Rubicon Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:RBCN), a leading provider of sapphire substrates and products to the LED, RFIC, Semiconductor, and Optical industries, today reported financial results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2009.
The Company reported revenue of $3.2 million, a net loss of $2.9 million, and a $0.15 diluted loss per share for the second quarter. The second quarter financial results were better than the Company’s prior quarter results of $2.3 million in revenue and a net loss of $3.9 million, as demand for LED substrates began to strengthen in the quarter.
Raja Parvez, President and CEO noted, “We saw an improvement in the LED market in the second quarter. This improvement has initially been focused in the Taiwan and Korea markets and is driven primarily by the increased rate of adoption of LED backlighting for notebook and netbook computers as well as a rush to bring LED backlit LCD televisions to market by some of the large consumer electronics companies.”
Mr. Parvez continued, “We believe that the LED market will continue to strengthen throughout the remainder of the year and into 2010. Based on the improving market environment, we are working on bringing manufacturing capacity back on-line.”
The Company also noted a weak pricing environment presents a challenge to improving profitability. William Weissman, Rubicon’s Chief Financial Officer said, “Since we are still early in the recovery, the pricing environment has been very difficult. However, sapphire capacity is beginning to tighten and we expect to see some improvement in the fourth quarter.”
Third Quarter 2009 Guidance
Commenting on the outlook for the third quarter, Mr. Weissman continued, “We estimate revenue for the third quarter will further improve to approximately $4.5 million. We expect utilization will continue to improve and the volume of material sold into the LED market in the third quarter should begin to approach the levels we were at last summer. However, pricing and product mix will continue to be challenging in the third quarter. Based on the expected pricing and mix, the net loss in the third quarter is expected to be $2.5 million.”
Conference Call Details
Rubicon will host a conference call at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time on July 29, 2009 to review the highlights of the second quarter 2009 results and the third quarter 2009 outlook. The conference call will be available to the public through a live audio web broadcast via the Internet. Log on to Rubicon’s website at http://www.rubicon-es2.com/index.html. An audio replay of the call will be available approximately two hours after the conclusion of the call. The audio replay will remain available until 11:59 p.m. Eastern time August 5, 2009, and can be accessed by dialing (888) 286-8010 or (617) 801-6888 (international). Callers should reference conference ID 80298414. The webcast will be archived on the Company’s website.
About Rubicon Technology, Inc.
Rubicon Technology, Inc. is an advanced electronic materials provider that is engaged in developing, manufacturing and selling monocrystalline sapphire and other crystalline products for light-emitting diodes (LEDs), radio frequency integrated circuits (RFICs), blue laser diodes, optoelectronics and other optical applications. The Company applies its proprietary crystal growth technology to produce very high-quality sapphire in a form that allows for volume production of various sizes and orientations of substrates and windows. Rubicon is a vertically-integrated manufacturer with capabilities in crystal growth, high precision core drilling, wafer slicing, surface lapping, large-diameter polishing and wafer cleaning processes, which the Company employs to convert the bulk crystal into products with the quality and precision specified by its customers. The Company is actively developing larger diameter products to support next-generation LED, RFIC and optical window applications.
Further information is available at http://www.rubicon-es2.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain of the statements in this release, particularly those preceded by, followed by or including the words “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “should,” “estimates,” or similar expressions, or those relating to or anticipating financial results for periods beyond the end of the second quarter of 2009, constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. For those statements, the company claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations, estimates and projections about our industry, management’s beliefs and certain assumptions made by us. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the statements. These risks and uncertainties include managing the expansion of our manufacturing capacity, market acceptance of LED lighting, our ability to adapt to future changes in the LED industry, our successful development and market acceptance of RFIC and other new products, changes in the average selling prices of sapphire products, dependence on key customers, potential disruptions in our supply of electricity, changes in our product mix, our ability to protect our intellectual property rights, the competitive environment, the availability and cost of raw materials, the cost of compliance with environmental standards, the ability to make effective acquisitions and successfully integrate newly acquired businesses into existing operations and other risks and uncertainties described in the company’s most recent Form 10-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. For these reasons, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the company’s forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement that the company makes speaks only as of the date of such statement, and the company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Comparisons of results for current and any prior periods are not intended to express any future trends or indications of future performance, unless expressed as such, and should only be viewed as historical data.
2009年7月29日星期三
Blurry Customs Offers Affordable CNC Technology to the Home Work Shop
Moscow, ID (PRWEB) July 27, 2009 -- Blurry Customs, a small, innovative machine design firm, has introduced a line of CNC wood routers aimed at increasing efficiency for small shops on a small budget. The new "IronMan Router" series is currently offered in 36"x24" and 48"x24" models, with new models and features currently in development.
Blurry Customs developed the IronMan Router Series by adopting design principles of larger industrial machines, including all metal construction and high-end linear components, and maintaining a low maintenance, simple operation. Yet, the IronMan Router series is offered at an unusually low price point, filling a large gap in the current industry offering. Blurry Customs offers packages ranging from core components, all of the way to full 4-axis turnkey systems.
"Our woodworking routers have come about as a result of the giant technology-price gap that exists for shops on a small budget," says Blurry Customs owner Alex Burt. "Home workshops and similar will now have machine that they can have confidence in to produce consistent and efficient results for many years."
The simplicity of the IronMan Router takes much of the mystery out of the CNC technology with its open-frame design. It also provides a uncomplicated machine core that allow for many upgrades and custom options to fit the needs of every shop. This CNC router series offers production rate manufacturing speeds of up to 350 inches per minute, and Blurry Customs works one on one with customers to tailor the machine to their specific needs.
About Blurry Customs:
Blurry Customs, based in Moscow, ID, is a machine design firm, that produces high-quality, affordable CNC equipment. Founded by Alex Burt in 2008, Blurry Customs' started shipping their IronMan Router series in early 2009. Blurry Customs continues the development of its CNC product lines in a continued effort to bring the efficiency of industry giants to small workshops.
Blurry Customs developed the IronMan Router Series by adopting design principles of larger industrial machines, including all metal construction and high-end linear components, and maintaining a low maintenance, simple operation. Yet, the IronMan Router series is offered at an unusually low price point, filling a large gap in the current industry offering. Blurry Customs offers packages ranging from core components, all of the way to full 4-axis turnkey systems.
"Our woodworking routers have come about as a result of the giant technology-price gap that exists for shops on a small budget," says Blurry Customs owner Alex Burt. "Home workshops and similar will now have machine that they can have confidence in to produce consistent and efficient results for many years."
The simplicity of the IronMan Router takes much of the mystery out of the CNC technology with its open-frame design. It also provides a uncomplicated machine core that allow for many upgrades and custom options to fit the needs of every shop. This CNC router series offers production rate manufacturing speeds of up to 350 inches per minute, and Blurry Customs works one on one with customers to tailor the machine to their specific needs.
About Blurry Customs:
Blurry Customs, based in Moscow, ID, is a machine design firm, that produces high-quality, affordable CNC equipment. Founded by Alex Burt in 2008, Blurry Customs' started shipping their IronMan Router series in early 2009. Blurry Customs continues the development of its CNC product lines in a continued effort to bring the efficiency of industry giants to small workshops.
2009年7月28日星期二
Grunley Construction Company: Shaping History
Aman stands in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building slowly chipping away 1950s lead-based paint to reveal a 120-year-old mural hidden on the wall. This is not a scene from the latest National Treasure movie; it is just one facet of reconstruction work the Grunley Construction Company, based in Washington D.C., gets to perform. In fact, the company has discovered original murals under white washed walls and ceilings more than once.
President Ken Grunley explains, “During the late 1950s and 1960s, our country went through a period where new was good, and they white-washed a lot of surfaces in historic buildings. At the Library of Congress and the Eisenhower office buildings, we started stripping years of paint layers, and it was amazing when we uncovered hand painted murals from when these buildings were originally built. And they have now been restored.”
