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Like its kissing cousin from another mother, the Chevrolet HHR is not long for this world. And development of its replacement is underway in the form of the 2011 Chevrolet Orlando.

Originally unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in 2008 and later spied in production guise this past August, the Orlando is likely to debut sometime in 2010 and go on sale later this year. Seven seats are supposedly part of the package and there’s also talk of a range-extending Voltec drivetrain pulled from the Chevrolet Volt.

It would appear that some of the Orlando’s edgy and angular styling seems to have been lost in the translation from concept to production, particularly in front where the taut headlamps and chiseled fascia makes way for a decidedly more Malibu-like appearance. Thankfully, the blistered fenders front and rear appear to be part of the package, and hopeful Chevy can retain some of the concept’s blocky rump when the Orlando hits U.S. and European shores later this year packing a few fuel-efficient fours.

Spy Shots: 2011 Chevrolet Orlando shows its face originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Jan 2010 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Today’s Journal story on the price of sports fandom looks at two economists who have studied the intangible value of having a pro sports team. Not the dollars and cents economic benefits like new taxes or increased real estate values but, rather, the price of all the warm and fuzzy feelings one gets from being a sports fan or just having a team in town.

So Real Time Economics took a moment to talk about the economics of sports stadiums with Jerry Bell, president of Twins Sports Inc., the company that owns the Minnesota Twins — Minnesota’s baseball team. This season the Twins move into Target Field, which taxpayers helped pay for. Some excerpts:

Twins Sports President Jerry Bell (Associated Press)

Economists are starting to study the “welfare value” of sports teams — basically the dollar value of the emotional benefits fans get from their local sports team. What do you think of this idea?
Bell: That’s like saying what would you pay for a memory. Most people attend their first professional baseball game with another family member. If you go to your first game with your father or grandfather, what you paid for you ticket you won’t remember, where you sit you might remember but you will never forget who you went with.
I remember very well the first baseball game I went to. The first date I had with my now wife was at a baseball game. Those are the kinds of things that gathering places like a baseball games or an orchestra do to make you a whole as a community.

Do you think that publicly funded ballparks make sense on the economic argument alone, meaning that they create new taxes and jobs?
Bell: It depends on your alternative for investment. My view is that is does have an economic impact in a targeted sense. It benefits this neighborhood. Does that make a ripple effect in the state economy? Probably not.

As someone who has sold a stadium to your community which do you think resonates more, the economic argument or civic pride?
Bell: Oh, clearly the social aspect. Ten years from now, maybe less, no one will know what this ballpark cost and they won’t care. They’ll either like it and they’ll enjoy coming here or they won’t, and they’ll judge it on that. We want it to be that place that you can escape to on a sunny day.

What is your response to people who say the public shouldn’t be subsidizing private businesses?
Bell: That’s virtually everywhere. Take farms. Everybody believes that a farm subsidy helps the family farmer. The family farmer is now a corporate farmer and the subsidies are going to corporations. We got into this, and I don’t know how we did, but we did, and now it’s in sports as well.

How much public money did the Twins get?
Bell: We paid $200 million and [the public] paid $350 million. The days of getting the public to pay for the whole ballpark are over.

Given the recession and now its disastrous effect on public finances, do you expect to see cities and states take a harder line on paying for stadiums?
Bell: The private side will have to increase some. I don’t know what the right amount is and it depends. There is always a big difference when you want to attract a team — a team is probably going to pay nothing [to move from one city to another]. On the other hand, if you’re a team that has been in a community for a long time you are expected to be different.

Do you expect your stadium will return the tax money put into it with taxes and/or economic benefits?
Bell: I think it has a chance. It depends on the economy. Does the real estate value around the ballpark go up and if it goes up, does it contribute to construction and further development and what kind of real estate taxes does that produce? If all of those things come together over a long period of time, maybe. It’s hard to say.

If you sign catcher Joe Mauer to the huge extension people think he’ll get that would surely help the state’s tax base.
Bell: He does pay Minnesota income taxes.

Talent show stars-turned-singing sensations Adam Lambert and Susan Boyle will join The Queen of Talk on the Oprah stage this Tuesday.

