April 09, 2009

Leland Teschler's Editorial: Engineering is a Risky Business

Machine Design began publishing in September of 1929

A reader points out that a video circulating through the Internet is a commercial. Another reader believes if we can accept complicated of hybrid powertrains, then even advanced diesel engine shouldn’t be a problem.

Sensor Sense: Capacitive Slide Sensors

Capacitive touch switches combine to simulate an analog control.

Poor Tire Inflation Safety Leads to Injury

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A worker inflating a truck tire was injured when the tire’s sidewall blew out.

Constant-Velocity Milling Spits Out Prototypes

A recent vertical machining center (VMC) features what’s called a constant velocity (CV) controller which provides a novel approach to chip-removal theory.

Women and Training Keys to Solving Technical Staff Shortages

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Despite the dismal economy, there’s a shortage of technically skilled workers. Here’s how to fix the problem.

Lightweight Lights for Vehicle Marking

LightForm lights can be made with just 2% of the material used in traditional LED lamps, says manufacturer Grote Industries

Say Good-Bye to Mercury Hearing-Aid Batteries

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Hearing-aid batteries generally contain a miniscule amount of mercury.

LEDs in a Light Bulb

E26-based, ULapproved family of LED bulbs currently comes in three white color temperatures: 2,800-k warm white, 5,200-k full spectrum white

Orr on Engineering: Practical Realities in Product Design

Product design loops to earlier steps, with corrections and retracing because it is not deterministic. Rather, design is a trial-and-error process in which learning happens along the way.

Backtalk 4/09/09

The latest way to scavenge energy from vibrations or any mechanical disturbances is through nanogenerators developed at the Georgia Institute of Technology

Changes in the Engineering Profession Over 80 Years

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A brief look at how the engineering profession has fared over the last eight decades.

Managing the Domino Effect in Product Development

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The Linked Intelligent Master Model system promotes interoperability in distributed design teams by linking key product parameters to engineering models.

Plain Bearings Outperform Rolling-Element Bearings

Plain bearings can outperform rolling-element bearings in strength, cost, and durability for many applications.

Shoulder-Fillet Stress Calculations Clarified

The authors of "Shoulder-fillet stresses finesse" clarify stress-calculation procedures.

Rotary Vane Actuators Handle the Loads While Delivering the Torque

Pneumatic VRX rotary vane actuators from Tolomatic Inc. generate up to 484 lb-in. (54.7 N-m) of torque at 100 psi and withstand axial loads as high as 23 lb (102 N).

Water-Cooled Clutches and Brakes

Water-cooled clutches and brakes suitable for marine environments

Building a Car Just for Cops

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Georgia Tech helps Carbon Motors design and build a car for police and law enforcement.

Hannover Fair Focuses on Energy Efficiency

This year’s Hannover Fair, the world’s largest industrial trade fair, features 13 different show, all with a focus on energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainability.