The Subaru Legacy GT Limited sedan couldn't have shown up at a better time to test the all-wheel drive that Subaru is known for. It was snowing, typical weather for December, and I had a 45-min trek into the snowbelt area of our fair city...
A recent laser-based measuring system with a 0.01-um resolution quickly measures surface flatness of fuel-injector spacer rings, up to 75,000 rings/day. The system also works more accurately than other methods such as LVDTs. Model LC-2420 laser...
A new semiconductor manufacturing system composed of multiple process components cuts two years off the time normally needed to develop the control equipment. The open-automation controls from Micro C, Grand Rapids, Mich., also produce more...
A universal cam follower called Hexalube includes a lubrication port in its hexagonal head. The handy location makes it possible to lubricate it in tight spots. In addition, the universal design can eliminate the need to stock screwdriver slot...
New GHS motorized spindles from Russell T. Gilman Inc., Grafton, Wis., have "Dynamic Preload Control" that lets users vary spindle stiffness while machining.This comes in handy for machining different materials, such as aluminum and cast iron...
The Mazda Protege is a pleasant surprise -- It's a zippy little car trapped in a rather subdued outer skin. Even though the car was redesigned for 1999 with what Mazda calls "European-inspired styling," its shape and lines are not all that...
I really wanted to make some clever comment about how the Chevy Impala name relates to the vehicle itself, but I gave up. According to Webster's dictionary, impala is an African antelope. If African antelopes are known for their speed and...
Though electronic motion controllers have replaced cams in my applications, cams may still be best in situations that require complex motions. But, the graphical design process is such a drudge! Here a calculation method gets around the graphics.
When it comes to designing machinery and controlelements for automationsystgems, machine builders rely on CAD to optimize designs and achieve compatibility with requirements