In the past 10 years, Grunley Construction has renovated and modernized more than 4.8 million gross square feet of building space in the Washington, D.C., area. The majority of that work has taken place in occupied buildings.
Four generations
Construction is in the Grunley family DNA. At the turn of the century, architect Abraham Grunstein was a developer and window manufacturer in the Bronx but went bankrupt during the Depression. He moved to Washington after WWII and a construction family was born.
Abraham’s son Martin Grunley founded Grunley-Walsh construction in 1955, which was in business until 1988. The young construction company soon discovered a unique talent for government renovation projects. Through the years Grunley-Walsh worked on projects such as National Institutes of Health, the National Portrait Gallery, multiple U.S. House of Representatives Office Buildings, The Blair House and the Old Post Office.
“They always did government work and they were relatively small, so they originally found a niche of doing renovation work,” explains Ken Grunley.
Ken Grunley joined the family business in the early 70s and one of his first project management roles was on The Blair House. Originally built in 1824, the house is well known as the official residence for guests of the U.S. president. Blair House is primarily used to house foreign heads of state, but has also been used for domestic guests. Several presidents-elect of the United States have spent the night in Blair House before their inauguration.
The two-year renovation of the Blair House culminated for Ken Grunley with a dinner with then-President Ronald Reagan and his wife, Nancy.
In 1988, Grunley-Walsh Construction split and each went their separate ways; the families remain close to this day. Ken and his father, Martin, created Grunley Construction and their passion for historic renovation continued to grow.
Grunley Construction specializes in renovations, restorations, and modernizations of large-scale government and commercial buildings. It also focuses on educational facilities as well as new facilities and additions to existing buildings in the public and private sector. Many projects involve historic, secure, occupied facilities and on occasion a portion or all of the work is performed at night and/or on weekends to meet the special requirements of their clients.
“Half of the people in this company are history buffs,” Ken’s son Adam Grunley adds. “Our modernization projects usually involve demolition of original systems and removing hazardous materials, installing state-of-the-art mechanical and electrical systems while preserving the original historical fabric and in often cases working around occupied tenants.”
Extraordinary effort is made to use new preservation technologies to restore the historic fabric of the building and to re-use historic materials.
Eisenhower Executive Office Building
The history of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building (EEOB) began long before its foundations were laid. In December 1869, Congress appointed a commission to select a site and prepare plans and cost estimates for a new State Department Building. Construction took 17 years as the building rose wing by wing. When the EEOB was finished in 1888, it was the largest office building in Washington, with nearly two miles of black and white tiled
corridors. Almost all of the interior detail is cast iron, plaster and masonry; the use of wood was minimized to ensure fire safety. A number of monumental curving staircases of granite with more than 4,000 individually cast bronze
balusters are capped by four skylight domes and two stained glass rotundas.
Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1969, the building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the District of Columbia Inventory of Historic Sites a few years later. Fast forward to modern day and the EEOB didn’t have central air conditioning, 21st century mechanical and electrical systems or, adequate “anti-terrorism force protection.”
Grunley Construction was the design/build contractor on the 17th Street Modernization of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building (EEOB) project, which covered 192,000 sf of the massive building’s 692,000 sf of space. During renovation, the construction crew uncovered those hand painted murals. Grunley Construction is presently the design/build contractor for the final phase of the building’s overall project, with a 2011 completion date.
Today the EEOB is regarded as one of the nation’s premier architectural treasures and is a designated National Historic Landmark. The structure’s several wings have been the subjects of various restoration and renovation projects for much of the past 20 years.
“It’s truly an honor to be working in that building,” Grunley continues. “It’s one of the most unique buildings in Washington, D.C.”
FDA Building One
Another one of Grunley’s premier renovations was for the 102,000 sf, four-story historic Building One of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Headquarters of the Naval Surface Warfare Center for 52 years, it now accommodates portions of the FDA’s Office of the Commissioner and related executive functions.
When Grunley started renovation in November 2007, it was the only original building standing on the site. Because of Grunley’s attention to historic detail, they found new windows to match the original ones. In view of the substantial demolition required and the historical significance of the building, Grunley, as always, relied on a few closely trusted subcontractors for the project.
“Building One now serves as the focal point of entry to the FDA campus – the most beautiful, environmentally friendly, state-of-the-art infrastructure for regulatory science,” notes Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration Andrew C. von Eschenbach, M.D.
On the project, Grunley’s scope of work included construction of a new main entrance to the campus with a new security screening pavilion and new roadways, sidewalks, stone walkways, a greenway and circular driveway with surrounding landscape work. The addition serves as an atrium and pedestrian walkway to join Building One with the recently constructed Central Shared Use (CSU) building. Interior work included the fit-out of modern office space and many historical renovations.
The project was designed and constructed to achieve, at a minimum, Silver-level certification for the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) rating system, with the possibility of Gold certification pending final review.
New technology
Well-known for its expertise in logistically-complex projects, Grunley is at the forefront of Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology adoption. BIM helps improve coordination between design and construction while calling attention to the related challenge of managing the flow of information. This includes information such as project email, action items, markup sessions, transmittals, requests for information, LEED certifications and more. This has led the firm to seek a comparable information management solution.
“In addition to LEED, where I do think we’re on the cutting edge, we have also recently hired Michael Tardif. Michael is a recognized industry leader in BIM. He literally wrote the book,” said Vice President and General Manager Greg Druga.
BIM is a 3D tool that creates a virtual model of a building. When fully integrated into the design and construction process, it streamlines the flow of building information, eliminating many unnecessary or non-value-added tasks. “One of the things we are trying to do with Mike Tardif and BIM is to become the leader in the use of BIM in historic modernization and renovation. One aspect we are exploring and have used on several projects is the use of 3D laser scan technology. It is actually a small scanner that looks like a surveying instrument. This device has a laser on it and we can insert it into spaces that we can’t readily access to survey what the existing conditions are,” Druga says.
“If you can imagine, if there’s a space like the Vice President or a commissioner’s office where we can’t go in and remove the ceiling and then draw the plans, fabricate materials and come back six months later and then do the work, we need to somehow know what’s above his ceiling before we get there. Accessing though a light, or an access panel, or a device opening, we can get above those spaces and use this 3D laser scan technology and identify all the existing conditions,” he explains.
Ken Grunley and Greg Druga both agree that the industry is moving toward integrated project delivery. IPD leverages BIM and related tools to enable the owner, architect, contractor and other major players to operate in more of a collaborative way to deliver the entire project.
Michael Tardif describes a typical Grunley project — the phased renovation of occupied, historic buildings — as, “doing a heart, lung, liver, kidney and stomach transplant while the patient is awake and without leaving any scars.” Grunley intends to use BIM and IPD to meet the demanding technical, aesthetic and logistical requirements of these projects.
People management
Grunley Construction’s expansion has led to the Washington Business Journal’s continued recognition of the company as being among the top 20 largest general contractors and interior construction companies in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. Engineering News Record ranked Grunley Construction #268 among the “Top 400 Contractors” in the nation. The firm is also ranked among the “Top Green Contractors” in the nation.
At the end of the day, Grunley has been able to stay in business for 50 years and continue expanding because of its familial atmosphere. Grunley says his and Druga’s doors are always open for people to discuss any issues they’d like. With all this one-on-one mentoring, Grunley suspects this is why the company has been able to avoid a lot of turnover through the years.
“I think that’s one of the great strengths of the company: though we have approximately 275 employees we take tremendous strides and put a lot of effort into keeping that family feel. We never want to get so big that we feel like we lose that feeling. We don’t want to feel like a big company, we want to feel like a big family,” says Grunley.
Grunley gets so involved with the employees he actually sits down with each and every new employee to discuss their families and background as well as likes and dislikes. In addition, he and Druga host a town hall meeting every six months where employees ask questions about anything they wish, and periodically host breakfasts for all new employees.
