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| The latest information on Electrical &
Electronic Components
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July 1, 2010
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The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) recently
published recommendations for the design of dimmable solid-state
lighting (SSL) products used to replace incandescent lamps. The main
objective of the paper, LSD 49-2010: Solid State
Lighting for Incandescent Replacement — Best Practices for
Dimming, encourages coordination among control, power supply,
and LED module manufacturers. The solid-state lighting section has also
begun work on a related NEMA standard.
Someone who's decidedly not dim is Steven Ho, aka chemicalengineer, the
May winner of a $250 Amazon gift card in MACHINE DESIGN's World’s Smartest
Design Engineer contest. So far, all of our players have
answered over 350,000 questions covering eight subject categories.
Interestingly, one of our most popular categories also appears to be one
of the most challenging: Mechanical Engineering. It shares its
popularity rating with All Things Energy and its difficulty rating with
Hydraulics & Pneumatics. The monthly competition begins anew today, July
1, with the July prize to be a $250 gift card from Dick's Sporting
Goods!
-- Bob Repas, Assoc. Editor
In this issue of Electrical & Electronic Monthly:
Let us know what's happening in your area via the MACHINE
DESIGN Blogs, LinkedIn,
Twitter, and Facebook
accounts, or visit the virtual MD
Office in Second Life.
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The Best Way to Model Magnetic
Fields
Magnetics fields are governed by Maxwell’s equations. Maxwell’s
equations can be expressed in either differential or integral form. The
two standard methods used for solving Maxwell’s equations in
differential form are the finite-difference method and the
finite-element method. The boundary-element method (equivalent to the
method of moments) is the numerical technique normally associated with
the integral form of a solution. Although both methods produce the same
solution for a given problem, they are completely different.
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Clearing the Air on a/c for Industrial
Enclosures
It is true that air conditioning added to an industrial enclosure
can significantly prolong equipment life, save energy, and reduce
downtime. But this is only the case when the cooling capacity matches
the conditions at hand. Unfortunately enclosure cooling is all too often
an afterthought. Air-conditioned equipment that runs too hot
nevertheless, or is exposed to condensation, may exhibit disappointing
reliability.
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Designing Connectors for Portable Medical
Equipment
Engineers designing connectors for portable medical equipment must
take several factors into consideration, including size and insertion
force, shielding from interference, and preventing electrical shocks.
Here’s a closer look at mechanical, electrical, and safety
requirements, as well as customer concerns.
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Leader of the DAQ
Today, the more widely used method of recording data is with a data
logger (or paperless chart recorder). Data loggers are stand-alone
instruments that measure signals, convert them to digital data, and
store the data internally. Many data loggers include built-in displays
and the ability to transfer the data to a PC for offline analysis,
permanent storage, or report generation.
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Hydraulic Wind Turbines?
It is fair to say that there are a number of complicated mechanical
and electronic systems in the nacelle of the typical utility-scale wind
turbine. With this in mind, consider a thought-provoking question: Why
not instead use a hydraulic drive? Why put the generator head up in the
nacelle? Why not just put a hydraulic pump there and let the hydraulic
pressure spin a generator on the ground?
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New Brochure on Human Machine
Interfaces
 Learn how advanced
Human Machine Interfaces (HMI) can improve the performance of your
system or vehicle. From ergonomic considerations, to electronic design,
to switch performance and aesthetics, to software and operator
interface, EAO's new HMI brochure spells out the important steps in
making these critical design decisions. Bonus: expanded application
detail in such key markets as transportation, machinery, and
instrumentation.
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Reinventing Connection
Technology
 The HARTING
Han-Yellock® electrical connector series consists of a panel
mounted housing and a carrier hood with a cover on the cable side. It
can be used with a variety of new and existing insulators and
finger-safe contact inserts. The various insulators can be inserted
from the mating and termination sides and can also be used for contact
bridging. The connectors require only male crimp contacts, and no
special tools are needed. When the connector is locked, it resists
vibration, shock and accidental opening.
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Bal Contact Canted-Coil Spring Serves as
Electrical Contact
The Bal Contact, an electrically conductive canted-coil spring from
Bal Seal Engineering Inc., Foothill Ranch, Calif. (www.balseal.com),
maintains nearly constant force over a range of working deflections.
This lets it compensate for mating tolerances, surface irregularities,
and temperature changes without altering its initial force. The durable
contacts are self-cleaning in dynamic and vibrating environments and can
handle up to 200 A/spring.
