The first generation of this system from a team at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), was developed three years ago as a proof of concept in order to validate that such a system could work. The device is aimed at extracting clean, drinkable water from the atmosphere, even in “dry” regions, using solar or any …
Solar Powered System Extracts Drinking Water From Dry Air Read More »
Ever wish that you had a scooter in your backpack? Wish no more, the University of Tokyo have developed an inflatable scooter that riders can keep in their backpack. It even has a seat, so you can be relaxed on your way home, or your way out. Take a look at the future of convenient …
Researchers for the Department of Mechanical Engineering from the University of Sheffield, have created 3D printed parts that are resistant to common strains of bacteria. This has a vast amount of applications and can prevent the spread of infections and viruses in care homes and hospitals, potentially saving lives. This has been achieved by this …
SolidWorks is an incredibly powerful CAD program that allows to create very detailed parts and assemblies but no matter how complex your model is it’s highly likely that it will use some kind of units system. American users are generally more likely to work in Imperial units (technically known as ‘United States customary units’) such …
How to Change Units in SolidWorks. Using Units and Dimensions in SolidWorks Read More »
There are a multitude of engineering problems currently in the world and they will have to be faced over the coming years, and for many years to come. These challenges are related to healthcare, energy sources, security and the environment among many more. However all of these issues have the common goal of improving humans’ …
Engineering Problems: 5 Hot Challenges for Future Engineers Read More »
Have you ever seen something that looks like it shouldn’t move but it does? This non-circular planetary gear (in the form of a fidget spinner) is so satisfying to watch, you will be mesmerized! Thank us later!
Head loss is potential energy converted into kinetic energy. Head loss is defined as the pressure loss due to viscous effects over a certain distance of pipe for an incompressible fluid, also including the additional losses accrued by fixtures etc. Head loss cannot be avoided in real fluids, and its importance is relative to the …
Check out the new Mercedes VISION AVTR, which has an organic battery made from recyclable materials. Oh wait, it can also drive sidewards as well!! Even though it is just a concept car for now, this really makes you excited for the cars of the future!
The Schmitz Mittz, are taking hand protection to another level. Designed to be practically indestructible, these gloves are made for those who rescue people that become trapped in cars and need the extra protection. As can be seen, it protects from cutting, hard impacts and fire, amazing!!
Isentropic Process Isentropic process is defined as a thermodynamic process, where the gas or fluid has constant entropy (constant-entropy process). This means that the isentropic process is a specific type of adiabatic process, where there is no transfer of matter or heat. It is also a reversible adiabatic process. This means that change in Q …
Your quick guide to Isentropic Process: Relations, Flow, Efficiency and Equations Read More »
This particular turbine can provide power for up to 60 homes, 24 hours a day. The company that makes these turbines, Turbulent, might have come up with the solution to your electricity bill. See how having running water near to your home can result in free electricity for life!
