Appliance Design - August 2008 - (Page 3)

design and engineering solutions for the global residential and commercial appliance industry August 2008, volume 56, no. 8. DEPARTMENTS 4 Editorial 5 Shipments/Forecasts 6 News Watch 38 New Products 39 Design Marts 40 Association Report: CEA 41 Advertiser’s Index FEATURES plastics 14 14 The widening array of options for coloring plastics expands flexibility for product designers, giving them new ways to differentiate their products, but it also increases the complexity involved in making a decision. Coloring methods, aesthetics, color matching concerns, and the effect of pigments on mechanical properties all play a role in the process. 20 Water-assisted injection molding is a relatively new technology, yet it is already proving advantageous in a number of applications. But before diving into it, plastic part designers need to understand where it is suitable and how it affects polymer selection. 20 switches 26 Simplifying the interaction between high-tech devices and their operators is a key design concern, and designers now have a new way to address it. A novel technology puts displays on top of keys and pushbuttons to combine the visual feedback of display screens with the tactile feedback of electromechanical switches. COVER Embedding a miniature display into the top of a pushbutton or key switch provides designers with a new option for designing interactive human-machine-interfaces, one that combines the visual feedback of a display with the tactile feedback of an electro-mechanical switch. For more information, see story on page 26. Photo-illustration from United Keys, San Jose, Calif. noise & vibration control 30 Designing noise out of a product can be challenging. Active noise control is a high-tech way of attacking the problem, but previously has been complicated and expensive to implement. A new approach makes it easier and less expensive. 30 joining 34 A self-locking screw-thread system that utilizes a preload locking internal thread form is both reusable and cost effective. Recent tests demonstrate its resistance to vibration-induced loosening. NEXT MONTH Software Industrial Design Decoration Connectors & Cords 34 Visit us at www.applianceDESIGN.com applianceDESIGN August 2008 3 www.applianceDESIGN.com http://www.appliancedesign.com http://www.appliancedesign.com

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Appliance Design - August 2008 Contents Editorial Shipments/Forecasts News Watch Plastics Switches Noise & Vibration Control Joining New Products Design Marts Association Report: CEA Advertiser’s Index

Appliance Design - August 2008

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