NSN Orbit Blog

Since the advent of powered flight, various types of aircraft have come about to fulfill particular needs and applications. While there are a wide variety of aircraft types available on the market, almost all can be categorized into one of two groups, those of which are fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. As the two types of aircraft widely differ in their design, method of flight, and general applicational use, it can be highly beneficial to have a basic understanding of each.

Large aircraft are typically equipped with multiple electrical power sources as they necessitate extremely reliable power distribution systems. One type of power source that is often implemented is an AC generator. Most aircraft have two or more main AC generators controlled by aircraft turbine engines, and one backup AC generator. Other power sources implemented in large aircraft include DC systems as well as an aircraft battery to provide emergency power in the case of multiple failures.

Found in machinery of all industries, encoders are responsible for converting motion or optical interruption into an electrical signal. Providing feedback by implementing a control device within a motion control system capable of reading and transcribing motion, encoders are ultimately used to calculate position, count, speed, or direction. Producing either absolute or incremental signals when generating feedback, encoders are critical for controlling many mechanical systems, helping to determine what actions need to be taken to maintain high-precision for sensitive mechanical work.

Used in mobile phones, computers, transmitters, receivers, control circuits, and countless other devices for wireless communication, radio frequencies (RF), or RF currents, are a universal tool utilized around the world. Through the basis of radio frequency communication and with the employment of specialized equipment, electromagnetic radiation is a primary factor for sending radio frequencies. Operating to receive and transmit information at varying electrical currents, to ensure your RF cable and connector configurations are sending and receiving the appropriate signals, we will go over commonly used RF components and how they are implemented to improve data relations.

There are countless variations of cables, wiring, and connectors being used today for a myriad of applications. As each type of wire, cable, or connector may provide different operational characteristics and capabilities, not only are such components valuable for smaller appliances and larger machinery, but even that of heavy industrial applications. As there are many cable, wire, and connector types that may serve industrial motion control systems and automated industrial systems, having a knowledge of the most common types and their use is beneficial for any manufacturer or engineer.

When it comes to wire to board connections, customers are presented with myriad options. So, why are flat flexible cables and connectors preferable to wire to board solutions, such as IDC/IDT or discrete wire types? In this blog, we will discuss the benefits of flat flexible cables (FFC) and flexible printed circuit (FPC) solutions over traditional wire to board connectors.

Azimuth and elevation are two important measurements in navigation. They are two coordinates that denote the position of a point in the sky relative to a given location at a given time. This blog will look at both azimuth and elevation separately as well as their importance in navigation.

Tygon tubing is a flexible polymer tubing that consists of a variety of materials and is used across a range of industries for specialized fluid transfer requirements. As Tygon is a brand, the exact composition of each type of tubing is kept secret, but the various products feature multiple layers of different materials. The brand is a registered trademark of French multinational Saint-Gobain Corporation and has been since the late 1930s. Tygon tubing products are produced in three countries but sold throughout the entire world. It is used in a diverse set of markets, including food and beverage, chemical processing, industrial, laboratory, medical, pharmaceutical, and semiconductor processing.

A circuit breaker is an electrical switch that is automatically operated and produced to act as a shield for an electrical circuit from damage. The damage can be caused by excess current from an overload or short circuit. Basically the basic function of a circuit breaker is to interrupt current flow after a fault is detected. But when operating a circuit breaker, it is important to maintain the accessories that are essential for its function. Electrically operated power circuit breakers can use many different accessories placed inside the breaker for remote indication and automatic operation. For an in depth look at different accessory parts, read the article below.

A flight bag is a bag frequently carried by pilots and flight crews. The contents of the average flight bag may include aircraft operating manuals, navigational charts, route manuals, flight checklists, and manuals for the flight crew, but there is a lot more that every pilot should have in his or her flight bag before take off. Here are ten essentials every pilot needs.