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Adhesives formulated in different colors

Master Bond epoxy systems are formulated in a variety of standard colors, including black, red, green, blue, gray etc. Many optically clear grades are also available. Upon request, compounds can be manufactured in custom colors in order to meet specific requirements. This task requires blending multiple RoHS-compliant pigments in precise proportions to ensure no color variation and uniform appearance. These colored adhesives can be formulated to meet industrial certifications such as medical grade, NASA low outgassing, ISO 10993-5 for cytotoxicity, and more. Compliance testing is performed by independent testing laboratories.
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New 3M tape tackles high-temp fastening applications

Since 1980, 3M VHB Tapes have opened the door to faster and easier assemblies. Now, the new GPH series from 3M combines the extreme, permanent bonding power and convenience of 3M VHB Tapes with high-temperature resistance. It can withstand operating temperatures up to 450 F, with long-term durability in conditions up to 300 F. Users will experience excellent adhesion to high and medium surface energy materials, as well as coated or painted surfaces. 3M VHB Tapes, including the new GPH series, replace traditional mechanical fasteners, subsequently eliminating processes like drilling, grinding, refinishing, screwing, welding, and associated rework/clean-up.
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Permanent threads in thin sheet applications -- with only one-sided access

ATLAS SpinTite blind threaded inserts from Penn-Engineering provide strong, permanent, and reusable threads in thin sheet materials where only one side is accessible for hardware installation. Installation is performed from the accessible "front" side using spin-spin tooling technology. The inserts then become permanently mounted on the "back" side to accept a mating screw for final component attachment. This "blind" installation capability especially suits applications such as tubing, extrusions, and others where access to the back side is either limited or nonexistent. These steel, aluminum, brass, or stainless steel inserts support close-to-edge applications and can be installed at any stage during the production process (even after assemblies have been painted).
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Heavy-duty air-powered conveyor resists wear and transports more

EXAIR's new 2-1/2-in. and 3-in. Heavy Duty Line Vacs are powerful in-line conveyors that transport high volumes of material through ordinary hose or tube -- at a rate that is typically twice that of ordinary air-powered conveyors. Designed for rugged, industrial applications, Heavy Duty Line Vacs have a hardened alloy construction that prevents premature wear when transporting abrasive or heavy materials like shot blast, tumbling media, or metal fittings. These units feature large throat diameters that make it possible to convey more material over longer vertical and horizontal lengths. Seven sizes available.
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High-gain rubber-type coupling

In 2007, NBK took the lead in the industry with the launching of the High-Gain Rubber Coupling. With the XG-Series, you can increase the productivity and control of your Servo System with higher gain compared to when using traditional couplings. These High-Gain Rubber Couplings shorten manufacturing time through the reduction of vibration even in high-gain surroundings by an innovative molding technique within the internal structure of the couplings.
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Completely updated new full-line catalog of fasteners

Micro Plastics introduces its new 300-page catalog #41 containing thousands of fastening solutions for engineers and product designers. Find hundreds of new problem-solving products including Spacers, Washers, Clips, Clamps, Ties, Bushings, Screws, Nuts, Rivets, and Plugs. Micro Plastics specializes in Nylon threaded fasteners, but the company also offers extensive product lines for wire management and circuit board hardware. Samples are available upon request.
Check out the new online catalog.

Instant quoting for on-demand manufacturing

Xometry, a popular on-demand manufacturing platform, has released a new version of its Xometry Instant Quoting Engine. Key features include a redesigned summary view to help users quickly review their quotes, a part-level modification page that captures all changes in real time, and an always-visible 3D viewer with instant design feedback displayed directly on the model. Xometry provides instant quotes on CNC Machining, Sheet Metal Fabrication, 3D Printing, and Urethane Casting.
Check it out on the Xometry website.

Odorless thermal insulation material for automotive

Interface Performance Materials introduces TI650 and TI1K innovative thermal insulation materials for automotive and heavy-duty vehicle heat shield applications. TI650 and TI1K are the first odorless and smokeless materials specifically formulated for three-layer heat shields in the automotive, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicle applications. These non-toxic materials withstand temps up to 1,000 C (1,832 F), are malleable, and are resistant to cracking when molded into a layered heat shield. Their low-density makeup makes them the ideal substrates for lightweight initiatives by OEMs and fabricators. A highly inorganic material, TI1K is also unique in its ability to meet the ASTM E136 flammability test standard with no detectable smoke.
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Custom-made wave springs

Smalley can manufacture custom Wave Springs quickly and economically to meet your specific application requirements. Because force and deflection requirements are application-specific, custom springs are often needed. With Smalley’s No-Tooling-Cost™ manufacturing process, customs can be produced from .157” to 120” diameters in carbon steel, stainless steel, or other readily available exotic alloys. Free samples are available of standard parts for testing. All Springs Are Not Equal^®!
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How mobile equipment manufacturers benefit from using formed thermoplastic hoses

The proper assembly, installation, and specifying of the right hoses and tubing for the application are critical to the trouble-free operation of mobile equipment employed in construction, forestry, mining, and similar industries. This latest blog from Parker examines how formed thermoplastic hoses address these challenges and details how a skid-steer manufacturer reduced labor time and realized significant cost savings.
Read the full article.

Inch-size mounting clamps with swivel ball joint

GN 784 mounting clamps with swivel ball joint from JW Winco allow precise and variable adjustment of the ball pivot within the rotation range. This is a particular advantage when adjusting scanners, cameras, lighting, monitors, etc. Thanks to the efficient clamping mechanism, only small amounts of torque on the clamping screw result in comparatively strong clamping pressure on the ball. This force is easily applied by the clamping lever.
Learn more.

