Hand-held CAD
The PocketCAD software is reported to be the first Pocket PC with fully functional CAD capabilities offered to the AEC industry. Mobile professionals can create, view, and edit CAD files directly in the field and can integrate data files between the desktop and Pocket PC using a "drag and drop" feature. The software can be used to design and plan future construction, sketch part concepts, or create snapshots of existing installations.
ArcSecond Inc., 44880 Falcon Place, Suite 100, Sterling, VA 20166; FAX (703) 435-5994; www.arcsecond.com.
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Digital sensor
The omni-directional zero speed digital sensor is a Hall effect device which senses the rotation of steel gear teeth or notches without the need for external magnets. Fully encapsulated, it operates with an air gap up to 5 mm and can withstand temperatures from -40C to +15C. The sensor is low cost and available in either designed packages or standard packages of 2-wire (#GS-40) or 3-wire (#GS-60) configuration.
Power Components of Midwest, 56641 Twin Branch Dr., Mishawaka, IN 46545
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Back wired switches
These 30 amp double pole and three pole switches with back wiring capability reportedly limit heat buildup that can burnout terminals. By offering a strain containment design, they should ensure 100% clamping of wire strands. They are available in NEMA 1 enclosures in both metallic and nonmetallic designs and NEMA 3R enclosures in aluminum design.
Hubbell, 185 Plains Rd. Wiring Device-Kellems, Milford, CT 06460; FAX (800) 255-1031; www.hubbell-wiring.com.
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Adhesives
Resistant to water, weather, gases, galvanic action, most solvents, salts, alkalis, and mild acids, TRA-BOND 931-1 is a low viscosity, ultra pure system consisting of adhesive properties with a lap shear value of 3500 psi. It is suited for underfilling components requiring adhesion, low shrinkage, and low ionic content. When fully cured in one hour at 100C, this adhesive may be applied as an electrical insulator, providing both impact and thermal shock resistance.
Tra-Con Inc., 45 Wiggins Ave., Bedford, MA 01730; FAX (781) 275-9249; www.tra-con.com.
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Scroll pumps
These high-vacuum rotary scroll pumps provide vacuum to 0.5 torr, sound levels as low as 49 dBA, and 10,000 hours of projected time between maintenance. Designed for medical, electronics, and manufacturing applications, the oilless scroll pumps are suited for integration into lasers, biomedical equipment, and leak detectors. Two pulse-free and vibration-free models are available with standard ac motors and speeds of 1750 rpm.
Air Squared Inc., 7014 Rock Springs Dr., Hamilton, OH 45011; FAX (513) 755-2559; www.airsquared.com.
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Multimedia SBCs
The PCM-9574 is reportedly one of the world's smallest Pentium(R)III-class single board computers (SBCs) equipped with audio capabilities for multimedia applications. It has a Socket 370 for a Celeron(R)or Pentium III processor, up to 256MB of small-outline SDRAM, up to 4MB of frame buffer SDRAM for graphics, a hardware-assisted MPEG II accelerator, a CompactFlash(TM)socket, and SGVA display support. It comes packaged as a 5.25 CD ROM and includes a Multistream Direct Sound controller.
Advantech Technologies Inc., 15375 Barranca Pkwy., Suite A-106, Irvine, CA 92618; FAX (949) 789-7179; www.advantech.com.
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