According to Grunley, this kind of personalized communication is the main goal of the company as it moves forward in the coming year. He says it keeps employees at a comfort level, especially in tough economic times.
“We try to connect with them personally, and I think the communication and connecting with people personally is the biggest thing when people are concerned about the economy or jobs or where we’re heading. So that’s what we are trying to do: have a high level of communication. We are fortunate that we are government contractors, and we are hopeful that given some of the stimulus activities out there, that is going to generate some great opportunities for us and our people as well as the other local contractors in the next few months,” concludes Ken Grunley.
President Ken Grunley explains, “During the late 1950s and 1960s, our country went through a period where new was good, and they white-washed a lot of surfaces in historic buildings. At the Library of Congress and the Eisenhower office buildings, we started stripping years of paint layers, and it was amazing when we uncovered hand painted murals from when these buildings were originally built. And they have now been restored.”
In the past 10 years, Grunley Construction has renovated and modernized more than 4.8 million gross square feet of building space in the Washington, D.C., area. The majority of that work has taken place in occupied buildings.
Four generations
Construction is in the Grunley family DNA. At the turn of the century, architect Abraham Grunstein was a developer and window manufacturer in the Bronx but went bankrupt during the Depression. He moved to Washington after WWII and a construction family was born.
Abraham’s son Martin Grunley founded Grunley-Walsh construction in 1955, which was in business until 1988. The young construction company soon discovered a unique talent for government renovation projects. Through the years Grunley-Walsh worked on projects such as National Institutes of Health, the National Portrait Gallery, multiple U.S. House of Representatives Office Buildings, The Blair House and the Old Post Office.
“They always did government work and they were relatively small, so they originally found a niche of doing renovation work,” explains Ken Grunley.
Ken Grunley joined the family business in the early 70s and one of his first project management roles was on The Blair House. Originally built in 1824, the house is well known as the official residence for guests of the U.S. president. Blair House is primarily used to house foreign heads of state, but has also been used for domestic guests. Several presidents-elect of the United States have spent the night in Blair House before their inauguration.
The two-year renovation of the Blair House culminated for Ken Grunley with a dinner with then-President Ronald Reagan and his wife, Nancy.
In 1988, Grunley-Walsh Construction split and each went their separate ways; the families remain close to this day. Ken and his father, Martin, created Grunley Construction and their passion for historic renovation continued to grow.
Grunley Construction specializes in renovations, restorations, and modernizations of large-scale government and commercial buildings. It also focuses on educational facilities as well as new facilities and additions to existing buildings in the public and private sector. Many projects involve historic, secure, occupied facilities and on occasion a portion or all of the work is performed at night and/or on weekends to meet the special requirements of their clients.
“Half of the people in this company are history buffs,” Ken’s son Adam Grunley adds. “Our modernization projects usually involve demolition of original systems and removing hazardous materials, installing state-of-the-art mechanical and electrical systems while preserving the original historical fabric and in often cases working around occupied tenants.”
Extraordinary effort is made to use new preservation technologies to restore the historic fabric of the building and to re-use historic materials.
Eisenhower Executive Office Building
The history of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building (EEOB) began long before its foundations were laid. In December 1869, Congress appointed a commission to select a site and prepare plans and cost estimates for a new State Department Building. Construction took 17 years as the building rose wing by wing. When the EEOB was finished in 1888, it was the largest office building in Washington, with nearly two miles of black and white tiled
corridors. Almost all of the interior detail is cast iron, plaster and masonry; the use of wood was minimized to ensure fire safety. A number of monumental curving staircases of granite with more than 4,000 individually cast bronze
balusters are capped by four skylight domes and two stained glass rotundas.
Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1969, the building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the District of Columbia Inventory of Historic Sites a few years later. Fast forward to modern day and the EEOB didn’t have central air conditioning, 21st century mechanical and electrical systems or, adequate “anti-terrorism force protection.”
Grunley Construction was the design/build contractor on the 17th Street Modernization of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building (EEOB) project, which covered 192,000 sf of the massive building’s 692,000 sf of space. During renovation, the construction crew uncovered those hand painted murals. Grunley Construction is presently the design/build contractor for the final phase of the building’s overall project, with a 2011 completion date.
Today the EEOB is regarded as one of the nation’s premier architectural treasures and is a designated National Historic Landmark. The structure’s several wings have been the subjects of various restoration and renovation projects for much of the past 20 years.
“It’s truly an honor to be working in that building,” Grunley continues. “It’s one of the most unique buildings in Washington, D.C.”
FDA Building One
Another one of Grunley’s premier renovations was for the 102,000 sf, four-story historic Building One of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Headquarters of the Naval Surface Warfare Center for 52 years, it now accommodates portions of the FDA’s Office of the Commissioner and related executive functions.
When Grunley started renovation in November 2007, it was the only original building standing on the site. Because of Grunley’s attention to historic detail, they found new windows to match the original ones. In view of the substantial demolition required and the historical significance of the building, Grunley, as always, relied on a few closely trusted subcontractors for the project.
“Building One now serves as the focal point of entry to the FDA campus – the most beautiful, environmentally friendly, state-of-the-art infrastructure for regulatory science,” notes Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration Andrew C. von Eschenbach, M.D.
On the project, Grunley’s scope of work included construction of a new main entrance to the campus with a new security screening pavilion and new roadways, sidewalks, stone walkways, a greenway and circular driveway with surrounding landscape work. The addition serves as an atrium and pedestrian walkway to join Building One with the recently constructed Central Shared Use (CSU) building. Interior work included the fit-out of modern office space and many historical renovations.
The project was designed and constructed to achieve, at a minimum, Silver-level certification for the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) rating system, with the possibility of Gold certification pending final review.
New technology
Well-known for its expertise in logistically-complex projects, Grunley is at the forefront of Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology adoption. BIM helps improve coordination between design and construction while calling attention to the related challenge of managing the flow of information. This includes information such as project email, action items, markup sessions, transmittals, requests for information, LEED certifications and more. This has led the firm to seek a comparable information management solution.
“In addition to LEED, where I do think we’re on the cutting edge, we have also recently hired Michael Tardif. Michael is a recognized industry leader in BIM. He literally wrote the book,” said Vice President and General Manager Greg Druga.
BIM is a 3D tool that creates a virtual model of a building. When fully integrated into the design and construction process, it streamlines the flow of building information, eliminating many unnecessary or non-value-added tasks. “One of the things we are trying to do with Mike Tardif and BIM is to become the leader in the use of BIM in historic modernization and renovation. One aspect we are exploring and have used on several projects is the use of 3D laser scan technology. It is actually a small scanner that looks like a surveying instrument. This device has a laser on it and we can insert it into spaces that we can’t readily access to survey what the existing conditions are,” Druga says.
“If you can imagine, if there’s a space like the Vice President or a commissioner’s office where we can’t go in and remove the ceiling and then draw the plans, fabricate materials and come back six months later and then do the work, we need to somehow know what’s above his ceiling before we get there. Accessing though a light, or an access panel, or a device opening, we can get above those spaces and use this 3D laser scan technology and identify all the existing conditions,” he explains.
Ken Grunley and Greg Druga both agree that the industry is moving toward integrated project delivery. IPD leverages BIM and related tools to enable the owner, architect, contractor and other major players to operate in more of a collaborative way to deliver the entire project.
Michael Tardif describes a typical Grunley project — the phased renovation of occupied, historic buildings — as, “doing a heart, lung, liver, kidney and stomach transplant while the patient is awake and without leaving any scars.” Grunley intends to use BIM and IPD to meet the demanding technical, aesthetic and logistical requirements of these projects.
People management
Grunley Construction’s expansion has led to the Washington Business Journal’s continued recognition of the company as being among the top 20 largest general contractors and interior construction companies in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. Engineering News Record ranked Grunley Construction #268 among the “Top 400 Contractors” in the nation. The firm is also ranked among the “Top Green Contractors” in the nation.