Precision ceramic and glass microcomponents

Goodfellow, a favorite materials provider for Designfax readers, also supplies a wide variety of ceramic and glass microcomponents, both standard items and items precision-machined to customer specifications. Examples include: ultra-thin glass microsheet for use as transparent substrates and electrical insulators; precision spheres for use as precision spacers and optical components; micro optics such as prisms, lenses, and windows; injection-molded ceramic microcomponents for surgical equipment and fiber-optic applications; polished sapphire bearings and sub-mm bore nozzles; and single- and multi-bore capillary tubing. Other items are available upon request.
Learn more.

Cool Tools: Unit Conversion Tool

Convert popular spring units such as force or retaining ring thrust capacities into metric units with Smalley’s engineering tools. Convert units such as mass and weight, angular measurements, velocities, temperatures, pressures and densities, and more.
Click here to learn more. You should bookmark this one.

Smith Metal Products adds Titanium Metal Injection Molding capabilities

Smith Metal Products has added Titanium Metal Injection Molding (TiMIM) capabilities to its MIM portfolio of materials that include stainless steels, alloys, and ceramics. TiMIM involves mixing powdered Titanium metal with a binder material to compose a feedstock capable of being handled by injection molding equipment. Metal injection molding allows complex Titanium parts to be shaped with precision in a single operation and in high volume as compared to traditional Titanium machined metal components.
Learn more.

Linear miniature torque splines and nuts

Helix Miniature Torque Splines provide a convenient and efficient device that allows low-friction linear motion while transmitting torque. In a Helix PT Spline assembly, the high-strength composite polymer bushing carries the load between the rotating member (inner race) and the rotating/translating member (bushing). Helix PT Splines are coated with Helix H10X PTFE coating for long life and anti-friction. Available in three bushing styles: Cylinder Mount, Thread Mount, and Anti-Backlash.
Click here to learn more.

Finnish-Dutch business partnership says nanodiamonds boost 3D-printed polymer performance, will offer enhanced filaments

Finnish nanodiamond manufacturer Carbodeon and Dutch 3D-printing specialist Tiamet 3D have announced the first nanodiamond-enhanced filaments for 3D printing.

The Carbodeon/Tiamet 3D filaments are based on a jointly patented technology that significantly improves the mechanical and thermal properties of 3D-printed items.

"By joining forces, we've already developed filaments with a 100 percent increase in tensile strength, improved printability, and better thermal properties," said Reid Larson, CEO of Tiamet 3D. "Printing also runs more quickly and more reliably with the addition of Carbodeon polymer-tailored nanodiamonds."

"Nanodiamonds offer the potential to make 3D-printed components that perform as well as or better than comparable injection molded components, but with massive cost reductions and production speed improvements, especially for prototype, on-demand, and short-run production," said Carbodeon CEO Dr. Vesa Myllymäki.

3D printing using improved-performance thermoplastics has potential in almost all manufacturing environments, but especially in electronics, automotive, and aerospace industries. As well as improving thermal management, conductivity, and tensile strength of the base polymer, nanodiamonds can increase the glass transition temperature of the end product or component to achieve more robust and reliable polymer products, suitable for more challenging environments.

But how does adding nanodiamonds help the final result? Myllymäki told Designfax exclusively, "The way selected nanodiamond addition affects the polymer is affecting both its thermal and mechanical properties. Regarding thermal, both thermal conductivity and glass transition temperature are affected, resulting in enhanced printing speed (three- to fivefold looks possible for the PLA filaments), printed item isotropic strength (better layer-to-layer adhesion), and higher temperature range for said item use." Regarding mechanical properties, Myllymäki said the nanodiamond particles act as a nucleus for crystallization (if distributed well in parent matrix) to enable tailoring of the polymer crystallinity (strength). While tailoring the polymer structure, their dispersion strengthens the composite structure and prevents the movement of dislocations.

Myllymäki told Designfax the nano-sized particles are spherical and applied at very low concentrations -- the concentration varies per application and targeted property, but it is always less than 0.5 wt. percent. The particles don't cause wearing of production tools. From a safety point of view, they are not cytotoxic nor immunotoxic (on the contrary, they are heavily investigated as a drug carrier within many pending biomedical applications). Carbodeon's U.S. agent Silicon Sense and Carbodeon have received EPA registration as the first nano-diamond actor in the United States.

Myllymäki said the detonation nanodiamonds Carbodeon manufactures are 4 to 6 nm spherical diamond particles, with covalently bound surface termination. It is this tailored surface that allows perfect electrostatic coupling of these diamond particles to the applied parent polymer. "Here, we can now select between carboxylated, amine-terminated, and hydrogen-terminated nanodiamonds. In addition to nanodiamond development and manufacturing, Carbodeon has made significant investments in developing nanodiamond material use within various polymer thermal compounds, metal finishing, polymer coatings, CVD seeding, and within 3D-printing filaments."

The first Carbodeon/Tiamet 3D filaments will be PLA (polylactic acid) based, with further development focused on higher-performance thermoplastics. The companies have signed a strategic partnership agreement on joint filament development, along with an agreement for Carbodeon to supply nanodiamond materials to Tiamet 3D.

The newly developed PLA filament product will be available both from Carbodeon and Tiamet 3D. Carbodeon filament products will be sold under the uDiamond^® brand.

Source: Carbodeon

Published April 2018

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