In this election session, we have been inundated with numbers, percentages, statistics, plans, promises, mud-slinging, accurate and inaccurate data. One of the most discussed topics is the economy and what industries can bring the country out of the longest recessions in American history. During the campaign stump, I have heard the concept of allowing certain […]
Editor's Blog
Editorial roundtable for the week of 10/22/12
Design World editors cover the latest developments in motion, pneumatics, 3D printing, additive manufacturing, and power supplies for the week of Oct 22, 2012.
Power MOSFETs basics for the learning engineer
This powerpoint presentation discusses the fundamentals of power MOSFETS. Used mostly in integrated circuits, power MOSFETS is widely popular for its ability to handle high power levels. From diodes (the simplest form of a semiconductor), to parasitic capacitance, these illustrations and schematics are created to assist in clarifying the basics in power MOSFETS.
Tektronix is focused on leading edge performance
The Tektronix Corp. was founded in 1946, by Howard Vollum, and acquired by Danaher in 2007. Headquartered in Beaverton, Or., the company serves engineering and technical professionals, by offering key products and markets, and respected brand based, high-quality, innovative products. With more than 40 years of custom microelectronics experience, its reputation is built on engineering […]
The fundamentals in transformer losses
When designing a transformer, you want to make sure that it is efficient. There are fundamental principles that you need to know: the amount of windings, the core losses, and the flux. Magnetomotive force (mmf) in a transformer is the current in a coil of wire wrapped around a core, which produces a magnetic flux […]
National Instruments is big on global citizenship
The National Instruments Co. (NI) provides integrated software and hardware to scientists and engineers. Founded in 1976, three college students (James Truchard, PhD, Jeff Kodosky, and Bill Nowlin) developed this technology-based enterprise. The company’s instrumentation hardware and graphical system design software convert standard PCs into industrial automation and test and measurement systems. These “virtual instruments” can […]
AMETEK, a company in business for the duration
AMETEK, Inc. headquartered in Berwyn, Pa., was founded in 1930. Specializing in manufacturing and electromechanical devices, the company has approximately 13,300 colleagues working at more than 100 manufacturing facilities and more than 100 sales and service centers in the United States, Europe, and around the world. Most recently, it has opened an office in Bangaluru, India, and for […]
NASA Glenn’s GreenLab facility researches algae for alternative fuel
During a recent visit to the NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio, my colleagues and I were taken on a tour on the GreenLab research facility. Dr. Bilal M. M. Bomani demonstrated and explained how and why the lab is in existence and the purpose it serves. At first glance, you would not know […]
A closer look at TDK-Lambda
TDK-Lambda is a corporation that specializes in manufacturing power supplies. It has offices in North and South America, Japan, England, Israel, and other locations worldwide. Being a leader in designing and manufacturing wide ranges of AC-DC power supplies and DC-DC converters it develops supplies for industrial, COTS, medical, telecom, datacom, and test & measurement applications […]
NI Week 2012 – National Instruments LabView CompactRio
At NI Week 2012, there is much buzz about NI LabVIEW’s CompactRio and its software support. The Rio is an interchangeable system that can hold 8 modules in its platform with 50 different modules to choose from. Thus, a user can have over 1 billion combinations to tailor their specific design parameters. The Rio does […]