At the end of the day, Grunley has been able to stay in business for 50 years and continue expanding because of its familial atmosphere. Grunley says his and Druga’s doors are always open for people to discuss any issues they’d like. With all this one-on-one mentoring, Grunley suspects this is why the company has been able to avoid a lot of turnover through the years.
“I think that’s one of the great strengths of the company: though we have approximately 275 employees we take tremendous strides and put a lot of effort into keeping that family feel. We never want to get so big that we feel like we lose that feeling. We don’t want to feel like a big company, we want to feel like a big family,” says Grunley.
Grunley gets so involved with the employees he actually sits down with each and every new employee to discuss their families and background as well as likes and dislikes. In addition, he and Druga host a town hall meeting every six months where employees ask questions about anything they wish, and periodically host breakfasts for all new employees.
According to Grunley, this kind of personalized communication is the main goal of the company as it moves forward in the coming year. He says it keeps employees at a comfort level, especially in tough economic times.
“We try to connect with them personally, and I think the communication and connecting with people personally is the biggest thing when people are concerned about the economy or jobs or where we’re heading. So that’s what we are trying to do: have a high level of communication. We are fortunate that we are government contractors, and we are hopeful that given some of the stimulus activities out there, that is going to generate some great opportunities for us and our people as well as the other local contractors in the next few months,” concludes Ken Grunley.
2009年7月26日星期日
Switch-Mode Battery Chargers accept USB/AC input.
SMB136/SMB137B employ CurrentPath(TM) technology, which supports dual input source (USB or AC/DC) with arbitration, dual output for system and battery, and system operation with dead/missing battery. Based on 3 MHz, switch-mode architecture, products are supplied in 3.0 x 2.5 mm CSP; integrate TurboCharge(TM) technology; and support all battery charging standards. ICs detect input source type and automatically optimize operation for fastest and safest charging.
2009年7月24日星期五
AT&T, Jasper develop high-tech platform to capture more wireless business
AT&T Inc. and Jasper Wireless have developed an integrated platform that consumer electronic and business device manufacturers(eg:cnc router,) can use to wirelessly connect to AT&T’s nationwide network.
Officials with the two companies say this platform will allow personal navigation, in-car navigation, e-readers, mobile Internet devices, gaming units, health care equipment and other devices to connect to AT&T’s wireless network quickly and easily. AT&T Control Center, powered by Jasper Wireless (as the platform will be known) will be marketed to electronics manufacturers. AT&T is actively searching for new avenues to extend its wireless business.
AT&T and Jasper officials say they will offer manufacturers that select the AT&T Control Center platform flexible rate plans, billing options, engineering support and instant connection to the wireless network once the device is turned on.
AT&T (NYSE: T) is a Dallas-based communications holding company. Jasper is a privately held wireless platform, application and design services company based in Sunnyvale, Calif.
Officials with the two companies say this platform will allow personal navigation, in-car navigation, e-readers, mobile Internet devices, gaming units, health care equipment and other devices to connect to AT&T’s wireless network quickly and easily. AT&T Control Center, powered by Jasper Wireless (as the platform will be known) will be marketed to electronics manufacturers. AT&T is actively searching for new avenues to extend its wireless business.
AT&T and Jasper officials say they will offer manufacturers that select the AT&T Control Center platform flexible rate plans, billing options, engineering support and instant connection to the wireless network once the device is turned on.
AT&T (NYSE: T) is a Dallas-based communications holding company. Jasper is a privately held wireless platform, application and design services company based in Sunnyvale, Calif.
2009年7月22日星期三
New Routes to 3D Content During D Cinema Day at IBC 09
Monday, September 14th is officially D Cinema Day at IBC 09, and in the morning the focus will be firmly on stereoscopic 3D for the cinema. Chaired by 3D film producer and session architect Phil Streather, CEO of pioneering giant-screen movie production company Principal Large Format, the morning’s programme will guide delegates through the complete process of 3D movie-making; from pre-visualization, through stereo 3D acquisition and on to stereo 3D editing.
“If 3D is going to drive our industry forward, then we are going to need fantastic 3D content, and plenty of it,” comments Streather, whose 3D Masterclass at IBC 08 drew hundreds of attendees.
D Cinema Day Executive Producer, Dave Monk says, “We are delighted to have Phil’s input on this session. He is one of the most knowledgeable producer/consultants working in Europe today and he has opened his little black book and pulled together a world class set of speakers.”
Continues Streather, “The purpose of our programme on D-Cinema Day at IBC 09 is to ensure that people are aware of the latest tools in 3D content creation and editing, how they can be used, and what benefits they can bring to a project. Fantastic though it is not everybody can afford a Quantel Pablo with the stereo tool set. But there are alternatives out there that are more accessible to smaller or independent production companies, and our aim is to showcase some of them to an audience that might so far have limited or no experience of 3D movie-making. The more people who can have access to tools to make good 3D the better.
“Thus the morning aligns to a narrative that will have a beginning, a middle, and an end: a beginner’s guide, followed by tutorials on how to previzualise 3D before shooting, how to shoot, and finally how to edit.”
Part 1: Primer
The session begins with a primer offered by Bernard Mendiburu, renowned LA-based CGI stereographer whose credits include ‘Meet The Robinsons’ and ‘Monsters vs. Aliens’. A respected industry consultant and author of the newly published book, ‘3D Movie Making: Stereoscopic Digital Cinema From Script To Screen’, Mendiburu will offer an overview of the latest developments in 3D workflow which will enable delegates to get the best from the three presentations that follow.
Part 2: Pre-visualisation
The second part of the session will be led by Ken Schafer, President of Innoventive Software, who will look at pre-visualization. A provider of cutting-edge software solutions for the film and television industries since 1991, Schafer will demonstrate how Innoventive Software’s latest package, FrameForge Previz Studio 3, allows users to prep live-action stereo 3D shoots.
Part 3: Image capture
The session’s third presentation will be by the acclaimed stereographer Steve Schklair, CEO of 3ality Digital, who returns to IBC to demonstrate the tools that are needed to capture the very best stereo images. Schklair, whose most recent work includes overseeing the production, post-production and completion of ‘U2 3D’ at the 3ality Digital studio in Burbank, California, will use projected images from live cameras positioned outside the Auditorium to demonstrate alignment, misalignment, image correction, intertaxial and convergence shifting, and much more.
Part 4: Editing
Editing and image manipulation take on new importance in the 3D movie-making process, with stereoscopic depth and acquisition inconsistencies needing to be processed to ensure viewer comfort and the proper deployment of dramatic effect. The morning’s final presentation, hosted by David Newman, CTO of CineForm, will demonstrate how the company’s neo3D plug-in for Final Cut Pro can manipulate images, correct vertical misalignment, perform Horizontal Image Translation and more; all using the revolutionary and virtually lossless CineForm codec, as used on the Oscar-winning ‘Slumdog Millionaire’.
Commenting further on the programme, Phil Streather adds: “The second, third and fourth sessions will be a complete antidote to the theoretical, PowerPoint-based approach of so many industry seminars. Using the IBC Big Screen in the RAI Auditorium, which holds 3,000 people, our speakers – who are all professionals at the top of their game – will demonstrate the latest 3D imaging techniques in real time, using real-world content, in a real cinematic environment. This will give delegates an opportunity to see not just how stereoscopic effects can be created, but also some of the problems they may typically encounter along the way – along with appropriate solutions.”
The programme will end with a round-table Q&A session chaired by Streather and attended by all four speakers, during which delegates will get the chance to discuss the most pressing issues surrounding 3D movie-making.
“After they’ve attended this session, we just don’t want delegates to get started making 3D content,” concludes Streather. “We want them to create movies with 3D laser ,3D crystal,laser crystal and so on,that are effective, appealing, impactful, future proof and, above all, profitable.”
