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Supercar of the skies: Autodesk Alias design

Learn how Hill Helicopter is using Autodesk Alias to design the innovative HX50, the "supercar of the skies." The next-gen, private copter marries high-end automotive and aero design and materials to create a futuristic flying five-seat SUV for a discriminating clientele. A neat insider look.
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CNC machining: How to avoid high costs on thin walls

Parts that are light and strong are crucial to nearly every industry. To achieve better performance without risking part failure, parts must maintain a specific wall-height-to-thickness ratio and wall-height-to-length ratio. Additionally, some geometries and supports can support thin walls to achieve a lighter component weight. Dive deeper into the cost drivers behind CNC-machined thin walls in this Xometry design-for-manufacturing article.
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Before you design your next application, try this

Smalley's industry-leading Spirolox^® Retaining Rings feature a gapless design with 360° of retaining surface. Unlike other rings, Spirolox has no protruding ears to interfere with mating components in your assembly! The highly versatile Spirolox rings are also groove-interchangeable with circlips, meaning they can replace circlips without any design changes. Are you ready to try the Smalley Advantage? Request your free samples today!
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No-cost courses in fastener technology

Master the theory of fastener design to expand your product knowledge and become an even better and more efficient design engineer. PennEngineering's PEM FastenerClass^® courses aim to give participants insight into peer and competitor techniques, a better understanding of loads and stress analysis, and enhanced career opportunities -- all beyond the basics of fastener design, selection, and installation. Self-clinch, threads, press-in inserts, surface-mount options, and sheet-to-sheet are only a few of the many topics covered.
See what courses are offered.

Engineer's Toolbox: The secret to living hinges that fold flat

Living hinges are often used to produce a container and its lid as a single molded part. If properly designed, they can open and close thousands of times without ever losing strength or flexibility. Protolabs provides valuable tips on designing these (sometimes thin and fragile) parts.
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EXAIR's new Catalog 36: BETE products and a comprehensive guide to industrial solutions

EXAIR is excited to introduce Catalog 36 -- a full-color, in-depth resource designed to help businesses tackle conveying, cooling, cleaning, blowoff, drying, coating, and static control challenges. This latest edition features an expanded selection of products, technical guides, certifications, and expert insights to help manufacturers optimize their operations. A new addition is BETE's robust lineup of precision spray solutions. Catalog 36 is also a valuable reference for industry standards, safety best practices, and energy conservation techniques in compressed air systems.
Get your EXAIR Catalog 36 today.

Telescopic rail system is PTFE-free

igus has introduced an aluminum version of its drylin NT-60 telescopic rail, eliminating the use of polytetra-fluoroethylene (PTFE) and over 100 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). This rail system extends up to 2 m and is suitable for many applications, including vehicles, furniture, and medical technology. Despite incorporating a new, PTFE-free plain bearing, the drylin NT-60-4 telescopic rail does not compromise performance.
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Top Product: 3M Friction Shims -- Why have more than 300 million been sold?

3M Friction Shims are small, thin steel shims with a big impact. They can increase maximum load and peak torque in bolted connections without additional fasteners or redesigns. What else makes them so popular -- and so useful?
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Improving high RPM performance with Revolox self-locking rings

Join a Smalley engineer as they explore innovative solutions for high RPM applications. This video delves into the challenges of high rotational speeds and highlights the unique features that make the Revolox^® self-locking retaining ring a reliable choice. Smalley's retaining rings are designed to enhance performance and longevity in demanding applications.
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Now available: Boker's new 2025 Catalog & Calendar

Boker's, Inc. has two new valuable resources available to help design engineers and procurement managers overcome engineering challenges: the 2025 Stampings & Washers Catalog and the 2025 Scheduling Calendar. The Catalog outlines the company's expansive line of more than 32,000 non-standard washer sizes, spacers, and shims that are available with no tooling charges, and the company's vast stamping capabilities. The Scheduling Calendar offers an at-a-glance, 15-month view of January 2025 through March 2026. Reverse side has a metric conversion chart.
Get your catalog and calendar today.

What are Crossed Roller Bearings?

