The Best Products of 1998

December 07, 1998 Design News

THE BEST PRODUCTS OF 1998

The Best Products of 1998

Christine M. Ferrara New Products Editor

Imagine trying to run as fast as you can in a specific time frame. Then, the time is shortened. And shortened, and shortened more, yet the required pace increases.

That's what engineers go through to get products to market. They must stay on the cutting edge of technology, while doing their jobs faster and faster every year. Indeed, a recent survey sponsored by Design News found that engineers work on 18 projects a year, up from 15 just five years ago. (DN 5/4/98, p. 92)

The average design engineer today specifies five of the nine categories associated with design work, so they have to keep up with the newest products available. We asked vendors to nominate their best products in seven categories: electrical/electronic; power transmission and motion control; fluid power; computer productivity tools; test, measurement, and control; fastening, joining, and assembly; and plastics, metals, and other materials.

Then, we asked a panel of independent judges to select finalists in each category. Here are the judges' choices for the best products in each individual category:

- Electrical/electronic. DuraSwitch Industries Inc., Mesa, AZ, took this category with a thin-film switch for use in extreme environments.

- Power transmission and motion control. Haydon Switch and Instrument Inc., Waterbury, CT, is in first place in this category with a linear/rotary dual-motion actuator that provides linear and rotary motion in one unit.

- Fluid power. Iversen Hydraulics ApS, Sonderborg, Denmark, tops this category with a hydraulic pressure intensifier for use in applications where higher flow at intensified pressure is required.

- Computer productivity tools. CoCreate Software Inc., Fort Collins, CO, was the winner here with a web-enabled, real-time product-development solution that enables engineers, regardless of location, to work together in real time.

- Test, measurement, and control. Schenck Trebel, Deer Park, NY,scored the highest with an intelligent machine monitor that can learn a machine's normal operation behavior.

- Fastening, joining, and assembly. Mek-Lock Fasteners, Thousand Oaks, CA, won this category with an extended-release fastener drive system that provides fastener handling with integrity in all situations.

- Plastics, metals, and other materials. Alyn Corp., Irvine, CA , took top honors here with a material used in an engine cradle that has a soluble core made with pressure casting technology.

You can help choose the best product design of 1998 by completing and faxing back the ballot on page 89 to vote for the product you think best exemplifies outstanding engineering. Once all ballots are received, Design News will reward one lucky reader with a special prize. The winning product will also be the focus of a special feature in our Engineering Awards issue.

PANEL OF JUDGES

Vincent Altamuro, President of Robotics Research Consultants,Toms River, NJ.

Dr. Daniel Graupe, Professor of Electrical Engineering and of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Illinois, Chicago.

Richard Morley, CEO of Flavors Technology, Milford, NH.

ELECTRICAL/ELECTRONIC

Switch featureslow profile

The PushGate(TM) switch from DuraSwitch Industries Inc. has been tested to more than 80 million actuations and features a low profile and thin panel of 1/10 inch. The switch's magnetically operated armature provides realignment as well as a distinct click upon pushing and releasing the switch. Maximum voltage is 50V dc or ac peak for the rigid base, and 30V dc or ac peak for the film base.

"It is clean, modern, a utilitarian design, done with an eye towards cost production and cost for the user," says Richard Morley, CEO of Flavors Technology and contest judge. "A good design is not necessarily romantic and sexy, but one that accomplishes the function for the ultimate purpose desired. DuraSwitch PushGate certainly satisfies that need."

DuraSwitch Industries Inc.
333 S. Nina Dr.
Mesa, AZ 85210
FAX (602) 844-1199

POWER TRANSMISSION & MOTION CONTROL

Actuator provides linear and rotary motion in one unit

The MS Series linear/rotary dual-motion actuator from Haydon Switch & Instrument Inc. provides linear and rotary motion in one unit, which eliminates components, simplifies product design, and saves space. The actuator is capable of rotary motion. The motor can be used to replace multiple motors and actuators in specific applications. The motor's shaft can translate and rotate independently or simultaneously.

