Category: News

Designing within the MCAD environment using Concurrent CFD shortens the design lifecycle, enhancing workflow leading to optimal more robust designs.

2010 Honda Everus Concept Car

“Last year, Honda’s sales achieved an all-time record of 580,000 units in China,” Honda president and CEO Takanobu Ito said during a press conference held at the Chinese event.

“Honda will continue its efforts to become the ‘automaker closest to customers’ in China, by introducing environmentally-responsible models and through further collaboration with its partners, Guangzhou Automobile and Dongfeng Motor.”

Few details are known about the Everus although Honda does say it will be the first production Li Nian model.

Reports suggest the Civic-sized offering may ride on a stretched City sedan, which itself is built off a stretched Fit platform.

This concept car has been presented for BEIJING Auto Show 2010

Eco Factor: Zero-emission electric vehicle powered by renewable energy.

The Renault 2010 Sand Jumper by designer Luis Pedro Fonseca isn’t only eco-friendly because it runs on an electric engine, but features innovative use of next-gen renewable energy technology and includes recycled materials as well. The vehicle charges itself using nano solar paint that generates renewable electricity to fuel onboard batteries.

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Comemorando o lançamento mundial do novo Panamera e do Panamera 4 na Auto China 2010 em Beijing, a Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, sediada em Stuttgart, está rapidamente aumentado os produtos da linha Panamera. Depois de um início de sucesso, a quarta série de modelos da Porsche recebe as novas versões básicas a partir de maio de 2010.

Da mesma forma que as versões com motor V8 (que conquistaram mais de 50 prêmios no mundo), tanto o Panamera como o Panamera 4 são Gran Turismo únicos, combinando características esportivas com conforto superior e qualidades de direção práticas para o dia-a-dia. Ambos têm motor V6 de 3,6 litros com injeção direta de combustível, potência máxima de 300 cv e torque máximo de 400 Nm. Acompanhando o padrão usual da Porsche para nomear seus modelos, o Panamera transmite a sua potência às estradas através de tração nas rodas traseiras, enquanto o Panamera 4 vem de fábrica com tração nas quatro rodas.

Da mesma forma que o novo Cayenne Hybrid S, que está comemorando seu lançamento asiático na Exposição de Automóveis de Beijing, os novos modelos Gran Turismo da Porsche oferecem as qualidades excepcionais da estratégia de desenvolvimento de Desempenho Inteligente da Porsche: contando com novas tecnologias como a função Auto Start-Stop, todas as três versões superam os 10 km/l, de acordo com o novo circuito de direção europeu.

Nas palavras de Michael Macht, Presidente e Diretor Executivo da Porsche AG: “O novo Cayenne e o Panamera ajudam a fazer com que a China seja o mercado de crescimento mais significativo da Porsche, com o maior potencial para o futuro. Esperamos uma venda de mais de 10.000 unidades na China em 2010. A Porsche também está confiante de que as vendas continuarão a crescer a um percentual com duas casas decimais também nos próximos anos, com o número de concessionárias aumentando dos 27 atuais para 35 neste ano”.

Ao apresentar o estudo conceitual de um carro esportivo com motor central de alto desempenho com tecnologia de trem de transmissão altamente eficiente e com baixo nível de emissões em Beijing, a Porsche mais uma vez está comprovando a competência da empresa em potência híbrida. O protótipo do 918 Spyder combina alta tecnologia de corrida com mobilidade baseada em eletricidade, de modo a oferecer uma gama de qualidades verdadeiramente fascinantes: por um lado, as emissões de um pequeno carro compacto de apenas 70 gramas de CO2 por quilômetro, fazendo 33,3 km/l, e, por outro, o desempenho de um super carro esportivo que acelera de zero a 100 km/h em pouco menos de 3,2 segundos, alcançando uma velocidade máxima de mais de 320 km/h e completando uma volta ao redor da pista de Nürburgring-Nordschleife em menos de sete minutos e trinta segundos, mais rápido até do que o Porsche Carrera GT.

Fonte: Porsche

Eco Factor: Zero-emission vehicles powered by electricity.

Chinese automaker IAT Auto, which introduced the Wufeng concept vehicle back in 2006, is back in Beijing this year with three new zero-emission vehicles that have been inspired by Chinese tradition and culture. The three new rides include the Zhu Feng, the eTaxi and the Wufeng II.

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Eco Factor: Plans to build 4000MW geothermal power plants in Indonesia.

Indonesia has launched an ambitious plan to use the vast power of its volcanoes that spread from the Indian to the Pacific Oceans to generate about 4000MW of clean energy. The 17,000 islands contain hundreds of volcanoes that are estimated to hold about 40 percent of the world’s geothermal potential.

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In the past, we’ve seen the movie industry attack “fansub” efforts for trying to translate movies into other languages. But, in the video game industry, we did see glimmers of hope when a publisher allowed fansubbers to complete their version of the translation and compete side-by-side with the commercial translated version in the marketplace. So, it’s sad to see Japanese game maker Minori slap TLWiki, a translation site, with a DMCA takedown for their work on a one of their games. Apparently, this was after an edit war on the wiki itself, where the game maker supposedly deleted the entire contents of a page, replacing it with:

minori holds copyright over all the files made available on this webpage. We, minori, have removed the contents of this page because the owner of this page has not received our permission for distribution of these materials. Please understand [the above statements]. Still, if there are objections, etc., please contact Minori, Inc. in Japanese at [email protected].

Of course, since wikis have an easy rollback feature to prevent errant deletions like this, this change was easily reverted, and after a few more rounds of edits & reverts, the site was slapped with an official DMCA takedown notice. Once again, quashing fansub efforts is a fantastic way to annoy and disenfranchise your most loyal fans, who donate hours of their free labor as a hobby. We’ve seen ways to engage these communities advantageously (like hiring them to do the official translation), so surely Minori should take note.

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The movie below shows how the northern European airspace returned to normal use after being closed due to volcanic ash from Iceland last week. Due to the varying ash densities across Europe, the first (test?) flights can already be seen in some areas from the 18th April. By the 20th April, all airports were opened again.

The movie was created by ITO World, based on the data retrieved from Flight Radar 24.

See also OpenStreetMap Edits Animation.

Remember those Rorschach teasers for Dead Space 2 that came out late last year? Apparently, that’s not the last of it as Viscral sent yet another batch of these tests/ teasers to media.
 
 
 
 

Eco Factor: Fabric made from germanium nanowires to harness solar energy.

A tissue paper-like fabric created from germanium and silicon could prove to be as strong as Kevlar and as an added advantage it can harvest solar energy as well. Unlike bulk germanium, which isn’t flexible and is highly brittle, the fabric created from nanowires is flexible and is as strong as Kevlar.

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A Michelin, organizadora da 10º edição do Challenge Bibendum, antecipa algumas das grandes novidades que os cerca de 4 mil convidados vão poder conferir durante o evento. De 30 de maio até 2 de junho serão realizados no Rio de Janeiro testes técnicos, mesas redondas e um rali com carros de passeio, utilitários, ônibus, caminhões e motos, além de test-drive com veículos experimentais e protótipos.

Todos os participantes do evento com habilitação no Brasil terão à disposição veículos para testar e avaliar o desempenho de cada tecnologia, adaptações e soluções encontradas por cada fabricante. Será montado um Centro de Exposição Tecnológica onde os segredos mais bem guardados da indústria automotiva, voltados para a mobilidade rodoviária de maneira sustentável, serão apresentados aos convidados pelas montadoras, pesquisadores, universitários e fornecedores de energia.

Os testes técnicos e o rali acontecerão em três categorias. A primeira, que envolve os carros de passeio, terá como ponto de largada o Riocentro, com destino à Areal. A categoria de veículos rodoviários, caminhões e ônibus de viagem sairá do Riocentro em direção à cidade de Resende. A terceira e última, que inclui veículos urbanos, caminhões de entrega, ônibus e motos, fará um percurso pela Barra da Tijuca.

