Machine Design – May 2019

ePTFE and Athletic Shoes

With 3D Fit, the ePTFE layer is con-

tained in a fabric insert, almost a small

slipper, that goes into the more rugged

but not waterproof uppers and soles.

There are no seams, so there are no

rough surfaces to irritate the wearer’s

feet or potential holes to let water in.

3D Fit technology creates a more

comfortable fit with the insert and it

contours itself to the wearer’s foot. It also

works with the current styles of knit-

ted, elastic, and mesh footwear. It also

simplifies construction for shoe manu-

facturers. They no longer need to sew

or glue several pieces together, just slip

the three-dimensional waterproof insert

into the nearly completed shoe.

How these layers are put together and

attached to the sole and each other gets

into Gore-Tex intellectual property ter-

ritory. But their engineers have figured

out several ways to do it without creat-

ing avoid any wrinkles or folds.

Gore-Tex is also working on a shoe

lining, Infinium Thermium, geared

toward providing insulation against the

cold without making the shoe look like

a heavily insulated boot. In cold weather,

people must choose between wearing

stylish shoes and having cold feet or

wearing bulky insulated footwear that

then cause over heat their feet indoors.

The new lining is extremely compact

with insulation seven times more effi-

cient than a similar amount of loft insu-

lation. Moreover, insulation will only be

placed where needed—in the toe area.

The result is stylish-looking everyday

footwear that keeps feet warm outdoors

but that don’t overheat inside—a solu-

tion that seems almost as impossible as

waterproof and breathable fabric did 40

years ago.

Gore has also just developed a materi-

al it calls Shakedry. This is a much light-

er waterproof/breathable fabric because

the membrane is the exterior of the

garment; there is no other outer fabric

layer. This will let clothing manufactur-

ers make a waterproof jacket that packs

down to about the size of an apple and

weigh 3.5 to 5.3 oz. (100 to 130 gm).

42

PI designs and manufactures precision motion systems at locations in the USA, Europe,

and Asia. With over 40 years of experience developing standard and custom products

based on piezoceramic and electromagnetic drives and more than 1,300 employees in

13 countries, PI can quickly provide a solution for your positioning and automation

projects in industry and research.

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Physik Instrumente L.P. 508-832-3456 (East) / 949-679-9191 (West) http://www.pi-usa.us

Gantry Systems / Linear Stages

MAY 2019 MACHINE DESIGN

At Fabco, our machine centers make

Quality parts for pneumatic cylinders.

Every item Fabco manufactures refl ects the highest standards

of quality. Working in unison, our team takes every measure

necessary to assure that our parts adhere to these standards. Only

after they have passed our critical quality checks at every step of

their production will they be deemed ready for our customers.

If quality and reliably high performance in your pneumatic

automation applications matter to you as much as they do to us,

then Fabco’s pneumatic cylinders are your only choice.

Quality parts for pneumatic cylinders

Technical support – Ph: (352) 373-3578, Fx: (352) 375-8024, [email protected]

Fabco-Air, Inc., 3716 N.E. 49th Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32609

http://www.fabco-air.com