“If 3D is going to drive our industry forward, then we are going to need fantastic 3D content, and plenty of it,” comments Streather, whose 3D Masterclass at IBC 08 drew hundreds of attendees.
D Cinema Day Executive Producer, Dave Monk says, “We are delighted to have Phil’s input on this session. He is one of the most knowledgeable producer/consultants working in Europe today and he has opened his little black book and pulled together a world class set of speakers.”
Continues Streather, “The purpose of our programme on D-Cinema Day at IBC 09 is to ensure that people are aware of the latest tools in 3D content creation and editing, how they can be used, and what benefits they can bring to a project. Fantastic though it is not everybody can afford a Quantel Pablo with the stereo tool set. But there are alternatives out there that are more accessible to smaller or independent production companies, and our aim is to showcase some of them to an audience that might so far have limited or no experience of 3D movie-making. The more people who can have access to tools to make good 3D the better.
“Thus the morning aligns to a narrative that will have a beginning, a middle, and an end: a beginner’s guide, followed by tutorials on how to previzualise 3D before shooting, how to shoot, and finally how to edit.”
Part 1: Primer
The session begins with a primer offered by Bernard Mendiburu, renowned LA-based CGI stereographer whose credits include ‘Meet The Robinsons’ and ‘Monsters vs. Aliens’. A respected industry consultant and author of the newly published book, ‘3D Movie Making: Stereoscopic Digital Cinema From Script To Screen’, Mendiburu will offer an overview of the latest developments in 3D workflow which will enable delegates to get the best from the three presentations that follow.
Part 2: Pre-visualisation
The second part of the session will be led by Ken Schafer, President of Innoventive Software, who will look at pre-visualization. A provider of cutting-edge software solutions for the film and television industries since 1991, Schafer will demonstrate how Innoventive Software’s latest package, FrameForge Previz Studio 3, allows users to prep live-action stereo 3D shoots.
Part 3: Image capture
The session’s third presentation will be by the acclaimed stereographer Steve Schklair, CEO of 3ality Digital, who returns to IBC to demonstrate the tools that are needed to capture the very best stereo images. Schklair, whose most recent work includes overseeing the production, post-production and completion of ‘U2 3D’ at the 3ality Digital studio in Burbank, California, will use projected images from live cameras positioned outside the Auditorium to demonstrate alignment, misalignment, image correction, intertaxial and convergence shifting, and much more.
Part 4: Editing
Editing and image manipulation take on new importance in the 3D movie-making process, with stereoscopic depth and acquisition inconsistencies needing to be processed to ensure viewer comfort and the proper deployment of dramatic effect. The morning’s final presentation, hosted by David Newman, CTO of CineForm, will demonstrate how the company’s neo3D plug-in for Final Cut Pro can manipulate images, correct vertical misalignment, perform Horizontal Image Translation and more; all using the revolutionary and virtually lossless CineForm codec, as used on the Oscar-winning ‘Slumdog Millionaire’.
Commenting further on the programme, Phil Streather adds: “The second, third and fourth sessions will be a complete antidote to the theoretical, PowerPoint-based approach of so many industry seminars. Using the IBC Big Screen in the RAI Auditorium, which holds 3,000 people, our speakers – who are all professionals at the top of their game – will demonstrate the latest 3D imaging techniques in real time, using real-world content, in a real cinematic environment. This will give delegates an opportunity to see not just how stereoscopic effects can be created, but also some of the problems they may typically encounter along the way – along with appropriate solutions.”
The programme will end with a round-table Q&A session chaired by Streather and attended by all four speakers, during which delegates will get the chance to discuss the most pressing issues surrounding 3D movie-making.
“After they’ve attended this session, we just don’t want delegates to get started making 3D content,” concludes Streather. “We want them to create movies with 3D laser ,3D crystal,laser crystal and so on,that are effective, appealing, impactful, future proof and, above all, profitable.”
2009年7月20日星期一
New MATRIX UV Laser for High-Throughput Applications
Santa Clara, Calif., June 30, 2009 - Coherent Inc. has expanded its family of MATRIX(TM) 3D laser
with a new ultraviolet model optimized to produce 1.5 Watts at a high repetition rate of 70 kHz, in order to support high-throughput applications. In addition to high speed, the MATRIX 355-1.5-70 delivers enhanced precision by enabling complete control over pulse energy and timing from the first to the last pulse. For example, the pulse energy can be held constant as the repetition rate is varied. Moreover, the cost/performance ratio of this new laser is specifically targeted at industrial processing applications where cost per processed unit is just as important as reliable operation and stable parameters over time.
All MATRIX lasers are fully RoHS compliant and backed by an 18 month/10,000 hour warranty. They utilize Coherent's unique PermAlign(TM) (soldered) component mounting technology, robotic assembly methods and proven, long-lived components such as Aluminum Free Active Area (AAA(TM)) pump diodes. Together with unique multi-pass harmonics generation technology, this results in long laser lifetime, the industry's lowest pulse-to-pulse noise (typically <2% rms), outstanding pointing stability (max. ±15 μrad/°C), and high beam quality (M2 <1.3).
MATRIX 355-1.5.70 is ideally suited for stereolithography, enabling the step from rapid prototyping to rapid manufacturing, as well as for scribing sapphire substrates in GaN/InGaN based LED production. Other applications include thin film processing, memory repair, cold marking and semiconductor scribing.
2009年7月17日星期五
3D Laser Profile Sensor Gets Smaller and Smarter
The latest addition to Micro-Epsilon's scanCONTROL range of 2D/3D laser profile sensors is the scanCONTROL 2710, which is not only more compact than its predecessors, but also offers new set up and configuration software. The sensor is ideal for industrial automation, robotics and machine building applications, where space is often restricted.
The new compact design, integrated controller and easy-to-use set up software, enable users to quickly mount the sensor onto robot arms, inspection equipment or production lines. The sensor can be used to measure the profile of adhesive beading, weld seams, channels, grooves, gaps, angles and steps, as well as for parts recognition, traceability and robot guidance/positioning.
Once the scanCONTROL 2710 has been configured using the set up software supplied, the system operates in standalone mode. Using the integrated controller, the sensor can acquire data, calculate profiles and generate measured values for the complete field of measurement at high speed (64,000 points/100 profiles per second) and full resolution. The user requires no other components to evaluate the measurement data (no PC or special programming software is required) and the unit can be easily re-configured and adapted for different applications.
The system works in two ways: either in a stationary mode, with the sensor fixed and looking at moving targets, or in a scanning mode, where the sensor works in combination with a motion control device or robot. The sensor uses an innovative CMOS array with a real time, high-speed electronic shutter (rather than conventional rolling shutters), which captures the entire profile and processes the information instantaneously.
The system is available with measuring ranges from 25mm to 300mm in the Z (vertical) axis and 22mm to 148mm in the x (horizontal) axis. A small output module for DIN rail mounting is also available to convert the sensor output data into common fieldbus systems, including CANbus, Profibus DP, Ethercat and IEEE. Measurement results can be output using digital or analogue modules for further processing and evaluation. The sensor also provides synchronous triggering of multiple scanCONTROL sensors.
Chris Jones, Managing Director at Micro-Epsilon UK comments: "The scanCONTROL 2710 offers all the technical features of its predecessor, the 2810, but goes even further in terms of compactness and ease of set up and configuration. Additionally, the 2710 provides a greater choice of measurement ranges, which enables the sensor to solve a wider range of applications. The scanCONTROL 2710 is a true market leader in terms of its size, performance, low price and ease-of-use."
Like its predecessor, the scanCONTROL 2710 uses the laser line triangulation measurement principle. The sensor has an integrated, highly sensitive CMOS array, which enables measurements of almost any difficult surface such as shiny or reflective surfaces, independent of the reflection from the target. This means excellent accuracy, resolution (4μm) and reliability are achieved, even at high measurement speeds.
