Originally Published MPMN February 2006

PRODUCTS

Products from the MPMN Mailbox

Molded Rubber Parts

Custom molded rubber parts are bonded to metal components for prototype and production applications. Rubber Industries (Shakopee, MN; www.rubberindustries.com) offer rubber molding of components such as valve assemblies, diaphragms, gear and sprocket assemblies, and mounting devices. Included are a broad range of rubber components bonded to aluminum, brass, steel, Teflon, and plastic. The company also supplies a range of custom formulated and compounded elastomers to meet correct functional, environmental, and color requirements of the bonded assembly. Many industry requirements can be met with the custom formulations, including resistance to heat, cold, oil, gas, and harsh chemicals. Specific performance issues, including hardness, fluid and abrasion resistance, shrinkage, and elongation are addressed by the firm for specific applications.

Mechanical Torque Limiter

A rotary motion control product can isolate the driving from the driven elements within milliseconds. The mechanical torque limiter from Nexen (Vadnais Heights, MN; www.nexengroup.com) offers high performance and zero backlash, and are adjustable. The units are factory-set to the lowest torque within the torque range. Additional features include overload protection, low residual friction following disengagement, low moment of inertia, and double-bearing support of pulley or sprocket. Removal is not required in order to adjust the torque limiter. Applications include automation equipment, machine tools, industrial robots, sheet metal processing machines, and servo + dc motor drives.

Heating Circuits

A manufacturer has developed advanced heating circuits for use in mass spectrometry, electrosurgical tools, and thermocoagulation. The heating circuits offered by Morgan Technical Ceramics (MTC; Fairfield, NJ; www.morgantechnicalceramics.com) are made from a variety of ABA alloys. The composition of the alloys used depends on the end application, substrate application, and electrical resistance. The small circuits are applied to flat and curved surfaces, allowing heat to conduct through a robust, inert ceramic material. Heating circuits applied directly to a ceramic allow higher thermal loads in smaller packages. The small size of these heaters permits direct integration into their design, instead of mechanically attaching a heater. Therefore, entire product assemblies can be scaled down into portable or surgically invasive products.

ac/dc Switching Power Supply

A single-output ac/dc switching power supply comes in a compact footprint. The ECM100 power supply from XP Power (Littleton, MA; www.xppower.com) is approved for use in medical OEM applications. With a footprint of 4.5 × 2.5 in. and a height of 1.2 in., the unit has a power density of 7.4 W/cu in. Outputs are from +3.3 V to +48 V dc and the power supplies have safety approvals for any voltage within this range, including custom-specified outputs. Input voltage is from 85–264 V ac. The operating temperature range is 0° to 80° C; overtemperature, overvoltage, and overload protection are built into the unit.

Continuous-Flex Ethernet Cables

A developer of cable carriers offers continuous-flex Ethernet cables for high-volume data transfer systems in tight spaces. The Chainflex CF14 Cat 5 and Cat 6 cables are available from Igus Inc. (East Providence, RI; www.igus.com). The cable is designed to withstand millions of cycles at a small bending radius. It is suitable for continuous-flex applications in constricted spaces. The Cat 5 model can transfer 100 mbps, while the Cat 6 version can transfer up to 250 mbps. The cable has a TPE-based, halogen-free outer jacket that prevents the release of toxic or corrosive gases in the event of fire. This material also enables the cable to operate at low and high temperatures, and provides oil, coolant, UV, and abrasion resistance. The copper shield is braided into a strong, highly flexible design over an aluminum foil to enable total shielding. A TPE-based inner jacket is included. The Cat 5 cable is available with four twisted pairs of conductors. Outer diameters of 0.21 or 0.41 in. are offered. The Cat 6 also comes with four twisted pairs and 0.39 in. O.D.

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