What are the minimum computer requirements for SolidWorks? A processor of 3.3Ghz or higher A 500Gb or larger Hard Drive Disk (HDD) At least 16Gb of RAM A quality Graphics Card by NVIDIA or AMD The latest operating system to future-proof your SolidWorks purchase Now, let’s look at each of these components in detail. Get …
SolidWorks System Requirements and Computer Recommendations Read More »
Functional human skin can now be 3D printed with an adapted printer that covers cuts and wounds with skin cells. 3D printed skin cells heal wounds three times faster than normal human skin, and while this is still not yet a reality, scientists are working on treating patients with the method by 2022! Also check …
In this article we will look at the worst engineering disasters. We included the most recent engineering disasters, as well as the oldest on record that happened almost 400 years ago! Dams, bridges, walkways collapsing; molasses pouring down the streets, nuclear stations exploding, massive ships (other than Titanic!) sinking, tons of poisonous gas leaking – …
Top 25 of the Worst Engineering Disasters: including most recent! Read More »
What is Garolite? Garolite is a composite material and brand name for G10 – FR4, which is developed by curing epoxy and fiberglass under high pressure to create a thermoset glass-epoxy laminate material. It is very stable over temperature, absorbs a low amount of moisture and possesses a good strength to weight ratio. It is …
What is Garolite? Your guide to G10 Material – Its Properties & Applications Read More »
Hydraulic fluid is a versatile, multi-function necessity for machinery everywhere. You would be hard pressed to find a machine that doesn’t require hydraulic fluid to maintain performance and reduce component wear as hydraulic systems are hard on the parts within them. As a business that operates machinery, there is also the requirement to comply with …
What Does an Aerospace Company Do? “Aerospace companies” are usually aerospace manufacturers, and they research, design, build, test, sell and maintain aircraft/aircraft parts, missiles, rockets and spacecraft/spacecraft parts. This can include but not limited to: space vehicles, aircraft engines and propulsion units. The aerospace industry is made up of military, industrial and commercial applications. It …
This article is a SolidWorks price guide for the United States. For British prices, please see SolidWorks prices in the UK section of this article. How much does it cost to buy SolidWorks? As an engineer interested in SolidWorks, the first question is usually ‘how much does it cost?’. Since the company does not publish its …
SolidWorks Price Guide: How much does it cost to buy SolidWorks Read More »
Naming just 10 of the countless engineers that have had enormous impacts on the world as we know it can be quite difficult. Over the last 100-200 years especially, there have been major advances in technology in all engineering disciplines. Think about it, from the car you drive to work, to the light bulbs and …
The advent of computers brought the concept of numerical systems to reality for many industries. Manufacturing, in particular, has widely embraced the technology, with CNC machining now seen as the gold standard and offering many advantages over more traditional measures. CNC vs. Traditional Machining: the basics CNC stands for Computer Numerical Control and such a …
Why CNC Machining Beats Traditional Machining Every Time Read More »
Solidworks is an extremely powerful and popular CAD program that is used to create all sorts of 3D designs for manufacture. But sometimes you’d like to create a rendered image – or rendering – to show off your design. You might need renderings for marketing presentations, portfolios, or just to test your skills and luckily …
How to create Renderings in Solidworks if your ‘Render Tools Tab’ is missing Read More »
Difference Between the Various Types of Engineering “Engineering” is defined as the type of technology and science that includes the design, creation and use of machines, engines and buildings/structures. It is also one of, if not the most lucrative STEM disciplines in the world. Engineering is a very broad term and it covers a vast …
What Do Mechanical Engineers Do? Mechanical Design Engineering Career Read More »
Check out these mesmerising gyroscope experiments: Gyroscope in space. It maintains its stability once it’s spinning. Omnidirectional drone gyroscope. 3D Printed gyro sphere. Gyroscope bike tire trick. Give this one a miss! We mean it! This video shows the classic gyroscope in action and explains it’s working principle:
While the original McLaren Technology Centre is based at the company’s head office in Woking, Surrey, we have seen recent expansion into Sheffield. Even though McLaren is heavily associated with F1, many people fail to realise that the group is a leading light in the world of cutting edge technology which includes composites. As a …
McLaren Sheffield Technology Centre: Jobs and Graduate Scheme (COVID update) Read More »
There is a plethora of options when it comes to obtaining a degree in mechanical engineering in the United States of America. It is very important however, to attend an educational institution that will benefit the student most and result in them receiving the best education possible. Any successful mechanical engineer is sure to have …
Top 10 Mechanical Engineering Courses and Degrees in the USA Read More »
Density is the amount of sustance in a unit, per volume of substance. Below you can see the density equiation and the table with Milk Density values, inluding those for whole, semi-skimmed, and skimmed milk, depending on temperature. What makes the question of density per unit of weight tricky, is the fact density changes …
Density of Milk and the Trick Question About the Weight of a Gallon of Milk Read More »
A walkalong glider is a flying model aircraft made of paper, foam or a similarly light, low density material that is designed to be kept aloft by controllable slope soaring. The pilot generates the rising air by walking along with the glider as it flies with a paddle, often just simple piece of paper. In …
Video of the Day: Walkalong Glider – Controllable Slope Soaring in action Read More »
Aerogel-infused fiberglass blanket is able to withstand severe 2,000 Celcius heat generated by a flamethrower. Silica aerogel has a sponge-like structure with tiny passages just tens of nanometres wide. The heat struggles to pass through this material due to its complicated nano structure. At the end of the filming of this video, the flamethrower actually …
Video of the Day: Massive 2000°C flame vs. Aerogel infused blanket Read More »
So, here we have 150 ton hydraulic press and 150 ton force sensor. The following metals are going to be tested: Copper, Iron, Tin, Aluminium and Titanium. Take a guess which metal broke the base of the press? Which one buckled under a mere 3 tons of pressure? Very satisfying to watch!
