donate 15,000 Euros in the winning team's name to a carbon offset project promoted by myclimate.

Custom-Made Bacteria Glows Green When Near Landmines

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:57:05 GMT

Students from the University of Edinburgh have created a custom-made bacteria that glows green when it comes into contact with chemicals leaked by buried explosives.

SensAble Brings Medieval Times To Life

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:01:22 GMT

SensAble Technologies announced that its customer, Bastion, based in Québec City, debuted its Ex illis medieval history fantasy wargame– on time and on budget – in large part by making SensAble’s FreeForm 3D modeling system the centerpiece of its all-digital miniatures production.

Rogers Introduces Improved PORON Soft Seal Series

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:45:32 GMT

Rogers Corporation (NYSE:ROG) has announced a recent improvement to the PORON Soft Seal Series in the form of enhanced surface toughness. PORON Soft Seal Urethanes are the lowest density PORON offering and are designed to provide superior compressibility, conformability and dust sealing over the life of the product.

DSM Somos Stereolithography Resins Meet ISO Certifications

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:17:34 GMT

DSM Somos has announced that two of their best selling materials, WaterShedXC 11122 and ProtoGen 18420, have become the only currently available SL resins to meet ISO 10933 standards for use in medical device applications.

LaserMotive Sets New Power Beaming Records

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:45:53 GMT

LaserMotive, an independent research and development company specializing in laser power beaming technology, has set new scientific records for laser power beaming and earned a prize of nearly $1 million at the 2009 Space Elevator Games, marking the first time any organization has won this NASA-sponsored competition since its origin in 2005.

Honing A Competitive Advantage

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:28:58 GMT

Using market insight coupled with new technology, Sunnen has been able to grow in a downward economy. The company expanded its platform of high production, high precision bore sizing and finishing systems to include maintenance and repair operations honing. The deeper secret to this 85-year-old OEM’s success is its ability to adopt simpler, yet more advanced and cost-effective motion control.

RLS Launches 'Buy Online' Web Site For Magnetic Encoders

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:24:49 GMT

Industry's toughest encoders can now be ordered online, enabling quick-click selection of cost-saving solutions to extreme motion control applications. Rugged RLS/Renishaw rotary and linear magnetic encoders can be purchased on-line from stock 24 hours a day from www.rlsdirect.com.

3M Presents 3M Matrix Resin 3831 for Carbon Fiber Composites

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:08:34 GMT

3M presents its advanced high performance thermosetting resin system for carbon fiber composites: 3M Matrix Resin 3831. New 3M Matrix Resin has been optimized to increase modulus and toughness without compromising key properties. The new technology – used for prepreg applications – makes advanced composite parts stronger, lighter and more durable.

Personal 3D Printer Wins Popular Mechanics & Global Media Award

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:00:00 GMT

Dimension 3D Printing, a brand of Stratasys Inc. (NASDAQ: SSYS), has announced its uPrint Personal 3D Printer received two editorial awards at the annual SEMA (Specialty Equipment Manufacturing Association) show last month in Las Vegas. SEMA is a national automotive after-market trade association.

Micro Plastics Introduces New Line Of Sealing & Ring Washers

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:29:07 GMT

Micro Plastics, Inc. introduces a new line of sealing and retaining ring washers. These new specialized sealing washers add to Micros’ already extensive inventory of over 2000 plastic washers.

DNA Origami Nanoscale Breadboards Developed For Carbon Nanotube Circuits

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:59:06 GMT

In work that someday may lead to the development of novel types of nanoscale electronic devices, an interdisciplinary team of researchers at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) has combined DNA's talent for self-assembly with the remarkable electronic properties of carbon nanotubes, thereby suggesting a solution to the long-standing problem of organizing carbon nanotubes into nanoscale electronic circuits.

Cotta’s Selectable Gearbox Adds Test-Stand Flexibility

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:19:17 GMT

Cotta Transmission Co., has introduced selectable speed output capability for the company’s popular SN2057 high-speed transmission for test-stand applications.

Electronic Technologies International Completes ISO 9001:2008 Certification

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:53:30 GMT

Electronic Technologies International (ETI), a world-class Electronics Manufacturing Services company, today announced that the company has successfully completed re-certification to ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management Standards.