April 2008

Wahl’s New Thermal Imager Locates Hot Spots

Wahl Instruments, Inc. has introduced a new Hot Spot Finder to its line of Wahl Heat Spy Thermal Imaging Cameras. It provides temperature measurement and display. Designed for self-contained use, the camera finds hot spots easily and quickly.

This new camera, encased in the same impact resistant housing as the HSI3000 Series, provides the user with a real-time thermal image for quick fault detection combined with a center spot, non-contact temperature measurement function. A trigger activated laser pointer insures pinpoint identification of hot spots. Report writing software allows the user to easily insert multiple images, with data, taken during a site survey to produce an inspection report. The HSI1200 measures the temperature of all 256 pixels that are displayed on the camera.
 
This thermal imager is light (1.54 lbs), compact, easy to operate and designed for hand-held use. It also features a tripod mount for remote use. The HSI1200 Hot Spot finder is used as a detection and diagnostic tool for many industrial, commercial and domestic applications including electrical, mechanical, HVAC and refrigeration. Customers are encouraged to attend free training classes at Palmer Wahl, a $450 value, in order to maximize their use of the camera.

The HSI1200 features a 16 by 16 pixel array, capable of displaying high-resolution, real time, thermal images on a bright 3.5-inch color LCD display with backlight. The user may select from among three color palettes: red-blue, green-blue or grayscale. It has a 20° by 20° field of view and offers user selectable image integration, emissivity values and reflected temperature. The HSI1200 imager is powered by a long life LI-ion rechargeable battery which is field replaceable and rechargeable.

Breathing Hot Air Into the Car’s Lungs

BASF’s highly heat-stabilized and highly filled Ultramid A3W2 G10 has found its first serial application in the end caps of charge air intercoolers manufactured by the Behr Company.

In this context, G10 stands for 50 percent glass fibers. The material was tailor-made to meet Behr’s requirements since there was no PA 66-based material on the market that could withstand the continuous temperatures of 190°C [374°F] and the excess-pressure fluctuations between 0.1 and 1.5 bar encountered in the intercooler system. These ongoing ups and downs at such high temperatures pose a great challenge for plastics. The Behr charge air intercooler is already in use in the current Ford line of compact vans, namely, the Transit Connect/Tourneo Connect with a 1.8-liter TDCi common-rail turbo diesel engine.

Wireless Monitoring Savings Calculator for Engineers Now Available
 
Engineers considering the pros and cons of switching to wireless monitoring of temperature conditions critical to project success can now make more informed technology decisions with the Wireless Savings Calculator offered by Dickson Company, manufacturers of the Wireless Wizard Temperature Data Logger.
 
Chris Sorensen, Dickson vice president of Sales and Marketing, said, “Engineers that need to monitor temperature conditions do not want to spend a lot of time doing so. The benefit of wireless data logging is that you no longer need to spend time retrieving data.  Temperature data, both trends and real-time readings, is automatically displayed on your desktop whenever you want to refer to it.  If you add up the hours that would otherwise be spent on collecting and downloading data the time-savings is significant and this translates into a rapid return-on-investment by switching to wireless technology.  Just how quickly you will recoup investments varies and the calculator enables you to get a firm idea of just what your real dollar savings over time will be.”
 
Dickson’s Wireless provides up to nine-day data backup storage with failsafe Dickson Data-Keep. It’s easy to set up and will give ongoing feedback on network status with the Wizard Signal Sensor.

Shin-Etsu Chemical Develops a Thermally Conductive, Double-Sided Silicone Adhesive Tape

Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd. has introduced a thermally conductive silicone double-sided adhesive tape, TC-20SAS, which provides both well suited heat dissipation and long-term reliability.

This product possesses high reliability because of its characteristics of well suited thermal resistance and excellent electrical insulation properties in addition to its high thermal conductivity of 0.7 W/m∙K and its good adhesiveness. Moreover, it is well suited in glue-on workability and re-workability. The thickness of this new silicone adhesive tape is 200 um and its standard size is 300 mm by 400 mm. Thus, it can respond to desired size. The start of mass-production is scheduled for June 2008.

