A Simplified Diagnostic Method for Elastomer Bond Durability

A simplified method has been developed for determining bond durability under exposure to water or high humidity conditions. It uses a small number of test specimens with relatively...

Renishaw Encoder Improves Positional Accuracy for CNC Optical Maker

When a leading manufacturer of CNC optical manufacturing technology needed ultra-accurate and stable positioning for a new system to measure conformal optics, it turned to...

Very High Output Thermoelectric Devices Based on ITO Nanocomposites

A material having useful thermoelectric properties was synthesized by combining indium-tin-oxide (ITO) with a NiCoCrAlY alloy/alumina cermet. This material had a very large...

Accelerometer

The KXTE9 accelerometer from Kionix (Ithaca, NY) has embedded algorithms for orientation and activity monitoring. The algorithms simplify the adoption of motion-based functionality in consumer electronics, while reducing operating...

Complex Multifunctional Polymer/Carbon-Nanotube Composites

A methodology for developing complex multifunctional materials that consist of or contain polymer/ carbon-nanotube composites has been conceived. As used here, “multifunctional”...

Optical Encoder

The TONIC optical encoder from Renishaw (Hoffman Estates, IL) packs advanced optics and electronics into a compact read-head measuring 35 × 13.5 × 10 mm. Available in both linear and rotary versions, it supports applications...

Ultrasonic/Sonic Anchor

The ultrasonic/sonic anchor (U/S anchor) is an anchoring device that drills a hole for itself in rock, concrete, or other similar material. The U/S anchor is a recent addition to a series of related devices, the first of...

24Vdc Gearmotor

The Model No. MMP-TM55-24V GP52-059 dc gearmotor from Midwest Motion Products (Watertown, MN) produces 60in.-lb. of torque at 78 rpm. Designed to operate on 24 Vdc, it measures 2.14in. diameter × 7.75in. long, and has a keyed...

Ball Valve

A miniature ball valve from Beswich Engineering (Greenland, NH) comes in two configurations. The MBV-1010-303 is for applications requiring an on/off valve, while the MBVT-1010-303 is for applications requiring selecting one of two...

Medical Design Advances Provide New Diagnostic and Treatment Options

Advances in medical design are paving the way for diagnostic and treatment options that previously were thought to be impossible. Today, surgeons, emergency medical personnel,...

Hydraulic Power Pack

The KA power pack from HAWE Hydraulics (Charlotte, NC) can supply pressure up to 10,000 psi utilizing a radial piston pump, or up to 2,900 psi utilizing a gear pump.

Reducing Unsteady Loads on a Piggyback Miniature Submarine

A small, simple fixture has been found to be highly effective in reducing destructive unsteady hydrodynamic loads on a miniature submarine that is attached in piggyback fashion to the...

Servo Motors

The SM2315D-PLS2 and SM2315DT-PLS2 integrated servo motors from Animatics Corp. (Santa Clara, CA) have a built-in controller, encoder, and amplifier, and can be programmed to control several machines. They achieve resolution up to...

Grooved Fuel Rings for Nuclear Thermal Rocket Engines

An alternative design concept for nuclear thermal rocket engines for interplanetary spacecraft calls for the use of grooved-ring fuel elements. Beyond spacecraft rocket engines, this concept...

Clean Room Motor

The Clean Motors from HaydonKerk Motion Solutions (Waterbury, CT) are designed to limit contaminants and outgassing in vacuum environments. The motors operate in vacuum down to 10-9 Torr.

Pulsed Operation of an Ion Accelerator

Electronic circuitry has been devised to enable operation of an ion accelerator in either a continuous mode or a high-peak-power, low-average-power pulsed mode. In the original intended application, the...

Micro Manipulator

The MT 105-50-LM micro manipulator stage from Steinmeyer (Burlington, MA) provides a positional accuracy of 1 micrometer, straightness/flatness runout of +/1 micrometer, and repeatability of +/0.2 micrometers. It measures...

Communications and Tracking Services Support Near-Earth Missions

Telemetry, tracking, and command services ITT Corporation White Plains, NY 914-641-2000 www.itt.com ITT Corporation has been selected by the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center to...

Position Sensor

The TRACKER TRK-1TO2 position sensor from New Scale Technologies (Victor, NY) measures 8.5 × 11.5 × 1.61 mm and provides 2-micrometer resolution. It can be used as a linear encoder or off-axis rotary encoder and unlike optical...

Measurement Systems Aid NASA in Study of Space Station Solar Array Anomaly

Surface and roundness measurement systems Taylor Hobson West Chicago, IL 630-621-3099 www.taylor-hobson.com NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama is using the...

Voice Coil Actuators

A family of linear voice coil actuators from BEI Kimco Magnetics (Vista, CA) include two spring designs based on magnetic rather than mechanical technology. This technology ensures constant and precise valve position in...

NASA Geostationary Coastal and Air Pollution Monitoring

The Geostationary Coastal and Air Pollution Events (GEO-CAPE) mission has been recommended for launch in the 2013-2016 time frame by the National Research Council. The mission’s purpose...

An Innovative Approach to Shaker Testing

When it comes to testing products for long-term durability, shock exposure survival, or accelerated life testing, the classic technique most engineers turn to is vibration testing with a shaker table....

Integrated Motor/Drive

The MDrive14Plus Microstepping and MDrive14Plus Half/Full Step motor/drives from Intelligent Motion Systems (Marlborough, CT) use a NEMA size 14 brushless 1.8in. stepping motor and measure just 1.9 × 1.4 × 2.0 in. The...

Model RPM10 Photo/Contact Tachometer

Extech Instruments, Waltham, MA, has introduced the Model RPM10 photo/contact tachometer that includes a built-in, noncontact infrared thermometer with laser pointer that provides surface temperature...

Rod Clamp

The AMLOK(R) Hydraulic Series RCH Rod Clamp from Advanced Machine & Engineering (Rockford, IL) is designed to clamp components after the motion has stopped and to hold the position securely as long as the forces do not exceed...

Smart Motor Controller

The AH5792 smart motor controller from Diodes Inc. (Hauppauge, NY) integrates a Hall sensor and amplifier, complete digital circuitry, and a full bridge output driver in an SOT553 package. These features eliminate the...

Nano Positioner

The Nano-SP30 positioning system from Mad City Labs (Madison, WI) is suited for nano-indentation and nano manipulation applications. It provides 25mm of travel with a step size of 95nm. A piezo-driven stage achieves...