Susan will share her Cinderella story of going from total obscurity to Billboard stardom while Adam Lambert allows Oprah’s cameras an exclusive glimpse inside his new life as a glam rock star.

Speaking of Adam Lambert, the former American Idol finalist is sad to see Idol judge Simon Cowell leave the competition, but he’s certain the ratings juggarnaut will keep rolling. Adam believes that the show’s success is all about the contestants and viewers.

“Ultimately, after the first couple weeks of auditions, the audience tunes in every week for the contestants,” Lambert reveals to Oprah. “[Audiences] grow fond of one or a couple of the people and they get behind them, and they’re invested in them. And of course, it’s great to hear… what Simon’s going to say. But we tune in to hear the contestants blossom or not.”

The show will go on, but Adami fears future hopefuls will miss out on the chance to grow vocally from Simon’s signature biting critiques.

“The contestants will miss out on, like, really honest criticism. Sometimes it can be a little personal, and I know other contestants took it to heart sometimes and got really stressed out about what he would say…[But] I think that that’s important to making you a better performer… You’ve got to hear the good and the bad.”

Yesterday we looked at the unique owl plushies available at Night Owl Paper Goods. Today I’ve got some more great news about this company including a stellar discount code!

Night Owl Paper Goods is one of my favorite sustainable companies. Their products are totally adorable and made with the earth in mind. Hence my always talking about them. Beyond the cute plushies Night Owl Paper Goods also carries an excellent selection of Valentine’s Day Cards. They’ve got two green options; cards printed on 100% reclaimed & recycled cotton ecru cover or cards made with eco-friendly sustainably-harvested yellow birch card. The birch cards are suitable for framing and yes, you can even jot down your Valentine’s day wishes on them (they’re wood BUT writable).

Of course, your first choice, your best eco-choice is to make your Valentines with recycled materials you already have on hand, but if you’re going with store bought, make sure it’s an eco-friendly choice such as the cards at Night Owl Paper Goods. They have tons of great design options (see gallery above).

GET A GREAT DEAL!: In case you missed yesterday’s post, Night Owl Paper Goods stopped by and left us a great discount code. Simply head to Night Owl Paper Goods and select your favorite LOVE card(s), owl plushie(s) and any other goodies you’d like and enter the coupon code “blisstree” at check-out to receive 10% off your total order. A great deal for sustainable goodies!

[images via Night Owl Paper Goods]

Post from: Blisstree

Discount on Hip Eco-Valentine’s Day Cards

Monsters are scary, but it appears that animatronics are far more frightening without all their makeup. See more shots in roboticist/director John Nolan’s personal collection: [John Nolan Films via jwz via boingboing]

Spectra-Physics lasers, a Division of Newport Corporation has released the Credo™-YHP high repetition rate dye laser systems built upon the designs of the popular Cobra Pulsed Dye Laser series. German engineered by our partner firm Sirah GmbH for precision, stability and reliability, the Credo-YHP dye laser system has an optimized cavity with a built-in pump laser and optional doubler resulting in a sophisticated and compact system—ideal for laser induced fluorescence and combustion studies.

The Credo-YHP offers:
Built-in DPSS Spectra-Physics’ Navigator 532-40 integrated into the laser box, resulting in assured alignment, smaller footprint and portability.
• Top mount adjusters for easy alignment. The top cover simply flips up and the adjusters can be accessed from both sides of the laser.
• Optimized oscillator design to minimize pump thresholds, including cuvettes with Brewster angle windows, and a high efficiency grating-arm design.
• Re-designed high flow rate cuvettes for efficiently replenishing spent dye in the gain region. Special care was taken to remove any impediment to flow so as to provide the smoothest, fastest transfer of dye.
• Removable cuvettes for rapid dye changes. No need to flush out and clean the dye circulator system. The entire dye circulator system can be removed in seconds without tools and changed out for another autonomous system already filled with the dye for the next wavelength region of interest.
• With the optional doubler, the Credo-YHP dye laser offers coverage at popular wavelengths such as 216 nm, 228 nm and 247 nm.

