Broanmain Plastics will be showing recent prototype-to-production projects at the Southern Manufacturing & Electronics exhibition in February. The company offers tool design and various plastic moulding and finishing technologies on a single site in Surrey. One of the projects was a motion sensor housing (right) for Cucumber Lighting Controls, which was seeking a UK-based moulder. “Manufacturing components on UK shores ...
Omron has an excellent application note on mechanical microswitches, subtitled: ‘Let’s prolong switch life by preventing failures!‘ Hundreds of photos back up information on the causes of failure and techniques for preventing those failures. It is the sort of detail that makes the heart sing*, in a world dominated by ‘marketing-led’ information-deprived drivel. Hats off to Omron *spot the lover ...
I was pondering possible interfaces between a microcontroller and a 12 or 24V 5015 blower fan. The challenge is that the MCU can only drive 3.3 or 5V, while the blower needs needs a voltage as low as ~3V (below which it will not spin anyway) and as high as 12 or 24V. A simple op-amp, and pnp transistor or p-channel ...
CUI Devices has introduced dozens of illuminated tactile push button switches, in packages as small as 3.4 x 3.4 x 1.5mm. Colours span blue, green, red, red-blue, red-green, white and yellow, and there are actuator heights from 0.35 to 6.3mm, operating forces from 160 to 300gf, and lives up to 100,000 cycles. “These illuminated tactile switches carry surface mount or ...
Cambridge-based Titan has announced a steer-by-wire system for vehicles “from electric hypercars to automated trucks which has been designed to meet demand from lower-volume manufacturers who need a bespoke system”, it said. The 48V electric motor that operates the steering rack was developed in-house along with the rest of the mechanical system and the control unit. All of it is ...
Cambridge Mechatronics has created a shape memory alloy actuator for cameras that combines auto-focus and optical image stabilisation (AF+OIS) in the same structure. Designed to move the lens above an image sensor, the actuator uses eight shape memory wires. “By placing shape memory alloy wires in a three-dimensional configuration around the lens, the single actuator can perform both OIS and ...
Bostik has announced a prototype cyanoacrylate (‘superglue’) adhesive “for long-term critical applications such as those required in the automotive and electronics industry”, it said. “It will propel instant adhesives’ use outside of repair and maintenance applications, into a solution that can be relied upon for longer-term, structural engineering use.” It is a two-part n-butyl cyanoacrylate-based adhesive, with the hydrophobic butyl ...
Menlo Micro has released another MEMS electro-mechanical relay, this time a single-pole four-throw (SP4T) dc-18GHz switch. MM5120 will handle 25W (150W pulsed), according to the company, though its 5.2 x 4.2mm LGA package. Insertion loss is typically <0.6dB at 12GHz. IP3 linearity is said to be >95dBm. Contact movement is though electrostatic attraction, with the necessary voltage generated by an integrated charge ...
C&K’s ILT series is the first illuminated toggle switch range in the company’s portfolio. The switches have metal bushing to toughen them up for environments such as control panels, heavy equipment, industrial instruments, LED lights, lifts, escalators, medical equipment and security system. They are intended for 12V operation and ratings are: up to 10,000 cycles, 20A and -25°C to +85°C. The switch has a ...
Alex Kenis has taken a deep dive into the technology of the sub-miniature micro-switches used in computer mouses, in a video that taught me things about switches that I have never even considered. It is well worth a look – don’t be put off by the heavy rock intro (the presenter is also a musician) or the somewhat disorganised style ...
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