Currently, the double-sided silicone adhesive tape products on the market are mostly acrylic resin types. These acrylic resin-type products are limited in their applications because of the deterioration that occurs in adhesive layers at high temperatures. Shin-Etsu’s newly developed adhesive tape product is a silicone type product, and accordingly, it can be used in a wide-temperature range of -40ºC to about 150ºC and is also superior in long term reliability.

Two New Workshops Announced for Thermal Management and Technology Symposium 2008

One full-day and one half-day pre-conference workshop have been added to the program for Thermal Management and Technology Symposium 2008.

• Dr. Carl Zweben, an independent consultant on composites and advanced thermal materials, will teach “Ultrahigh-Thermal-Conductivity Packaging Materials, on Sept. 24 at the Hyatt Regency Austin in Austin, Texas. The full-day course will begin at 8 a.m. and will provide an in-depth discussion of the increasing number of ultrahigh-thermal-conductivity and other advanced materials. Topics include properties, manufacturing processes, applications, cost, lessons learned, and future directions, including carbon nanotubes, thermal interface materials and low-CTE solders. Traditional materials are included for reference.
• Ezana Haile, mixed signal/analog senior applications engineer at Microchip Technology, Inc., will teach, “Temperature Sensing for Embedded Systems,” an afternoon course, which will begin at 1 p.m. on Sept. 24 at the Hyatt Regency Austin in Austin, Texas.  The workshop will show attendees how to identify the appropriate sensor for your application and discuss the pros and cons of each type of sensor. Attendees will learn design and development techniques for achieving ±0.05°C resolution and ±0.1°C accuracy from a -200°C to +1,000°C temperature range. Additionally, practical and cost-effective solutions for each sensor type will be demonstrated using evaluation boards. Attendees will receive USB-powered, stand-alone evaluation boards for each sensor type, and the supporting user-interface and temperature data log PC software.
Optional: Attendees can bring a laptop computer if they would like to follow the workshop hands on.  However, this is not required to benefit from attending the workshop.

For more information about pre-conference workshops - Click Here.

These products are designed to be used across a diverse range of electronics, including computers, telecommunications, gaming, medical devices, automotive and industrial applications. A handy elastomer gasket design section helps the design engineer specify the optimum gasket to suit the application.

Texys Creates New Subsidiary in North America for its Line of Texense Sensors for Automotive and Industrial Use  

Texys, designer and manufacturer of high-grade sensors for automotive and industrial use, has opened a new subsidiary in Indianapolis, Ind. This office is located near the heart of the US racing community to be close to its clients. Its Texense range of sensors gauge force, movement, pressure and temperature for vehicles in a testing scenario such as assembly line, test bench or even on the race track for competition vehicles. Two of its products, the Infrared Temperature Sensor and the Thermocouple Amplifier, measure vehicle temperatures and boast a uniquely small size. The size advantage is particularly useful with the amplifier, meaning it can be mounted anywhere on the vehicle. 

The Texense Infrared Temperature Sensor is able to measure temperatures, such as brake or tire temperatures, from a distance range of 30 mm to 70 mm. It is available in a compact aluminum housing as a threaded type measuring M 12 by 100 by 32 mm (plus two nuts to secure it) or as a block measuring 27 by 17 by 11 mm. It can measure a temperature range from -40°C to 1,200°C depending on the selected model.  

The Thermocouple Amplifier completes the client’s own thermocouple probe for measuring engine or exhaust temperature. In use by such large companies as Air Liquide, world leader in industrial and medical gases and related services, this patented conditioner/amplifier is easy to install and use and removes the need for auxiliary wiring for testing. Packaged in an aluminum housing measuring 33.5 by 19 by 10 mm, this amplifier can read temperatures between -100°C to 1,250°C depending on the selected model. 