Just as in the Pulsed Dye Laser series, reliability is inherent in the Credo-YHP system design. All Credo-YHP components are mounted on a solid block of low thermal expansion stainless steel, mechanically and thermally isolated from the outer laser housing. By removing virtually all mechanical and thermal stress and by using opto-mechanics optimized for easy and reproducible operation, the Credo-YHP laser achieves a wavelength resettability for the oscillators of <5 pm, a limit set primarily by the laser's spectral resolution.

MEDER electronic, Inc. today announced the release of their new miniature SIL HV Series High Voltage/High Current Reed Relays in an epoxy sealed, single-in-line package measuring only 24mm x 6.4mm x 8.9mm. An optional offset pin-out measuring 29mm x 6.4mm x 8.9mm is also available. Standard coil selections include 5 or 12 volts with or without diode suppression.

This series can switch up to 1000 volts and carry up to 5 amps for up to 50 milli-seconds at a consistent repetition rate or 10 amps at pulsed current for up to 10 micro-seconds. The relays can dielectrically hold off up to 4000 volts across the contacts as well as between contacts and coil.

The SIL HV Series is especially suitable for use in automatic test systems, testing high power MOS-FETs. These rugged semi conductors have very high initial peak current capability and require a reed relay that can carry high current pulses for hundreds of millions of operations. These relays come standard with an internal magnetic shield making them an ideal choice for close stacking matrices.

Due to their small size, high current and high voltage capability, the SIL HV Relays are also an appropriate match for several medical device applications such as portable defibrillators. These reed relays are RoHS compliant and UL approved.

Samples are readily available for your evaluation and prototyping needs by request to MEDER per the contact information below.

About MEDER electronic Inc.: MEDER electronic is a private company offering a complete line of Magnetic Reed Switches, Reed Sensors and Magnets, Reed Relays and Opto-couplers worldwide. MEDER leads the way in designing and manufacturing customer specific switching and sensing solutions for products driven by all major market segments including, but not limited to, Test & Measurement, Medical, Security, Household, Automotive, Industrial, Marine, Navigation, Farm/Lawn Equipment and Telecommunications.

Dayton, Ohio — Using patented multiple robot control technology, Motoman’s next-generation DX100 controller easily handles multiple tasks including control of up to eight robots (72 axes), as well as I/O devices and communication protocols. The energy-saving DX100 features faster processing speeds, advanced robot arm control for smoother interpolation, built-in collision avoidance, and quicker I/O response. These advanced control functions take advantage of Yaskawa’s Sigma V motor technology to optimize acceleration characteristics and reduce cycle time.

Featuring a robust PC architecture, the DX100 uses a Windows® CE programming pendant with color touch screen. Multiple window display capability and a unique cross-shaped navigation cursor reduce teaching time by 30 percent, and program files can now be up to 32 characters long. A convenient compact flash slot and USB port facilitate memory back-ups. All operator controls are located on the pendant, allowing the control cabinet to be mounted remotely. Connections to the controller cabinet are made through the back of the unit, optimizing floorspace. The space-saving control cabinet allows for up to three external axes and can be remote-mounted. Top- or side-mount expansion options are available. The DX100 conserves power during robot idle time, providing up to 25 percent energy savings.

Its extensive I/O suite includes integral PLC and HMI pendant displays, 2,048 I/O and a graphical ladder editor that can provide an efficient system level control. The DX100 supports all major fieldbus networks and offers easy connection to an information infrastructure through standard network options for EtherNet/IP, DeviceNet, Profibus-DP, and many others.

The DX100 controller is compliant to ANSI/RIA 15.06-1999, ISO 10218-1-2007 and other relevant safety standards. It includes dual-channel E-Stop functionality, integrated speed monitoring, and manual brake release for the robot. An optional third-party certified Functional Safety Unit provides user-defined zone control and axis limits, plus speed and stopped-state monitoring. By minimizing the robot’s restricted space, these features can be used to reduce the cell floorspace requirements.

