Machine Design

Scenes from Rapid 2013

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 18:55:00 +0000

Among those in the additive manufacturing business, 2013 may be remembered as the year when President Obama mentioned 3D printing in his State of the Union address. No wonder, then, that there was a lot of excitement in the aisles of the Rapid 2013 exposition in Pittsburgh. Here are a few of the things attendees could see.

June 13, 2013

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 04:00:00 +0000

Digital Edition

Basics of touchless rotary sensors

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 19:12:00 +0000

Load Pins Help Crane Operators Reduce Maintenance Costs

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 14:10:00 +0000

Understanding the Benefits of Strain Gage Technology in OEM Medical Devices and Equipment

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 14:08:00 +0000

An Introduction to Stress Analysis and Transducer Design Using Strain Gages

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 13:50:00 +0000

Save time with Function Integration

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 13:48:00 +0000

Food Safety through high compressed air quality

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 13:45:00 +0000

Food Safety – Hygienic automation technology in food production

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 13:38:00 +0000

H-1B visas make STEM careers unattractive to American students

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 19:47:00 +0000

The idea that H-1B visas tend to reduce the attractiveness of science and technology jobs for U.S. residents got more visibility recently thanks to Norm Matloff, a computer science professor at U.C. Davis. Matloff penned a piece for the financial journal Barron's in which he explained the case for reforming U.S. policies on work visas.

From the Editor's Desk

Special Forces get special motorcycle

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 19:39:00 +0000

Engineers at Zero Motorcycle have developed the MMX, an all-electric motorcycle for the U.S. Defense Dept.’s Special Forces. A fleet of bikes is currently being operationally tested by the military.

Electric vehicle goes for world speed record

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 19:26:00 +0000

The Drayson B12 69/EV will try to go faster than 175 mph in an attempt to break a 40-year old world record.

Saker-1: Will it be the world's fastest personal jet?

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 17:21:00 +0000

The S-1, a twin-engined, two-seat jet, will have a top speed of Mach 0.99. that means it can cover a mile in six seconds.

101 things I learned in engineering school

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 14:34:00 +0000

Every once in awhile I come across a book I wished I would have had when I was an engineering undergrad. 101 Things I Learned in Engineering School, by John Kuprenas, a PE, with Matthew Frederick, an architect, is in that category. It spans just 101 pages in handbook size (about 7 x 5 inches).

From the Editor's Desk

Get your powder metallurgy on

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 19:01:00 +0000

Event in Chicago and comprehensive course on powder metallurgy

Material World

Scenes from Sensors Expo 2013

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 18:52:00 +0000

The annual Sensors Expo in Chicago always hosts a variety of interesting sensing applications and this year's event was no exception.

System modeling: Review of open-source Modelica

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 18:49:00 +0000

System modeling is on the rise. Open-source tools now simulate mechanical, thermal, electrical, electronic, hydraulic, and control domains in one place.

Many designs involve multiple engineering domains. For example, hybrid vehicles balance engine performance with emissions limits.

IP and innovation will drive product development

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 18:39:00 +0000

Bradford L. Goldense, NPDP, CMfgE, CPIM, CCP, president of Goldense Group Inc.

Product developers enjoyed a fairly predictable environment for most of last century. After the arrival of the assembly line early in the century, changes in design and manufacturing were incremental.

Stop ultrasonic-sensor noise and crosstalk

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 18:28:00 +0000

Ganged ultrasonic sensors can monitor large and cluttered areas.

Consider scrapyards: These dirty outdoor environments are filled with objects of every shape, size, and material. Controls on machinery that manipulate scrap need sensors to detect when conveyor belts are empty, bales are present, and bins are full.

Isolated voltage sensing for safe control

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 17:41:00 +0000

Hong Lei Chen, Avago Technologies, San Jose, Calif.

New isolation amplifiers excel where dangerous voltages are the norm.

Electric motors that are either poorly maintained or which lack the proper electrical protection are the second greatest cause of electrical fires.

Ensuring bearings run trouble-free

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 16:15:00 +0000

M. M. Khonsari, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge; La., E. R. Booser, Engineering Consultant, Vero Beach, Fla.

Here’s how to avoid oil-whirl instability in journal bearings.

Oil-whirl instability in rotor bearings was discovered by General Electric engineer Burt Newkirk in the 1920s. Since then, much has been written about design methods to reduce its harmful effects.

When GigE goes to the factory

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 15:47:00 +0000

Glenn Dorsey, P.E., Moog Components Group, Blacksburg, Va.

Core network parameters guide connection picks for custom Gigabit Ethernet networks that don’t adhere to common standards.

Ethernet is a ubiquitous LAN technology, and a common iteration is IEEE 802.3 1000Base‑T Ethernet, also called gigabit Ethernet or GigE. Here we outline how to design GigE networks when they need to include a slip ring.

New developments in LED cooling technology

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 15:27:00 +0000

The quest to keep high-performance LEDs cool is putting a focus on thermal-management techniques and the manufacturing methods used to make them.

One parameter has stayed the same as light-emitting diodes have begun lighting up rooms and taking over other tasks once dominated by incandescent bulbs — heat.

Motor-powered actuator controls flow on conveyors

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 15:18:00 +0000

Engineers at Mechatronic Techniques, Plano, Tex., recently designed a motor-powered stopper to replace pneumatic and solenoid stoppers on some custom conveyors.

Semiconductor makers return manufacturing to U. S.

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 15:12:00 +0000

Here’s a bit of good news for semiconductor-manufacturing OEMS from Tom Morrow, vice president of SEMI, the overarching organization for the semiconductor industry.

Software designs modular robots

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 14:57:00 +0000

CAD APIs: Robot design to path planning

New software optimizes kinematics and plans paths for custom robots handling multiple axes. Flexible Robotic Environment (FRE) software was written by Bicommerce LLC, Rapid City, S. D., and it also acts as a motion platform.

Basics of Pressure Regulators

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 14:17:00 +0000

Rotary sensor helps keep pipeline pumping

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 14:17:00 +0000

The rotary-sensor signal provides feedback to a controller which handles the electrohydraulic actuator. The actuator must respond within as little as a few hundred milliseconds to move ball valves spanning 12, 16, 20 in. or more.

Cord grips keep cables under control

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 14:14:00 +0000

Fourth-generation cord grips from SAB North America, Fairfield, N. J. (www.sabcable.com), are made of nickel-plated brass and can provide electromagnetic compatibility while grounding or securing the end of a cable to equipment or a panel. They can handle cables with diameters ranging from 0.12 to 1.75 in. (3 to 44 mm) and operate in temperatures from –20 to 100°C with short-term exposure to –40 to 300°C.

A conveyor for small, bantamweight products

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 14:08:00 +0000

The 1100 Series conveyor platform from Dorner Mfg. Corp., Hartland, Wis. (www.dornerconveyors.com), offers OEMs and factory owners the thinnest frame in North America. It measures just ¾-in. tall and can fit in tight spaces or free up room for other machines or workers. The conveyors have anodized-aluminum frames, FDA-approved plastic tail plates, and stainless-steel fasteners, letting it qualify for Clean Room Class 100 certification.