Ainda haverá no Michelin Challenge Bibendum um concurso de design com os veículos que conquistarem pelo menos um prêmio ambiental, levando em conta a integração da tecnologia embarcada. O júri, composto por especialistas do setor automobilístico do mundo todo, avaliará o apelo emocional, design exterior e interior e o grau de aceitação do conceito de todas as categorias para decidir o vencedor.

Fonte: Printer Press

Korea’s LG Display has developed an LCD panel that can display clear images even when its surface temperature exceeds 100° Celsius. Normally when the surface temperature of an LCD panel exceeds 75° Celsius, part of the display turns black, requiring a separate UV-blocking film, cooling system and protective glass and entailing additional costs and electricity consumption for safe operation. The panel will be cheaper than existing panels, much brighter and can be expected to accelerate the pace of growth of the overall public information display market.
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Continue Reading LG’s new outdoor 55 inch LCD panel can withstand 100 degrees Celsius

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LG,
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Power supply and physical layer diagnostics on the bus

R. STAHL’s new Advanced Fieldbus Power Supply (A-FPS) is the first and only power supply module for FOUNDATION™ fieldbus H1 segments to additionally provide a wide range of physical layer diagnosis functions. At a mere 10% premium over the standard supply module from the same series, the integrated devices enable complete and continuous plant monitoring. In the past, the integration into asset management systems required separate, cost-intensive diagnosis modules and software tools. Each Advanced Fieldbus Power Supply (A-FPS) not only detects overload and short circuits on its segments, but also continuously registers the physical parameters of the fieldbus, such as voltage and current on the trunk, communication level, noise level, asymmetries and jitter.

Error messages can be routed to a management software via the Diagnosis Communication Module (DCM) and the FF H1. Additionally, they are signalled via a potential-free relay contact. A serial interface on the front side makes it possible to read out detailed data on site by means of standard terminal programs. Lastly, colour LEDs in a traffic light design following the NAMUR NE107 scheme ensure that untrained staff members can identify problems at the module at first glance. In case of deteriorating transfer quality on the bus, warning messages can be triggered proactively, allowing users to make adjustments before a segment fails. The line quality threshold value can be manually adjusted by means of a control dial at the module. The compact units can be installed on a DIN rail or on a bus-Carrier which houses modules for up to eight standard-supply segments or four segments with a redundant supply. The carrier systems are also available as adapted, easy-to-handle models for specific host systems and their plug connectors, such as Emerson Delta V and Yokogawa Centum VP (upcoming models will be suitable for Honeywell and Invensys controllers). Each power supply module features an integrated terminating resistor which can be turned off in host systems with their own bus terminator. Just like the basic version, the Advanced Fieldbus Power Supply System supplies the fieldbus with 28 V and 500 mA and enables a 1 A supply via a parallel connection of two devices in “Boost” mode. If users decide on a redundant supply setup in which two modules provide 250 mA each, they will automatically also benefit from redundant diagnosis functions.

Taylor Hobson Surtronic 25 is put through its paces. Richard Parker of Trescal, Europe’s largest calibration and measurement providers, explains all…

Trescal, born from a strategic break off from Air Liquide in 2004 quickly became Europe’s largest calibration and measurement provider. Trescal operates over 45 calibration service centres and employs over 1000 people across Europe; we service 20,000 customers and handle over 600,000 calibration operations every year covering a large range of sectors such as Defense, Aerospace, Aeronautics, Automotive, Power Generation & Utilities, Electronics Manufacturing, Communications and Medical & Chemistry.

All of our sites have ISO certification and all our labs are accredited under ISO17025 in some specific domains. Our accredited labs cover a broad spectrum of technologies such as Accelerometry, Acoustic, Climatic, Dimensional, Electricity / Magnetism, Time / Frequency, Gas Flowmeter, Liquid Flowmeter, Force, Torque, Hardness, Mass / Scale, Photometry, Pressure / Vacuum, Radiometry / Optical, Temperature, Humidity, Volume.

