IEN - March 2009 - (Page 9) PaGE 9 IEN / MaRcH ’09 Lifestyle Engineering . . . contributed editorial by Entertainment Engineering Magazine Axsys Optical and Motion Controls a Seeing beyond the naked eye Now on IEN.com Industry Blogs Finding Tomorrow’s Workforce ProMat’s keynote presentation tackled the looming skills shortage in a wide-ranging panel discussion. Employer/ employee communication and making use of community colleges ranked high on the list of resources for developing employees “who not only know what to do but why they’re doing it,” according to blogger Mary O’Hara Smith. Go to www.ien.com/workforce xsys optical systems are found in applications that demand the finest optical surfaces, the highest accuracies, and the tightest motion tolerances. In demanding applications such as airborne thermal targeting, missile tracking, space-borne surveillance, and semiconductor micro-inspection, the movement of structures, optics, and electronics must be precisely controlled to ensure the accurate operation of critical functions. And these tolerances must be maintained over long periods of time. Even minor inaccuracies can significantly impact the effectiveness of a satellite, or even more critically, negatively impact the outcome of a military engagement. Axsys has been delivering optical and motion control solutions to the US government and to high performance commercial markets. These systems are enabling a growing range of demanding optical applications such as thermal weapons systems, nighttime surveillance cameras, and highly precise medical imagers. In an increasingly complex world, the human eye is unable to meet the optical demands of our society. In disciplines as diverse as medicine, electronics, advertising, transportation, and space exploration, advanced optical systems are critical. Today, sophisticated optical products are helping doctors to make better diagnoses, helping engineers to create faster and better computers, and even helping researchers unlock the mysteries of the universe. Advanced optical technology is being used to better our lives in countless ways. Technologies from Axsys are helping to meet these challenges. Sophisticated lenses, imagers, and telescopes, and the ultra-precise motion systems that control them, are designed and manufactured for use in a broad array of both government and commercial applications. These innovations are enabling an increasingly optical world. The US Army’s initiative has led to requirements for highly complex thermal imaging systems. These systems enable soldiers to deploy in complete darkness, and afford them a significant operational advantage over enemy forces. Axsys is fulfilling the increasing demand for applications requiring infrared targeting and surveillance with vertically integrated lenses and scanning systems. Aerial surveillance and videography require precise stabilization to produce steady images, particularly when focusing on subjects at long range. Axsys manufactures stabilized camera systems for military, police, TV, and film production customers. Recently, Axsys cameras were used extensively in the award-winning documentary Planet Earth, where they were not only put in front of the action but in it Cash for Clunkers Buying a new car: is this the best of times or the worst of times? Blogger Debbie Maskin’s report on the government’s Cash for Clunkers program, designed to encourage you to trade in your old gas guzzler for a new fuel-efficient model, may help you decide. Go to www.ien.com/clunkers Cutting Out the Chit-Chat Who hasn’t been guilty of multitasking behind the wheel at one time or another? Now the National Safety Council is getting into the act, reports blogger Jennifer Hooker, pushing for laws against all cell phone use -- even handsfree -- while driving. Go to www.ien.com/chitchat Wild Goose Chase In response to the US Airways bird strike episode, the Air Force is taking a serious gander at Gotham’s geese, blogger Mike Botta tells us. Get his unique take on a hightech bird-detection system already in use by the military, and now proposed for testing at LaGuardia Airport. Go to www.ien.com/geese Piracy vs Terrorism