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Bearing isolator shaft-ground ring
The Aegis 841 SGR bearing isolator shaft-grounding ring protects
severe-duty motor bearings from harmful VFD-induced shaft currents and
from contaminants with an IP56 noncontact seal.
Electro Static Technology
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Electrically insulating gap fillers
The ultrathick Gap Pad 1500S30 gap filler now comes in 160, 200, and
250‑mil thicknesses. The material provides excellent interfacing and
wet-out characteristics, even on uneven surfaces. The silicone-based
material has an embedded-fiberglass reinforcement for puncture, shear,
and tear resistance.
The Bergquist Co.
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Feed-through terminal blocks
The YBK Series of feed-through terminal blocks are tension-clamp
connection style for fast wire termination and secure connection. The
DIN-rail mountable blocks come in gray, blue, red, yellow, beige, and
green. A full line of accessories include end plates, end brackets,
cross connectors, and marking tags.
Omega Engineering Inc.
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LCR meter
The Model Z8900 0.1% accuracy, LCR meter features a RS-232 interface
for remote operation and a parts handler interface for operating
component-sorting equipment. The unit offers six measurement modes
including C+R, C+D, L+R, L+Q, R+Q, and Z+Θ at test frequencies of 100
Hz, 120 Hz, 1 kHz, or 10 kHz, with 0.1, 0.3, or 1.0-V drive voltages,
and measurement rates to 12/sec.
Protek Test and Measurement
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Miniature sensor
The BIM-UNR miniature sensor are designed to mount within C-groove
cylinders with no required accessories. The sensor is inserted into a
C-groove from the top rather than from the side. A built-in tab on the
sensor’s side keeps it in place for one-handed mounting. A 1.5-mm
hexagon mounting screw, located near the cable exit, requires only a
quarter-turn to securely mount the sensor. Even if the cable is pulled,
the sensor remains fastened.
Turck Inc.
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ENGINEERINGTV.COM IS ALL NEW!
 The video site for engineers, EngineeringTV.com has been completely
redesigned and relaunched with an entirely new look and enhanced
functionality. Browse video libraries on specific technology topics or
browse by company brands, by tradeshow, or even by publication-specific
video “playlists.” It is all the same quality editorial content and
cutting-edge technology videos, but with better usability. Check it out
today!
 Machine Design's WORLD'S
SMARTEST DESIGN ENGINEER
Players from across the globe are
competing for fun, education, prizes and the ultimate bragging rights.
Thanks to our sponsors for their support of the exciting online
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Altech Corp.
AutomationDirect.com
Avago Technologies
Bimba Manufacturing Company
Digi-Key Corporation
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Forest City Gear
Hewlett Packard
Maxon Motor USA
Nippon Pulse
Ringfeder
R+W America L.P.
Smalley Steel Ring
W. L. Gore & Associates
Using Current Sensors in Motor Drives, Power Inverters
Avago Technologies
DATE: July 7th, 2010
TIME: 12:00pm ET/9am PT
Learn about Avago's solution for sensing motor current and transmit
signals from high voltage motor phases/rails to the control circuit for
your next design. Our Isolation amplifiers, working in conjunction with
shunt resistors, provide accurate current measurements in power
converter applications in the presence of high switching noise. These
devices include a built-in A/D converter and robust optical coupling
technology to achieve high gain accuracy and common mode noise
rejection.
Click here to learn more and register!
Design for Manufacturing - Benefits of Modern Cabling
Practices
Harting
DATE: July 21st, 2010
TIME: 2:00pm ET/11:00am PT
Equipment installation problems can ruin your plans for the day, not to
mention creating delays, frustrations, and higher manpower costs. Yet
today's economy means any design change for cost improvement or
installation ease needs careful consideration.
Hardwiring equipment makes sense in certain applications, while the
modularity and quick hookups offered by adding connectors makes sense in
others. Maybe it's time for a change, but how? HARTING, a global
provider of cabled solutions and industrial connectivity, can provide
important insights into making the right choice.
Click here to learn more and register!
ARCHIVED WEBCASTS AVAILABLE FOR FREE VIEWING
Click
Here for a list of archived Machine Design webcasts.
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Trans-Tek is a leading manufacturer of Linear and Angular
Displacement and Linear Velocity Transducers. The company also develops
customized transducers for specific application requirements. www.lvdtsensor.net
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Contact Information
Editorial questions: Robert Repas
216-931-9319
Advertising/sponsorship opportunities: Virginia Goulding
216-931-9893
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