To be able to service and support all the above industries and application areas to the highest possible standards we constantly invest in new equipment and resources.
To keep in line with our strict quality standards we will not utilise any equipment without a product trial including a full gauge R &R (Repeatability & Reproducibility).

One of our more recent requirements was for portable surface finish equipment. For this purpose we trialled a number of products including Taylor Hobson’s Surtronic 25 hand held roughness checker. This is an Instrument designed to measure the roughness of various surfaces and lends itself to a variety of applications and industries.

Richard Parker, Technical Manager of Trescal comments:

“The Surtronic 25 passed Trescal bench with ease. This is a robust product that ticked all the boxes for Trescal requirements. I was especially impressed with the additional software package for the Surtronic 25 which was very easy to use and offered a host of additional analysis and processing features”

Insulation Blower – SERIES 700 Reliable Hydraulic Power On The Industry’s Most Versatile Platform
The SERIES 700 insulation blower is the next generation in high performance blowing machines:
Powerful enough for open blow
Precise enough for sidewall fill
Versatile enough for wall spray, “netted” cavity or stabilized applications

Totally Hydraulic Drive System
The SERIES 700 features a totally hydraulic drive system providing power to the blower, feeder and hopper. The new variable speed blower control allows the operator to control air volume while maintaining a constant delivery pressure. With Meyer’s hydraulic design, there are no more clutches, transmissions and the associated chains, belts and pulleys. Our innovative design simplifies installation, providing exceptional operating performance and reliability while requiring minimal maintenance.

Quick-Change Seal Strip System – Simplified Operation – Minimized Downtime
Smart engineering simplifies operation, minimizes downtime and delivers accurate and uniform coverage. Meyer’s exclusive quick-change seal strip system lets you replace seal strips in the feeder in minutes. The infinitely adjustable hopper speed control provides precise control of hopper conditioning speed, and the electrically operated material slide gate is panel mounted for easy adjustment. All gauges and controls are easily accessible without having to remove protective safety guards.

Insulation blowing professionals can choose from the SERIES 700’s two drive train options to suit specific needs and preferences:
Hydraulic power-take-off
Water cooled gas engine
The SERIES 700 represents Meyer’s total commitment to the highest standards of quality, craftsmanship and customer service. Backed by the most comprehensive 2-year warranty in the industry, the SERIES 700 will serve the professional applicator for years to come.

The MCE Mostra Convegno Expocomfort 2010 in Milan (Italy) has
come to a successful end.

The Ascon booth was crowded of visitors interested in the new solutions offered by ‘climaPAC’ and ‘boilerPAC’, the control systems based on the Ascon’s Programmable Automation Controller.

For heat management Ascon has launched ‘climaPAC’ the new complete and modular system that represents the ideal solution for the accurate remote control of heating plants.
The system fits itself to the characteristics of the heating and hot water plant; it is directly interfaced with sensors and actuators and it is independent from the plant type.

For complete and modular control of industrial boilers Ascon introduced ‘boilerPAC’.
A single control system, suitable for contractors, boiler and burner manufacturers.
The hardware is standard and expandable. The software is modular and includes all the possible variants.
The above allows selecting only the desired functions on the basis of boiler type, size and application.

Many thanks to the visitors of the Ascon booth.

Please do not hesitate to contact our sales forces to discuss the solution of your applications.

In recent years, concern for environmental issues has taken front stage, spawning diversification in waste treatment facilities and methods. Tsubaki has meticulously gather detailed results on actual chains utilized in the various equipment in waste treatment facilities and developed a line of distinctly designed and specialized conveyor chains ideal for the wide range of harsh treatment applications. From ash to molten slag, you’ll find a Tsubaki chain that exceeds all expectations.