By often eliminating the need for a separate PLC and human machine interface (HMI), the DX100 controller delivers significant cost savings at the system level, while also decreasing workcell complexity and
improving overall reliability.

www.motoman.com

The Avure isostatic laminating press is today being used by scores of component manufacturers around the world for fast, high-quality lamination of hybrid chips, MLCCs, Bluetooth components, BMEs, filters, ferrites, varistors, multi-layer PZTs, and even fuel cells.

Isostatic pressure (equal on all sides of an object) produces uniform lamination with no distortion, part-to-part variation, camber, rounded edges, edge trimming, or in-cycle part rotation. The large work zone accommodates multiple packages and sizes in a single 3-10 minute cycle at 20 times the throughput rate of traditional heated platen presses. Operating pressures up to 30,000 psi handle the higher pressure requirements of water-based ceramic tapes and base metal electrode design packages.

Fourteen standard models are offered, ranging from small laboratory-scale units to high-capacity production presses.

The new TOYODA TG4-32 grinding center is a high accuracy and high efficiency combination machine that has achieved the fastest wheelhead swing speed in the world.

– Automatic swiveling wheelhead offers integrated process.
– Two roles in one machine with combined functions.
– Min. compact machine in the class.
– Able to attach normal wheels and CBN wheels.

IntelLiDrives, Inc. new rotary table model RR-18-14 from the ROTORING direct drive rotary Series provides superior angular positioning and is designed to eliminate backlash, friction and wear problems associated with worm, gear and belt drives.

This rotary table combines axial brushless RotoLinear motoring modules and planar air bearings integrated into compact, direct drive configuration and provides unlimited rotation with precise positioning and velocity controls.

ROTORING model RR-18-14 features center clear open aperture of 350 mm, total height 55 mm and delivers resolution of 1 arc-sec with torque of 32 Nm.

When processing 300 mm semiconductor wafers, every area of the wafer can be accessed from both sides.

In general automation applications large open center offers the opportunity to access parts from inside and outside of the table simultaneously. This feature allows robotic devices, pick and place and ancillary tooling to be mounted inside the table, saving floor space and reducing parts handling with increased productivity.

High speed, powerful VM series, medium size 6-axis robots.
A slim body for a wide range of applications!

High Speed
Fastest cycle time in their class (0.89 sec.)

High Power
One of the highest applicable maximum moments of inertia in their class.

Choice of configurations
Standard (IP40) or dust- and mistproof (IP54/65).

Compact design
Minimizes interference with surrounding equipment

Ceiling-mountable All models

Gullco’s KBM self propelled bevellers can operate at up to 10 feet (3 meters) per minute. These bevellers produce clean machined bevel angles of 22 1/2° through 55° with no thermal distortion on steel and aluminum. All KBM bevellers can be supplied with an exclusive adjustable height, self aligning, spring loaded caster wheel assembly maintaining a uniform bevel and consistent root face.

E2 offer a series of equipment for mounting of the E2 units. The mountings are rigid and easily adjustable to orientate the units in different angles. The mounting column dimension is Ø60 mm.
We offer required lengths upon request.

Intended for drilling units BE 21, BE(F) 22,

BE(F)P 22, BE 33 and tapping unit LS 22.

This equipment is complementary to the options the different units give for mounting in other ways. These ways are described in the catalogue for the specific unit.

The single and multi-turn absolute encoder range WDGA from Wachendorff Automation has a new addition. Immediately available as part of our product range: the new WDGA 58A
with a 58 mm synchro flange, with 6 mm shaft. The size 58 mm is considered an industry standard; additionally Wachendorff offers smaller designs, to adapt to the continuing miniaturisation in the field of engineering.
One outstanding mechanical characteristic of the new 58 absolute encoder is its capacity for high shaft loads with 125 N radial and 70 N axial, which the absolute encoder can handle effortlessly. It, therefore, can often be directly integrated into the application, without bearing block, as it were. In combination with the high protection rating IP67 the absolute encoder WDGA58A is designed for application in the toughest conditions.
The complete WDGA range from Wachendorff Automation is equipped with the patented EnDra® technology. This technology possesses outstanding characteristics: wear and maintenance-free, no gears; environmentally friendly, no batteries; energy efficient, very low power consumption. The advanced WDGA range is
equipped with a very high-performance 32 bit processor and additionally has a two colour LED for easy start-up and to display the operating mode.

