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How to design a 10-in. cast-iron skillet in SOLIDWORKS in 10 min.

The engineers over at TriMech are always providing new tips, tricks, and tutorials. This time around, they have put together a 10-min. SOLIDWORKS demo on how to design a cast-iron skillet. The video covers sketch relations and dimensions to fully define the geometry and applying three-dimensional features. From beginner to advanced user, TriMech provides excellent training support.
View the video.

ClampDisk micro fastener is new alternative for automotive and consumer electronics

Designed as a unique alternative in assemblies for the automotive and consumer electronics markets, the ClampDisk Press-on Fastener is a new offering from PennEngineering that delivers a fast, simple way to achieve sheet-to-sheet clamped fastening while replacing the use of standard screws, nuts, and adhesives. The most common challenges that can be eliminated or reduced by using ClampDisk include over installation, cross threading, stripped screw heads, broken screws, and damaged product. This fastener can be removed easily with a sharp-edged tool.
Learn more and see how ClampDisk works.

Design Tips: Build strength into parts with insert molding

Plastic injection-molded parts are tough and strong, able to withstand heavy loads, moderately high temperatures, and the corrosive effects of acids and alkalis. In some cases, plastic even competes with metal, and is lighter and usually less expensive to boot. But once in a while plastic needs a little help, like when the bore in an all-plastic pulley quickly wears out or tapped holes in molded handles and knobs get prone to stripping. In these cases, say hello to insert molding.
Read the full Protolabs article.

New flame-retardant resin for 3D printing

3D-printing tech company Carbon has introduced an all-new photopolymer resin called EPX 86FR that the company says offers an unmatched combination of flame retardance, functional toughness, high strength, and long-term stability for end-use parts, functional prototypes, and tools in the automotive and industrial sectors.
Learn more.

New TurboBlast Safety Air Gun for heavy-duty jobs requiring powerful blowoff

EXAIR's new TurboBlast Safety Air Gun is the latest addition to the EXAIR line of Safety Air Guns. This dynamic air gun is capable of producing up to 23 lb of force with a simple press of a button trigger and is the ideal solution for blowoff applications requiring maximum force such as removing stubborn or heavy debris like slag and flash, part drying, or cooling from a distance, as well as heavy-duty cleanup in busy facilities. Available in different flow rates and extensions up to 6 ft long.
Learn more.

Guide to vibration-proof fasteners

How do you ensure the fasteners you're using won't loosen in an application that is prone to vibration? Engineers frequently debate that question. The experts at JW Winco run through the common solutions, including threadlockers, pre-installed nylon patches, and more.
Read this short, informative engineering tip.

Cool Tools: Easy-setup orbital sander/polisher for cobots by OnRobot

The Sander package from OnRobot includes everything customers need to get their robotic sanding application started quickly, including plug-and-play sanding tool, pads, easy-to-use programming software, an optional force/torque sensor, and a Grit Changer. All of the advanced features are supported on Universal Robots cobots, but the tool is easily integrated with any major robot brand. Polishing and deburring can be accomplished too.
Read the full article.

Pro Tips: Post processing in PBF 3D printing -- the key to viable production outcomes

Focusing purely on the 3D-printing build process means that a crucial part of the production process chain is overlooked: the post-processing steps once the parts are removed from the 3D-printing machine. Nick Allen from 3DPRINTUK gives an insightful overview of post-processing options available for polymer powder bed fusion (PBF) parts and the design considerations that must be taken into account from the start.
Read the full article.

Automotive milling innovation: Sandvik CoroMill MF80

Sandvik Coromant has expanded its milling offering with the new CoroMill MF80 for automotive milling applications in ISO K and ISO P materials in close to 90-degree operations with fixture constraints. Based on a tech platform similar to the existing CoroMill 345, this new milling concept offers a 40% lighter cutter body with shim protection and a high number of inserts for secure and stable machining, even in vibration-prone overhang applications. Testing has shown a 67% increase in tool life, which boosted overall productivity by 60%.
Learn more.

SOLIDWORKS: What's new for 2023

In 2023, SOLIDWORKS will help you break down barriers, so you can work from anywhere and be even more productive. Expand your horizons beyond the desktop and connect everyone to best-in-class tools using the cloud. 3DEXPERIENCE Works helps you move beyond parts, assemblies, and drawings. New capabilities will help you optimize your workflows for design, simulation, data management, documentation, and so much more. This is the long version of the presentation filled with interviews and examples, so skip around if you are short on time.
View the video.