One particularly harsh application is the molten slag conveyor. Previous AT Series Heavy Duty Conveyor Chains would suffer quick wear between bushes and rollers in these extreme conditions, but wear on Tsubaki’s YP Series Conveyor Chain is 1/10th that thanks to superior materials and wear resistant step bushes. The YP Series is also highly resistant to the acidic/alkaline water the slag is cooled in, showing no noticeable rust or pitting after 1.5 months in our immersion tests.

And by using a Tsubaki chain in your operation, you’re making a commitment to a cleaner environment: Less rusting, less pitting, and less fatigue on the chain all add up to less replacement and less material consumption. Tsubaki is committed to a cleaner, better environment, as well as to the industries that support it. Trust Tsubaki Waste Treatment Chains to do the job, and do it right.

EtherNet/IP communication and PROFIBUS redundancy

In 2009, R. STAHL’s IS1 system was the first remote I/O solution worldwide to be equipped with a Fast Industrial Ethernet interface. Now also capable of EtherNet/IP communication, the solution, which was limited to the Modbus TCP protocol up to now, has become more flexible. EtherNet/IP paves the way into the world of Rockwell- and Allen Bradley-compatible systems and interfaces, which are supported by most PLCs and control systems. Fulfilling strict real-time requirements, the protocol has a key advantage over Modbus TCP. Users can configure and parameterise the system by means of a high-performance DTM which also provides a wide range of diagnostic functions and enables condition monitoring.

R. STAHL now also provides more installation flexibility for the proven IS1 PROFIBUS versions. Due to great demand, the company had already developed proprietary solutions with line and system redundancy. Additionally, IS1 is now also available with a system redundancy compliant with the “PROFIBUS Slave Redundancy” specification. In automation systems which support this standardised solution, IS1 runs as a redundant slave. Today, these systems mainly include controllers from Siemens and ABB. In order to provide a driver-independent, standardised redundancy solution for users employing other control systems, R. STAHL has designed a universally applicable implementation. Virtually all other systems can be operated with IS1 in a fully redundant layout with a so-called “Flying Master” redundancy. Successful tests have already been carried out with the Delta V control system from Emerson Process Management and with Centum VP from Yokogawa. The IS1 remote system for hazardous areas, which has been claiming market leadership in zone 1 installations for a long time, asserts its technological leadership position with its new extended functions. The Ethernet platform will also ensure support for the upcoming high-performance process automation protocols PROFINET and FOUNDATION™ fieldbus HSE. Furthermore, R. STAHL will also pursue up-to-date developments for standard PROFIBUS DP installations.

ISONIC 2010 uniquely combines phased array, conventional UT, and TOFD modalities providing 100% raw data recording and imaging. Along with superior portability, lightweight, and battery operation this makes it suitable for all kinds of every-day ultrasonic inspections
Phased array modality is performed by powerful 32:32 phased array electronics with independently adjustable emitting and receiving aperture, each may consist of 1 through 32 elements. Groups of phased array probe elements composing emitting and receiving aperture may be fully or partially matching or totally separated allowing flexible managing of incidence angles, focal distances, types of radiated and received waves including directly reflected and diffracted mode converted signals
Each channel is equipped with it’s own A/D converter. Parallel firing, A/D conversion, and “on-the-fly” digital phasing are provided for every possible composition and size of the emitting and receiving aperture. Thus implementation of each focal law is completed within single pulsing / receiving cycle providing maximal possible inspection speed

ISONIC 2010 is additionally equipped with independent channel for conventional UT and TOFD inspection and recording capable for both single and dual modes of pulsing/receiving
High ultrasonic performance is achieved through firing phased array, TOFD, and conventional probes with bipolar square wave initial pulse with wide-range-tunable duration and amplitude. Maximal amplitude of bipolar square wave initial pulse is 300 V pp for phased array and 400 V pp for conventional channel. High stability of the amplitude and shape of the initial pulse, boosting of all it’s leading and falling edges, and electronic damping are provided by the special circuit significantly improving signal to noise ratio and resolution. Thus analogue gain for each modality is controllable over 0…100 dB range
640X480 pixels 6.5″ bright touch screen provides optimal resolution / power consumption rate for the outdoor operation