A line optical system projects a laser line onto the surface of the object being measured. The back-scattered light from the laser line is registered on a CMOS matrix by a high quality optical system. Along with distance information (z-axis), the controller calculates the true position along the laser line (x-axis) from the camera image and outputs both values in the sensor's 2D coordinate system. A moving target or traversing sensor generates a 3D representation of the object being measured.
Micro-Epsilon (www.micro-epsilon.co.uk) is a major global manufacturer of sensors, headquartered in Germany. The company's range of displacement sensors measure everything from to distance, position, vibration, dimensions and thickness, using both contact and non-contact measurement techniques. These techniques include 1D, 2D and even 3D laser-optical sensors and systems, eddy-current, capacitive, LVDT & inductive, potentiometric and draw-wire principles. Additionally Micro Epsilon has developed its own range of non-contact infrared temperature sensors that can measure virtually any target temperature from -40 to +3,300°C.
With more than 30 years' experience in the industry, Micro-Epsilon isn't just a sensor manufacturer. The company is highly innovative and understands the importance of providing complete solutions and support services for its customers. The firm is renowned for its expertise in consulting, development and application of industrial sensors to complex, customer-specific solutions for measurement, inspection and automation. The focus is on selling technical advantage to its customers.
2009年7月15日星期三
Lamda – Large aperture MEMS scanner module for 3D distance measurement
Micro-Epsilon is expanding its Scancontrol range of 2D/3D laser profile sensors with the addition of the Scancontrol 2710, which is not only more compact than its predecessors, but also benefits from new set-up and configuration software. The sensor is suitable for industrial automation, robotics and machine building applications, where space is often restricted.
Together, the new compact design, integrated controller and intuitive set-up software enable users to mount the sensor onto robot arms, inspection equipment or production lines and get operational quickly. The sensor can be used to measure the profile of adhesive beading, weld seams, channels, grooves, gaps, angles and steps, as well as for parts recognition, traceability and robot guidance/positioning.
Once the Scancontrol 2710 has been configured using the set-up software supplied, the system operates in standalone mode. Using the integrated controller, the sensor can acquire data, calculate profiles and generate measured values for the complete field of measurement at high speed (64,000 points or 100 profiles per second) and full resolution. Users require no other components to evaluate the measurement data (no PC or special programming software is required) and the unit can be easily reconfigured and adapted for different applications.
The system works in two ways: either in a stationary mode, with the sensor fixed and looking at moving targets; or in a scanning mode, where the sensor works in combination with a motion control device or robot. The sensor uses an innovative CMOS array with a real-time, high-speed electronic shutter (rather than conventional rolling shutters), which captures the entire profile and processes the information instantaneously.
Systems are available with measuring ranges from 25mm to 300mm in the Z (vertical) axis and 22mm to 148mm in the X (horizontal) axis. A small output module is also available to convert the sensor output data into common fieldbus systems, including Canbus, Profibus DP, Ethercat and IEEE. Measurement results can be output using digital or analogue modules for further processing and evaluation. The sensor also provides synchronous triggering of multiple Scancontrol sensors.
Chris Jones, managing director at Micro-Epsilon UK, comments: "The Scancontrol 2710 offers all the technical features of its predecessor, the 2810, but goes even further in terms of compactness and ease of set up and configuration. Additionally, the 2710 provides a greater choice of measurement ranges, which enables the sensor to solve a wider range of applications. The Scancontrol 2710 is a true market leader in terms of its size, performance, low price and ease-of-use."
Like its predecessor, the Scancontrol 2710 uses the laser line triangulation measurement principle. The sensor has an integrated, highly sensitive CMOS array, which enables measurements of almost any difficult surface such as shiny or reflective surfaces, independent of the reflection from the target. This means excellent accuracy, resolution (4um) and reliability are achieved, even at high measurement speeds.
A line optical system projects a laser line onto the surface of the object being measured. The back-scattered light from the laser line is registered on a CMOS matrix by a high quality optical system. Along with distance information (Z-axis), the controller calculates the true position along the laser line (X-axis) from the camera image and outputs both values in the sensor's 2D co-ordinate system. A moving target or traversing sensor generates a 3D representation of the object being measured.
2009年7月13日星期一
Wireless-N Router plus HSPA Support for 3G Mobile Broadband
One Commerce (Int’l.) Corp. brings in the Aztech HW550-3G. The new product enables dual
functionality to the consumer – convenience of sharing 3G Mobile Broadband when they are
on the go and the enjoyment of a high-speed 802.11n wireless network at home or SOHO.
With HW550-3G, users can run media-intensive, high-bandwidth applications such as cnc router
, laser engraver or VoIP. Downloading high-resolution photo files or streaming
High Definition (HD) video wirelessly or via Ethernet is a breeze.
Simply connect a DSL or cable modem to Aztech HW550-3G for a high speed Internet
connection that can be shared with multiple desktop computers or notebooks. The 4-port
router supports Smart MIMO technology, wireless encryption and port forwarding features
and includes Network Address Translation (NAT), Dynamic Domain Name System (DDNS),
Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI) and Denial-of-Service (DoS) protection. A USB host
connects users to a 3G/3.5G USB modem*, printer or storage device.
Aztech HW550-3G offers an instantaneous wireless solution users can share wherever they
are. Users can share a portable high-speed wireless hotspot for project discussions,
tradeshows, conferences and business meetings - wherever on the go.
No fixed DSL/cable line is needed – simply dock a 3G/3.5G USB modem* into HW550-3G to
create a WiFi hotspot that can be shared with business partners, family or friends.
2009年7月10日星期五
Laser tube cutting
TruLaser Tube 7000
A tube inside a tube. That might be your initial reaction when you see the new TruLaser Tube 7000 in action. This laser cutting system processes tubes inside a
tunnel-like safety enclosure and then, depending on size, moves them forward to the brush table or ejects them to a parts container behind the machine. With this high-end modern designed machine, TRUMPF (Farmington, CT; www.us.trumpf.com) offers a laser cutting system featuring heavy-duty drives engineered for heavy tubes, a broad chucking range, and a high degree of flexibility.
This new machine can cut tubes and profiles with large diameters and wall thicknesses without sacrificing productivity. It is able to process tubes up to 30 feet long and can handle a maximum weight of 496
pounds. The system's 0.6 to 10 inch clamping range enables new applications. Available with up to 3.6 kilowatts of laser power, it is ideal for a wide range of applications.
Compared with conventional processes like sawing, drilling, or milling, selecting a TruLaser Tube 7000 machine can boost productivity significantly. One example of a productivity enhancement is the short
set-up time when changing programs. Nearly all of the adjustments depend on profile specifics. Values that have to be entered at the machine and the loading unit can easily be handled by the parts program. The self-centering chucking jaws do not need to be changed
and the rollers that provide support and lateral guidance for the tubing automatically adjust to the diameter. Even the integrated scrap container in the feed station is emptied without operator intervention.
The FocusLine function automatically adapts the laser focal position to the material type and thickness. The machine's software independently adjusts to the focus parameters given in the technology table, eliminating any set-up effort. Also new is the slender cutting head with a 6 inch lens and new style clutch, designed for flexibility and process safety.
When combined with the LoadMaster Tube, featuring a tube magazine that can hold up to 8000 pounds of raw material, the TruLaser Tube 7000 can be fully automated. Its pivoting feed support holds a number
of tubes and keeps them at constant orientation. The loading unit performs a feasibility test to compare the tube geometry with the parts program. Special profiles and small batches can be fed by a conveyor section. The LoadMaster Tube measures the pipe length and adjusts
the position of the grippers accordingly.