"This product was selected because its designers created a product which can provide independent sequential or simultaneous linear and rotary motion in one compact package," notes robotics consultant and engineering judge Vincent Altamuro. "Overall, their work shows good engineering analysis and excellence in engineering design."

Haydon Switch & Instrument Inc.
1500 Meriden Rd.
Waterbury, CT 06705
FAX (203) 756-8724

FLUID POWER

Pressure intensifier is for higher-flow applications

The HC6 hydraulic pressure intensifier from Iversen Hydraulics is a self-contained device that incorporates a reciprocating, bi-area piston and an integral dump valve, which provides users with a source of high pressure from an existing low-pressure hydraulic system. The intensifier boosts inlet pressure up to an 8.2:1 ratio without the use of external power and maintains this high pressure by automatically compensating for the consumption of oil on the high-pressure side. Applications include those where higher flow at intensified pressure is required.

"The product was selected as the winner in this category because the engineers successfully designed it to be an improvement over existing products," notes contest judge Vincent Altamuro. "Their design shows that they recognized and addressed the needs of users and the problems of manufacturers of products."

Iversen Hydraulics
ApS Ellegardvej 25GDK-6400
Sonderborg, Denmark
FAX +1 45 7442 4204

COMPUTER PRODUCTIVITY TOOLS

Product development solution enables engineers to work together in real time

OneSpace web-enabled, real-time product development solution from CoCreate Software Inc. enables engineers, regardless of location, to work together in real time with customers, partners, and suppliers. With OneSpace, all participants can view each person's input simultaneously. Because all members of a design team are collaborating on the actual model, problems can be identified and rectified earlier in the design process. OneSpace functions on top of most 3D CAD environments.

"This web-centric design embraces global considerations, and allows users quick access on an interactive basis with designs in a heterogeneous manner," says contest judge Richard Morley. "It's quick, it sits on top of the other killer applications, and allows agility in the landscape of design."

CoCreate Software Inc.
3801 Automation Way, Suite 110
Fort Collins, CO 80525
FAX (970) 206-8068

TEST, MEASUREMENT & CONTROL

Machine monitor learns machine's operating behavior

The VIBRO-IC intelligent machine monitor from Schenck Trebel learns a machine's normal operation behavior, anticipates when an abnormality is about to occur, diagnoses the potential problem, and initiates corrective action through a fuzzy-logic program. Adapted limit values are combined with relative limit values and complex Boolean logic to make decisions about machine condition. An advanced, event-based logic system uses digital and analog inputs, combined with digital and analog outputs, which can make adjustments to operation and provide reasonable recommendations regarding solutions.

"I consider this machine monitor to be an imaginative design that brings together aspects of most recent theoretical advances in decision theory, such as artificial intelligence, signal processing, and fuzzy logic, to produce a machine monitor," says University of Illinois electrical engineering professor and contest judge Dr. Daniel Graupe.

Schenck Trebel
535 Acorn St.
Deer Park, NY 11729
FAX (516) 242-4147

FASTENING, JOINING & ASSEMBLY

Fastener drive system locks onto fasteners during installation and removal

The Mek-Lock(reg) extended release system from Mek-Lock Fasteners is based on a ball-and-socket interconnection to form the torque transfer system. With the angular orientation of the ball/socket axis, the wrench's outer sleeve forces the balls into the sockets of the nut or bolt, thus maintaining the engaged position. The drive system locks onto the fastener during installation and removal and requires zero end-force to maintain engagement of the fastener. The extended release allows precise control during limited-access operations, and freedom from cam-out or dropped nuts or bolts in the workpiece.

"The system reaches difficult-to-access bolts and locks onto them during their installation and removal, and it prevents the dropping of bolts, which would be difficult and costly to retrieve," says contest judge Vincent Altamuro. "It is a fine, innovative design, and the product should find wide use in many fields."

Mek-Lock Fasteners
2965 E. Hillcrest Dr. #304
Thousand Oaks, CA 91362
FAX (805) 495-2747

PLASTICS, METALS & OTHER MATERIALS

Material is used in electric vehicle engine cradle