Chromalox Unveils New Web Site Emphasizing Applications Engineering Expertise and Tools

ChromaloxÒ, manufacturer of electric heat and control products, recently unveiled a new Web site (www.chromalox.com) that delivers increased functionality and makes it fast and easy for visitors to find and configure solutions based on their industry and application.

The site provides visitors with tools for performing IEEE-compliant heat trace calculations, logging data off of Chromalox controllers and performing Ohm’s Law and room heating calculations. The site also provides quick links to vertical market pages that focus on select industries, including alternative fuels processing, bio-pharmaceutical, commercial food equipment, marine, medical equipment, power feneration, petrochemical and transportation. Each page features an interactive application map that graphically highlights where and how Chromalox products are used in that industry. Visitors can click on the product image for more information on the product line or category.

“We had two objectives with our site redesign: enable our customers to find what they need faster and increase access to the wealth of application expertise we have within our organization,” said Troy Dixon, vice president of marketing at Chromalox. “This site is our reflection of our commitment to deliver the best solutions with the best support.” 

Thermal Management & Technology Symposium 2008
Sept. 25-26
Hyatt Regency Austin in Austin, Texas

Thermal Management and Technology Symposium 2008, is a two-day conference, on Sept. 25-26 at the Hyatt Regency Austin, which will focus on the latest advancements in thermal technology for product design, system development and process management.
Workshops and boot camps will be held Sept. 24th. If you are involved in electronics, semiconductor, manufacturing, process industries, food, healthcare, R&D or temperature control industries, this is a must attend event!

The initial deadline for presentation abstracts has passed, and abstracts are now being accepted on a first-come-first-serve basis.  Please e-mail abstracts to Joanna Larez. Click here for more information about what to include in your abstract.

Contact Jeremy Fleming about sponsorship/exhibitor information.

Meeting of The Electrochemical Society (ECS)
May 18-23
Phoenix, Ariz.

Register now for the 213th Meeting of The Electrochemical Society (ECS) to take place at the Phoenix Convention Center May 18th- 23rd. The program for the Phoenix meeting contains a full range of technical symposia, and is expected to attract over 1,500 scientists and engineers, from a broad range of private and public sector institutions. Technical symposia will include electrochemical and solid-state research ranging from batteries and fuel cells to semiconductors and everything in between. The advanced registration deadline is April 18, so don't delay.

http://www.electrochem.org/sponsorship/exhibits/213/exhibit_213.htm

43rd POWER SOURCES CONFERENCE
Sheraton Philadelphia City Center Hotel, Philadelphia Pennsylvania
July 7-10, 2008

The 43rd Power Sources Conference is scheduled to proceed along traditional lines.  The meeting will focus on energy generation and storage technology (largely, but not exclusively electrochemical) which is of interest to the DoD, other Government agencies, and to the civilian marketplace. As usual, the orientation will be toward devices, but relevant contributions on materials, mechanisms and power management are very welcome, in addition to contributions on prototype development, manufacturing technology, device and system engineering, and economic and environmental considerations.

www.powersourcesconference.com

SEMICON West 2008
July 15-17
San Francisco, Calif.

SEMICON West 2008–Infinite Innovations, Infinite Ideas SEMICON West is the place to see the companies, technologies, and people driving the future of micro design and manufacturing. No other event this year has more new products, more new technologies, and more solutions than SEMICON West.
From the latest developments in cutting-edge materials, to the systems and technologies driving semiconductor designs to the limits of Moore's Law, you'll find everything and everyone in the industry at SEMICON West.

Registration is now open! Plan now to participate and get ready to discover the infinite opportunities shaping the design and manufacture of semiconductors, MEMS, photovoltaics, flexible electronics, and more!

For more information, visit www.semiconwest.org.

For more information on advertising in the Thermal News E-Report,
contact Jeremy Fleming at 800-803-9488 x 121.

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800-803-9488 x 126.

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