Sometimes engineers underestimate the power of resonance and positive feedback phenomena, when a small disturbance is exacerbrated through the feedback loop, resulting in a disaster.A great example of this phenomena is the infamous Millennium Bridge, nicknamed it the “Wobbly Bridge”. Due to the structure of the bridge, with the cable supports at the side rather …
An interdisciplinary team of researchers have developed a new way to 3D print objects that can control living organisms. This breakthrough may lead to development of new biomedical tools custom to the body.
We’ve all been there – you’re modelling away happily but when you try to create a Revolved Base/Base feature SolidWorks throws up that dreaded error: “The Sketch is open, self-intersecting or intersects the centreline”: This a very common problem and one that can be extremely frustrating but luckily it is usually fairly easy to troubleshoot …
The researchers developed a silicone-based polymer that mimics the mechanical and elastic properties of skin. The material uses siloxane-containitng chemicals. Siloxane is a chain of alternating atoms of silicon and oxygen that can be assembled into a network arrangement known as a cross-linked polymer layer (XPL). Read more at MIT website.
Spontaneous synchronisation Check out this fascinating video of numerous metronomes set off at random times at random frequencies. Slowly but surely the clicks begin to merge, motions come closer and then eventually spontaneous synchronisation is there before your very eyes. This only works on raised floors, where the group with the greater combined metronome direction …
What is PTC Creo? PTC Creo, which is shorthand for Creo Parametric, latest version 7.0, is a powerful group of applications that are integrated into one another. This popular family of design software is used by thousands across the globe, including students, professionals and industry leaders. PTC is known as the originator of parametric CAD …
AutoCAD The CAD in AutoCAD stands for Computer Aided Design, and this program is exactly that, a computer aided design and drafting application. AutoCAD was created by Autodesk, a company that “builds software that helps people imagine, design, and make a better world.” AutoCAD is known as the one of the most widely used tools …
Top AutoDesk Software in 2020: AutoCAD, Fusion 360, Inventor and Revit Read More »
What differences can be ascertained between SolidWorks Standard vs Professional? The results to this commonly asked question depend on a variety of factors that affect how each package will work and which version will be right for the user. Also read about SolidWorks prices in the UK and the US. Many users will make the …
There are so many different elements to mechanical engineering that it is difficult to know where to start. There are modules available in structural materials, thermodynamics, electromechanicals, solid mechanics, thermofluids and the ever popular area of intelligent robotics. In a perfect world a general grounding in mechanical engineering and then a particular focus on one …
Top 10 Mechanical Engineering University Courses in the UK Read More »
What is SolidWorks PDM? What does it do? SolidWorks is a solid modeling computer-aided design and computer-aided engineering program that is used for prototyping, planning, visual ideation, feasibility design and project management. It is then used for the design and building of electrical, mechanical and software elements, and the creation of assemblies, drawings and parts. …
SolidWorks PDM – What it does, How to Use it, and How much it costs Read More »
3D printing has been widely adopted for rapid prototyping as well as for low-volume, end-use parts. The term “3D printing” is synonymous with additive manufacturing, and reveals how parts are made: by growing them out of base material in the shape of a 3D model. In other words, a 3D printer will use a small …
The Differences Between Metal vs. Plastic 3D Printing Read More »
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