The TruLaser Tube 7000 works with a new version of TruTops Tube software to make sophisticated processing strategies available. This software is built around a database that contains all of TRUMPF's
technical knowledge. With this new software, complex tube designs can be fabricated more easily, precisely, and reliably. It is now possible, for example, to position one 3D laser on another instead of designing and programming individual tubes. This saves time because parameters such as length, width, height, wall thickness, and spacing between cut-outs can readily be modified to generate any number of variations.
A tube inside a tube. That might be your initial reaction when you see the new TruLaser Tube 7000 in action. This laser cutting system processes tubes inside a
tunnel-like safety enclosure and then, depending on size, moves them forward to the brush table or ejects them to a parts container behind the machine. With this high-end modern designed machine, TRUMPF (Farmington, CT; www.us.trumpf.com) offers a laser cutting system featuring heavy-duty drives engineered for heavy tubes, a broad chucking range, and a high degree of flexibility.
This new machine can cut tubes and profiles with large diameters and wall thicknesses without sacrificing productivity. It is able to process tubes up to 30 feet long and can handle a maximum weight of 496
pounds. The system's 0.6 to 10 inch clamping range enables new applications. Available with up to 3.6 kilowatts of laser power, it is ideal for a wide range of applications.
Compared with conventional processes like sawing, drilling, or milling, selecting a TruLaser Tube 7000 machine can boost productivity significantly. One example of a productivity enhancement is the short
set-up time when changing programs. Nearly all of the adjustments depend on profile specifics. Values that have to be entered at the machine and the loading unit can easily be handled by the parts program. The self-centering chucking jaws do not need to be changed
and the rollers that provide support and lateral guidance for the tubing automatically adjust to the diameter. Even the integrated scrap container in the feed station is emptied without operator intervention.
The FocusLine function automatically adapts the laser focal position to the material type and thickness. The machine's software independently adjusts to the focus parameters given in the technology table, eliminating any set-up effort. Also new is the slender cutting head with a 6 inch lens and new style clutch, designed for flexibility and process safety.
When combined with the LoadMaster Tube, featuring a tube magazine that can hold up to 8000 pounds of raw material, the TruLaser Tube 7000 can be fully automated. Its pivoting feed support holds a number
of tubes and keeps them at constant orientation. The loading unit performs a feasibility test to compare the tube geometry with the parts program. Special profiles and small batches can be fed by a conveyor section. The LoadMaster Tube measures the pipe length and adjusts
the position of the grippers accordingly.
The TruLaser Tube 7000 works with a new version of TruTops Tube software to make sophisticated processing strategies available. This software is built around a database that contains all of TRUMPF's
technical knowledge. With this new software, complex tube designs can be fabricated more easily, precisely, and reliably. It is now possible, for example, to position one 3D laser on another instead of designing and programming individual tubes. This saves time because parameters such as length, width, height, wall thickness, and spacing between cut-outs can readily be modified to generate any number of variations.
2009年7月8日星期三
D-Link Launches DIR-685 Storage Router in Australia & New Zealand
D-Link Australia & New Zealand has launched the DIR-685 Xtreme N Storage Router, an all-in-one networking solution combining a fast, far-reaching 802.11n Wi-Fi router with network attached storage (NAS), SharePort technology for sharing printers and scanners, and a bright LCD display for viewing digital photos, desktop applications and network performance.
D-Link's DIR-685 Xtreme N Storage Router features a sleek design made possible, in part, by the router's internal antennas, which received an honorable mention from red dot for product design this year. Created with convenience and functionality in mind, the router provides a stylish central control unit for a modern digital home.
"Not only does our latest all-in-one networking solution function as a router, a network storage unit, a print server and an FTP device, it is attractive on any desktop, environmentally friendly and Internet secure," said Maurice Famularo, Marketing Director for D-Link Australia and New Zealand.
The DIR-685's integrated 802.11n wireless LAN provides a fast Internet connection and smooth streaming of music and videos from stored media on the network to a TV and stereo equipment. Without any cumbersome cables or protruding antennas, the router can share disk space wirelessly among family members. Multiple input/multiple output (MIMO) antenna technology ensures that wireless data transfers are fast and reach all wireless devices in the home.
The user-friendly interface with a 3.2-inch LCD screen displays the status of connected devices graphically. Moreover, digital photos, videos, weather forecasts and other Internet content can be streamed in up to 1.6 million colors. To manage the photo frame feature, D-Link has partnered with FrameChannel, a free Web service (internetphotoframe.com) that allows for the customization of content displayed on the screen, so photos can be easily accessed and viewed.
The DIR-685 storage router also employs D-Link Green technology to help conserve energy. This includes automatically recognizing port activity, cable length and adjusting power usage accordingly. A scheduler can turn off the router's Wi-Fi module at a preset time, and the power adapter complies with Energy Star specifications for average power savings of up to 30%. The NAS drive and the Gigabit ports have power-saving features to make the DIR-685 a green product from the top to the bottom.
Users can optionally add a 2.5-inch hard drive with up to 500 GB of disk space to provide network storage. The network attached storage (NAS) feature supports both UPnP server functions and BitTorrent downloads. A built-in FTP server allows users to access files locally through the home network or remotely over the Internet.
Two USB ports use new D-Link SharePort USB over TCP/IP technology. This enables multiple users to seamlessly share USB devices, including printers, multi-function printers (MFP) and external hard drives, from any location in the home or small office, in a Wi-Fi environment. The DIR-685 also comes with a 4-port 10/100/1000 Gigabit switch to connect multiple wired devices such as computers, laser engraver and cnc router for fast file transfer and lag-free online gaming.
The D-Link DIR-685 Xtreme N Storage Router is available now with a recommended retail price of AU$499.95 inc. GST and NZ$579.95 inc. GST. Units shipped during the initial launch period include a 160 GB hard drive at no extra cost.
2009年7月5日星期日
A Router So Complete, and Vexing
Even before someone coined the term “mashup,” mashups were popular in the technology world. Some are made in heaven, and are now standard pairings: clock+radio, refrigerator+freezer, cellphone+camera.
Others are still on the early-adopter fringe: TV+Internet, camera+Internet, fridge+Internet.
This month, D-Link, the networking equipment company, will offer a mashup that nobody’s ever tried before: wireless router + home backup hard drive + digital picture frame. That, in a nutshell, is the D-Link DIR-685 ($300 list price).
The 685’s heart is in the right place. Its inventors have noticed that our high-tech homes are becoming cluttered with network-related gadgets and their associated cable creep. As long as people are going to buy all these different network gadgets, D-Link figures, why not combine them into one?
It’s the right idea. Unfortunately, D-Link is the wrong company to make it a reality.
First, the good news: once you get the 685 set up, it works very well indeed. It broadcasts your Internet connection wirelessly — a fast, strong Wi-Fi signal (802.11n). This single router turned my entire house into a Wi-Fi hot spot, thanks to its ability to blast through floors and walls. I was even getting three bars of signal (out of a possible four) all the way upstairs.
Every conceivable home router feature is on this machine’s configuration screens: port forwarding, Application Rules, individual Web site blocking, a sophisticated firewall, UPnP, Multicast Streams, Wake on LAN, users and groups, network access lists, scheduled lockouts, logs, security formats like WPA and WEP, remote management and much, much more. (And no, I’m not going to define those. If you’re among the geeks D-Link is apparently courting with this router, you know perfectly well what those things are.)
But you can get a much less expensive router with those features. The 685’s selling point is that it has some unique tricks up its sleeve.
One of them is a tiny (3.2 inch) color screen. It’s useful for inspecting the router’s settings, but it can also display dozens of Internet information widgets: weather, New York Times headlines, stocks, sports scores, stocks, Twitter posts and — delightfully — photos from your Flickr or Facebook accounts. It’s as if your router is now a Chumby, if you remember that desktop gadget.
(Too bad you can’t make the screen show you exactly what other people in the house or office are downloading or reading online. Now that would be an interesting feature.)