Following the introduction of RFID technology in the RFM900 series of refractometers in 2009, Bellingham + Stanley has now applied the same technology to its top-end polarimeter – the newly named ADP440+.

RFID is particularly useful where a number of different operators use the instrument in a controlled environment such as those working to GLP or FDA regulations, where a long PIN would normally be input via the keypad for clearance and recording purposes. RFID tags store personal access data and with the simple swipe of a tag across the instrument housing, the user is verified and given the applicable access rights.

Also in common with the RFM900 refractometers, the ADP440+ features a new blue-screen display and an updated menu structure that is more versatile than its predecessor and has the ability to recall up to 700 stored results in tabular form as well as offering easy navigation around the multi-lingual software.

The SG 2 series has been designed specifically for the modernisation of elevator doors and complies with the European EN 81-70 standard. The system consists of a multi beam transmitter, SGT and receiver, SGR with control circuitry, electronics and optical components all integrated into the detector profiles.

The SG 2 is available in heights of 2.00 or 2.10 m both of which create an active height of 1800 mm. There are 20 channels offering 94 cross scanning beams, whereby the blanking function will allow up to 10 top channels to be ignored when covered or masked during set up. This feature allows the active height to be reduced for applications which do not require the full 1800 mm detection height.

The housing profile is an A type, slim line design (10 x 28 mm) in natural anodised aluminium with 3 m flexible cable connection.

The SGR is supplied with a 12 – 36 V dc power supply with a 5 wire, solid state relay output and with wire selectable light or dark function.

The advanced automatic signal tracking (AST) feature ensures that no onsite set up or adjustments are required. The signal level of each individual channel is adjusted automatically compensating for misalignment and contamination during operation. Transmitter and receiver detectors are optically synchronised.

The system can be used both in static and dynamic applications.

Version for the welding of Ø 1 to 12 mm studs (without refractory ring), duty cycle (arcing time factor) : 8%
Needs a specifc welding gun for the SIG process fitting on all JUPITER generators for Ø 1 to 12 mm studs.

Universal, the most recent stud welding process, is ahead of the field in many ways, including :
– Excellent stud/part liaison quality.
– Extra safety and reliability. Productivity 2 to 3 times higher than conventionnal processes.
– Symmetric studs to simplify automatic feed.
– Compatibility with ARC and ATC processes.
– Uses standard, easily-available gases.

How do you label 15,000 – 20,000 chocolate eggs per hour? Very carefully and fast! This particular system combines a high speed metering device, product positioning conveyor, synchronous hugger belts & overhead hold down, and redundant high speed SL2000 label applicators. The system can apply labels at rates from 200 – 400 products per minute in this “zero down time” production environment.

Welcome to Universal labeling systems – North America’s largest manufacturer of made-to-order pressure sensitive labeling equipment.

Established in 1968
as a general contracting machine shop, Universal, then called Park Products, designed and built its first labeling machine in 1972. After building labeling machines under the name of another manufacturer, the Universal line came into its own in 1984. With our own design, fabrication, and assembly facilities, Universal Labeling Systems was poised to become the most complete manufacturer of pressure sensitive labeling equipment.

21,000 labeling machines and counting.
Today, Universal’s seasoned design engineers have over 75 years of combined labeling machinery experience. We maintain our own fabrication facility, exclusively supporting the manufacturing of labeling equipment. Each assembled machine is put through a rigorous testing process, making sure that our equipment can meet the rigors of your requirements. The Universal Performance Guarantee simply states, ” If Universal Labeling Systems is unable to meet the specified performance in your quotation, we will take your machine back and reimburse you in full.” –Doug Hall, President, Universal Labeling Systems.

We deliver
equipment that is well documented, easy to learn, and is complete with detailed product manuals. Included with each standard or custom labeling system is a recommended spare parts list, specific to your machine. We deliver well tested machines that include a customer instructional video, and supported by a world wide network of Authorized Universal Distributors. We deliver when time counts…over 98.6% of our labeling machines built and shipped on or before our scheduled date.