3D-printed parts are resistant to chemicals

igus has expanded the scope of its 3D-printing service to include chemical-resistant, self-lubricating, tribo-polymer components, thanks to its new printing filament for selective laser sintering (SLS) printers called iglide i10. The new material is resistant to acids, bases, alcohols, and greases, making it suitable for use in industries such as electroplating and food processing. It is characterized by its high ductility and low moisture absorption, and is ideal for weight-saving industrial functional components with elastic properties.
Learn more.

Verisurf: Automate measurement and inspection

Verisurf software, the only inspection and measurement software built on a full-featured 3D CAD platform, provides measurement and inspection workflows with inspection plans that can be created once and used across the manufacturing enterprise on any portable or fixed coordinate measuring machine (CMM). Embedded Verisurf productivity tools enhance and automate workflows, which shorten inspection and reporting time, help reduce errors, support workforce development, and ensure continuity for repeatable process control during inspection, reverse engineering, and tool-building applications.
See what's new in Verisurf.

One-touch clamping with no tools

One Touch Clamps and supports from IMAO Fixtureworks offer easy and efficient clamping operations and support of workpieces -- with no need for tools. They reduce time wasted on part setup and changeover while increasing overall productivity. Many workpiece clamp sizes are available, from mini to heavy duty. Pneumatic Clamps and supports are also available.
Learn more.

New gear solution for robotics

A company called Motus Labs says it has come up with a better high-torque, low-backlash robotic gear solution. Their Orbital Flex™ Design (OFD) uses mismatched outer and inner rings "to create a ratio that leads to inertia, torque, and speed advantages." The OFD bearing flexes on a compliance flexure. Learn all about the development of the patented OFD gear, its special compliance flexure, and the benefits of the design.
Read the full Motus Labs article.

Antivibration couplings optimize servo system performance

SDP/SI stock Antivibration Flexible Couplings provide vibration damping while maintaining torsional rigidity, outperforming disk-type couplings in reducing stabilization time and increasing general productivity. Benefits include: high torque, high vibration damping, long life, cost effectiveness, and an auto-parameter optimization capability. New sizes added. Applications include medical, automation, robotics, and semiconductor.
Learn more.

President of NFL Players Association calls for removal of dangerous artificial turf

In an letter posted Nov. 12 on the National Football League's Players Association (NFLPA) website, NFLPA President JC Tretter called for the "immediate replacement" of slit film turf from all stadiums that use it.

Tretter wrote, "Week after week, we have heard players sound off on the need to improve our fields, too often after a player suffers an injury. This week, we have seen the NFL PR machine go into overdrive to spin a more favorable narrative to what the union and players know is a problem.

"If the NFL is serious about their claims that they make data-based decisions and that they care about player safety, then we have some actionable items for them."

He continued, "The injuries on slit film are completely avoidable -- both the NFL and NFLPA experts agree on the data -- and yet the NFL will not protect players from a subpar surface."

Other types of artificial turf, including monofilament and dual fiber, were not listed as dangerous in Tretter's letter.

According to the Pioneer Athletics website, slit film turf has "fibers created from a single piece of flat plastic which create a canopy over the infill. Each fiber from this rake-shaped design is constructed to break down," which is supposed to make the fibers softer over time.

Tretter wrote, "The slit film playing surface has statistically higher in-game injury rates compared to all other surfaces for each of the following: non-contact injuries, missed time injuries, lower extremity injuries, and foot and ankle injuries."

According to Tretter, seven NFL teams use the slit film turf: New York Giants, New York Jets, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, Indianapolis Colts, and Cincinnati Bengals. This means six stadiums use the turf, since the Giants and Jets both play at MetLife Stadium.

"The NFL has not only refused to mandate this change immediately, but they have also refused to commit to mandating a change away from slit film in the future at all," wrote Tretter.

Tretter also criticized "allowing games to be played on fields with clear visual abnormalities," such as uneven seams showing on playing surfaces, and "excess people and dangerous equipment" on the sidelines. He also called for "new performance and safety standards that can be used to test every single field."

Read the full letter on the NFLPA site here.

Sources: NFLPA, Pioneer Athletics

Published November 2022

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