The 685’s case is so attractive (its antennas are concealed inside), and its widget feature is so cool that you might be tempted to set the thing on your desk and glance at its parade of Internet info-bits throughout the day. Unfortunately, nobody will do that; this thing has a really, really loud fan. If you’re close enough to the router to see your photos and widgets, you’re also close enough to be driven mad by its jet-engine whirring. Bedroom placement is out of the question.
The 685 also has a slot on the side for a hard drive, which is not included. That’s O.K.; that way, you can buy your own hard drive online, in the capacity you desire. (Shop for a “2.5-inch SATA” hard drive.) Once you click it into place, the router’s screen offers you the chance to format the hard drive, and you’re off and running.
Why would you want a hard drive in your Wi-Fi base station? Because now it’s a NAS drive (network-attached storage), which is geek-speak for “a hard drive that every computer in the house can access at once, wirelessly.”
For example, the whole family can use it as a backup hard drive. You can use it as a central storage repository for files that everybody needs — including, intriguingly, your whole family’s iTunes music collection. That’s right: put your iTunes folder on this drive, and now all computers can play whatever music is in it. The router’s name shows up at the left side of the iTunes window as if it’s an iPod, which is very cool.
You can even teach the 685 to download BitTorrent files in your absence. That’s right, software pirates, you can have it download huge TV and movie files even while you and your laptop are out of the house. You have to know the Web address of the file you want, and you have to paste that into the router’s extremely technical configuration pages in your Web browser. But once you do that, you can go away, confident that the downloaded files will be on the D-Link’s hard drive when you return.
The cherry on top is a feature called SharePort. It lets you connect a U.S.B. scanner, hard drive or printer — and once you do, any Mac or PC on the wireless network can use it.
All of this is great, right? So what’s the problem?
User-friendliness is the problem. Frankly, you’d have better luck figuring out how to fly the Space Shuttle.
Others are still on the early-adopter fringe: TV+Internet, camera+Internet, fridge+Internet.
This month, D-Link, the networking equipment company, will offer a mashup that nobody’s ever tried before: wireless router + home backup hard drive + digital picture frame. That, in a nutshell, is the D-Link DIR-685 ($300 list price).
The 685’s heart is in the right place. Its inventors have noticed that our high-tech homes are becoming cluttered with network-related gadgets and their associated cable creep. As long as people are going to buy all these different network gadgets, D-Link figures, why not combine them into one?
It’s the right idea. Unfortunately, D-Link is the wrong company to make it a reality.
First, the good news: once you get the 685 set up, it works very well indeed. It broadcasts your Internet connection wirelessly — a fast, strong Wi-Fi signal (802.11n). This single router turned my entire house into a Wi-Fi hot spot, thanks to its ability to blast through floors and walls. I was even getting three bars of signal (out of a possible four) all the way upstairs.
Every conceivable home router feature is on this machine’s configuration screens: port forwarding, Application Rules, individual Web site blocking, a sophisticated firewall, UPnP, Multicast Streams, Wake on LAN, users and groups, network access lists, scheduled lockouts, logs, security formats like WPA and WEP, remote management and much, much more. (And no, I’m not going to define those. If you’re among the geeks D-Link is apparently courting with this router, you know perfectly well what those things are.)
But you can get a much less expensive router with those features. The 685’s selling point is that it has some unique tricks up its sleeve.
One of them is a tiny (3.2 inch) color screen. It’s useful for inspecting the router’s settings, but it can also display dozens of Internet information widgets: weather, New York Times headlines, stocks, sports scores, stocks, Twitter posts and — delightfully — photos from your Flickr or Facebook accounts. It’s as if your router is now a Chumby, if you remember that desktop gadget.
(Too bad you can’t make the screen show you exactly what other people in the house or office are downloading or reading online. Now that would be an interesting feature.)
The 685’s case is so attractive (its antennas are concealed inside), and its widget feature is so cool that you might be tempted to set the thing on your desk and glance at its parade of Internet info-bits throughout the day. Unfortunately, nobody will do that; this thing has a really, really loud fan. If you’re close enough to the router to see your photos and widgets, you’re also close enough to be driven mad by its jet-engine whirring. Bedroom placement is out of the question.
The 685 also has a slot on the side for a hard drive, which is not included. That’s O.K.; that way, you can buy your own hard drive online, in the capacity you desire. (Shop for a “2.5-inch SATA” hard drive.) Once you click it into place, the router’s screen offers you the chance to format the hard drive, and you’re off and running.
Why would you want a hard drive in your Wi-Fi base station? Because now it’s a NAS drive (network-attached storage), which is geek-speak for “a hard drive that every computer in the house can access at once, wirelessly.”
For example, the whole family can use it as a backup hard drive. You can use it as a central storage repository for files that everybody needs — including, intriguingly, your whole family’s iTunes music collection. That’s right: put your iTunes folder on this drive, and now all computers can play whatever music is in it. The router’s name shows up at the left side of the iTunes window as if it’s an iPod, which is very cool.
You can even teach the 685 to download BitTorrent files in your absence. That’s right, software pirates, you can have it download huge TV and movie files even while you and your laptop are out of the house. You have to know the Web address of the file you want, and you have to paste that into the router’s extremely technical configuration pages in your Web browser. But once you do that, you can go away, confident that the downloaded files will be on the D-Link’s hard drive when you return.
The cherry on top is a feature called SharePort. It lets you connect a U.S.B. scanner, hard drive or printer — and once you do, any Mac or PC on the wireless network can use it.
All of this is great, right? So what’s the problem?
User-friendliness is the problem. Frankly, you’d have better luck figuring out how to fly the Space Shuttle.
2009年7月2日星期四
Belkin's New Wireless Router for Homes
Belkin Asia Pacific Limited has launched its new Enhanced Wireless Router (F6D4230-4) that is 802.11b and 802.11g, certificated and based on 802.11n technology. The company claims that it offers users 802.11n performance of up to 150Mbps, at a price you would expect to pay for a G standard cnc router.
The new design includes enhanced usability of having WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) situated at the front for easy one-push security setup. The six LEDs for Power, Wired, Wireless, Modem, Security, and Internet let you know the status of your network at a glance, making it easy to troubleshoot any problems. It has a range of up to 300m, which can easily cover an apartment or small office. The Router also supports VPN for making secure connections between home and office and is backed by a lifetime warranty.
This Wireless Router has a vertical enclosure that takes up less desk space, giving you more room to work and improves ventilation. Connecting the N150 Enhanced Wireless Router to your cable or ADSL modem lets you share your broadband Internet account with all your networked computers.
Now you can quickly and efficiently exchange documents, share resources, and stream digital music throughout your network.
This wireless router is a good option for those who need a reliable wireless connection and range, but don't need the higher transfer speeds offered by N or N+ products.
2009年7月1日星期三
Perfect way to show how much you love your Palm Pre or the iPhone 3GS
There are many reasons why you’ll want to do this crazy thing either with your new iPhone 3GS or your Palm Pre. I am talking about giving a quick laser engraving to the back of the devices mentioned.
If you think that the logo or the inscription at the back of your device is too minimal and does not actually express your love for it, you now can do laser engraving the way Phil did to his Palm Pre.
Or even if you want to distort/customize it to make it look like your own, you’ll definitely want to do this laser engraving.
Not sure whether the engraver (Mark) would do this neat job for iPhone 3GS users, he works in Sprint Studio. You may need to do a lot of diplomatic persuasion (I guess).
If you think that the logo or the inscription at the back of your device is too minimal and does not actually express your love for it, you now can do laser engraving the way Phil did to his Palm Pre.
Or even if you want to distort/customize it to make it look like your own, you’ll definitely want to do this laser engraving.
Not sure whether the engraver (Mark) would do this neat job for iPhone 3GS users, he works in Sprint Studio. You may need to do a lot of diplomatic persuasion (I guess).
订阅：
博文 (Atom)