Stripping the romanticism from this age-old form of lawlessness, blogger Mark Devlin exposes it for what it is: another form of terrorism. Is there an engineering solution? Go to www.ien.com/piracy Continue reading this story at www.ieninfo.com/11224-305 Industry Articles HOW TO: www.ien.com/howto • Change the Way You Spray to Minimize Clogging • Cut Fuel Costs PROBLEM SOLVERS: www.ien.com/problemsolvers • Statue of Liberty Chills with Plastic Cooling Towers • With Chemical Spills, Prevention Beats Cleanup • No-Maintenance AC Protects Electrical Enclosures • ESD Workstations Assemble a Successful Operation • It’s a Wrap -- Shrink Wrap for Military Helicopters LIFESTYLE ENGINEERING: : www.ien.com/lifestyle • Inspecting the Harley V-Rod Engine • RoboDaddy • Fluid Dynamics Improve Scoreboard Designs • Ford Makes Auto Racing Safer • Bearings Speed Bikes • Putting the Swerve into Soccer DESIGN: www.ien.com/design • 8 Ways to Reduce Costs in the Product Development Cycle • Composite Crush Simulation Technology Advances • ProNest Laser Support Enhancements Aid Users • Online Catalog Boosts Motor Sales • Using Simulation in Ambient Light TV Technology OPTICAL & MOTION CONTROL Optical Sensor World-Beam QS18 Universal Voltage sensors have compact housing with 18 mm threaded barrel or basemount, side-mount, and retrofit bracket options. They offer 20 to 140 Vac/dc or 20 to 270 Vac/dc operation with P-MOSFET (sourcing)/N-MOSFET (sinking) output. Banner Engineering corp.: 888-373-6767 www.ieninfo.com/11224 -306 or circle 306 on card Machine Vision Lens Lens Cleaning Kit With true double telecentric design, Elite Series provides distortion of less than 0.2% and telecentric error of less than 0.1%. It provides true caliper measurement by accepting only parallel cones of light, eliminating perspective change that can cause measurement error. Industrial Vision components: 419-343-0471. Tech Contact: David Miller www.ieninfo.com/11224 -308 or circle 308 on card LRO cleaning kit for CO2 laser optics has proper procedures for removing spatter and blow-back from lenses and mirrors. Kit includes supply of alcohol, acetone, cotton-tipped swabs, lens paper, and finger cots for safe handling. Laser Research Optics: 888239-5545. Tech Contact: Steve Lydon www.ieninfo.com/11224-310 or circle 310 on card Motion Controller Available in 4-, 6-, or 8-axis versions, RoHS-compliant SPiiPlus 3UHP Series provides controller cycle up to 4 kHz. Customized algorithms offer precise motion control. Additional algorithms and input shaping tools minimize jitter and settling times. acS Motion control: 800-545-2980. Tech Contact: Evan Reed www.ieninfo.com/11224 -307 or circle 307 on card Laser Lenses/Mirrors Thermal Camera CO2 laser engraver lenses and mirrors measure 3/4 in. OD and come in 1-1/2, 2, 2-1/2, 4, and 5 in. focal lengths, with 1/2 to 1-1/2 in. OD and focal lengths to 25 in. available. Direct OEM replacement lens assemblies can be installed into user-supplied mounts. Laser Research Optics: 888-239-5545. Tech Contact: Steve Lydon www.ieninfo.com/11224-309 or circle 309 on card Mikron MCL-160 detects thermal abnormalities including fast moving targets. Requiring no maintenance, radiometric camera is integrated with MikroSpecRT software, which provides users with complete configuration of imaging system. LumaSense Technologies: 408-235-3813. Tech Contact: Judi Seavers www.ieninfo.com/11224-311 or circle 311 on card http://www.IEN.com http://www.ien.com/workforce http://www.ien.com/clunkers http://www.ien.com/chitchat http://www.ien.com/geese http://www.ien.com/piracy http://www.ieninfo.com/11224-305 http://www.ien.com/howto http://www.ieninfo.com/11224-306 http://www.ien.com/problemsolvers http://www.ieninfo.com/11224-310 http://www.ieninfo.com/11224-308 http://www.ien.com/lifestyle http://www.ieninfo.com/11224-306 http://www.ieninfo.com/11224-308 http://www.ieninfo.com/11224-310 http://www.ieninfo.com/11224-311 http://www.ieninfo.com/11224-309 http://www.ieninfo.com/11224-307 http://www.ien.com/design http://www.ieninfo.com/11224-307 http://www.ieninfo.com/11224-311 http://www.ieninfo.com/11224-309
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