Learn all about HIWIN Crossed Roller Bearings that are three to four times more rigid than standard bearing solutions and are capable of handling loads in the axial, radial, and moment directions. They consist of an outer ring, an inner ring, and a plurality of rollers and spacers. The roller lies between the inner and outer ring with the spacers placed between the rollers to prevent the mutual friction between them, thereby decreasing the torque resistance for rotation. Many options are available depending on the level of rigidity needed.
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How Reell electric wrap spring clutches work

Electric wrap spring clutches are ideally suited for critical timing applications requiring consistent, repeatable engagement and disengagement performance. Wrap spring technology used in Reell clutches provides the capability to transmit a large amount of torque in a small size -- package sizes smaller than other clutch technologies such as friction disk, tooth, or magnetic particle. Reell's technology has very positive engagement characteristics and also limits the effects of wear.
Read this informative Reell article.

Engineer's Toolbox: All about lead screws and how to apply them

Lead screws use the helix angle of the thread to convert rotary motion to linear motion. Learn all about their benefits, performance characteristics, design choices, lifecycles, and more in this in-depth article from Thomson Industries.
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Achieve higher loads with a round wire Wave Spring

Wavo^® springs are produced from round-section wire to provide higher loads while maintaining the accurate loading found in wave springs. As an alternative to Belleville Springs, the Wavo provides similar loads but with an accurate, predictable spring rate. Available in carbon and stainless steel from stock, sizes range from 1/2" to 6" diameters. Free samples are also available!
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Eco-friendly thermoplastic: Light, rigid, strong, damping

Polyplastics has launched PLASTRON^® LFT (Long Fiber-Reinforced Thermoplastic) RA627P, an eco-friendly composite of polypropylene (PP) resin and long cellulose fiber that delivers low density, high specific rigidity, high impact strength, and excellent damping for a range of applications including audio components and housings of industrial components. LFT exhibits 10% lower density than 30% short glass fiber-reinforced PP resin, roughly the same flexural modulus, and a specific rigidity that is higher.
Learn more.

Automotive color trends: Warm niche hues rise in popularity

[Image courtesy of BASF]

 

 

In 2024, the global automotive color landscape continued to evolve as consumers moved away from traditional favorites like white and silver. This shift is paving the way for increased popularity of vibrant hues, warm neutrals, and a more diverse palette across the industry, as in chronicled by BASF Coatings in the company's latest Color Report for Automotive OEM Coatings. [Note: This link will download the 7-page BASF report as a PDF directly]

Specifically, while white remains the top choice among consumers, warm shades such as yellow and beige are increasingly appealing, and green has risen in popularity across all regions. Achromatic colors like black and gray are also gaining traction.

BASF automotive color trends 2024. [Image courtesy of BASF]

 

 

The Color Report for Automotive OEM Coatings by BASF Coatings offers an in-depth exploration of color trends in the automotive industry, analyzing preferences on both global and regional levels. The color distribution referred to in the report was calculated by BASF Coatings on the basis of the available information regarding global automotive production and paint application to passenger cars.

Americas: Gray is proving to be one of the most versatile and captivating colors
With its vast range of tones, from cool metallics to warm, earthy shades, gray offers depth and sophistication that can be surprisingly vibrant. This year's color distribution reveals a striking shift toward gray tones, now capturing almost 20% of the total market share. Black has dropped by 2% compared to 2023, while white cars have seen an even more significant decline of 5%.

"Gray is redefining automotive style, gaining popularity for its versatile sophistication as preferences shift away from traditional white and black," said Victoria Fislage, senior design manager at BASF Coatings.

Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA): Beige gains popularity as achromatic colors continue steady growth
Achromatic colors in the EMEA region have steadily increased from 72% in 2021 to almost 80% in 2024, underscoring the appeal of neutral tones.

White remains the most favored color, closely followed by gray. Notably, beige is gaining popularity, nearly doubling its market share.

"Beige and neutral colors evoke a sense of calm and sophistication, reflecting the desire for stability in a fast-paced world," said Mark Gutjahr, global head of Automotive Color Design at BASF. "They allow consumers to express their individuality while ensuring a timeless elegance in automotive design."

Asia Pacific: Black dominates, yellow blossoms
Achromatic colors remain the top choice for 83% of consumers, with black gaining 2 percentage points in popularity, reinforcing its association with elegance. In contrast, white has seen a decline of more than 2%.

Meanwhile, chromatic colors, particularly yellow, are on the rise, with softer tones like pastel and greige yellow leading the way. BASF color specialists say these shades resonate with themes of AI-human harmony and sustainability, especially in electric vehicle design. Those are reflecting a shift toward harmonious, optimistic color palettes.

"Earthy and pastel yellows capture today's values: functionality, sustainability, and coexistence with nature," said Chiharu Matsuhara, head of Automotive Color Design for Asia Pacific.

Source: BASF

Published February 2025

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