10 YEARS AGO — DECEMBER 10, 1998
Kodak’s disposable outdoor Fun Saver Sport camera case benefited from a two-shot molding process from Germany-based Ferromatik Milacron. The award-winning design was created by sequentially injecting multiple colors or materials in a single, continuous process. The process minimizes production and assembly operations, create interesting features, and eliminates machineto- machine transfers which nearly always degrade part quality because of postmold cooling and shrinkage. The case is molded from opticalgrade clear polystyrene so the lens can shoot through it without distortion. A soft cover is overmolded onto the clear preform case. The camera’s knobby cover makes it easy to hold and operate with one hand, even underwater or in snow.
30 YEARS AGO — DECEMBER 7, 1978
Welder seals canisters holding radioactive wastes: A remotely operated gas-tungsten arc welder at the Dept. of Energy’s Pacific Northwest Laboratory seals steel canisters containing solidified radioactive wastes. The welder operates and is maintained without direct handling within highly radioactive work cells. Designed by Battelle Memorial Institute engineers, the machine welds different types of carbon or stainless-steel canisters. Portions of the welder are gold and silver plated to provide positive electric current paths to the tungsten welding tip. The tip is held in a heat pipe to prevent tip meltdown without using cooling water.
50 YEARS AGO — DECEMBER 11, 1958
Hear-see tape recorder: TV fans may soon be able to record their favorite programs for repeated showing. RCA has an experimental soundpicture tape recorder that works through standard black-andwhite televisions. It uses a small transistorized camera and special magnetic tape. In addition to homemade recordings, the device can also accommodate prerecorded tapes, which may open a tremendous new market, according to RCA.