Main Parts of a Bridge – Explained
What are the main parts of a bridge? Many of us use bridges everyday, but have you ever stopped to consider what makes up the
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Top 5 Engineering Forums
Engineering forums are amazingly helpful to engineers. Engineering is a very complex practice. Not only does it encompass an immense range of fields or specialisations,
The Khan Academy – any good for science and engineering?
The Khan Academy (khanacademy.org) is something which will become more visible in the years to come especially for those who have young children at school.
Composite Spraying
Composite spraying is an open-mould composite manufacturing process which makes use of a manually controlled spray gun to spray a chopped fibre with catalysed resin
The Steam Hammer: An industrial monster
Even though the original concept of a steam hammer dates back to James Watt in 1784 it was not until the 1840s that the first
6061-T6 Aluminium – The Ultimate Guide
Aluminium 6061-T6 is a subcategory of the 6061 aluminium alloy, one of the most widely used aluminium alloy categories in the world. The alloy is
How to present your mechanical design to the team
Newbies to engineering often underestimate the ‘soft skills’ they will need to develop for the job. Being able to present your mechanical design effectively involves
Ti-6Al-4V Titanium – Essential Reading
Stronger than some steels, but almost 45% lighter….. Twice as strong as aluminium, but just about 60% heavier….. That’s titanium for you! Titanium is a
Are mechanical engineers neurotic?
Do you lie awake at night sweating over mechanical designs, running calculations through your head, unable to turn off the invasive thoughts of Newtonian physics?
Specifying tap drill diameters – good practice or micromanagement?
It’s a good thing that engineers don’t have to actually build the ivory towers that they live in. Otherwise, there might be far fewer surviving
When Lego and Origami Inspire New Materials
The primary source of human inspiration is nature. To a generation that grew up with cartoons and games all around them, maybe it is not
How to accurately measure O-ring dimensions
As engineers, we have all used thread sealing tapes at some point to fix leaks. But how do we fix leaks in applications that involve
The Galvanic Series – the essential guide
Have you been wanting to understand more about the Galvanic Series – what it is exactly, and how it can help you make decisions about
Convert PDF to DWG – the definitive guide
DWG (drawing) files are most commonly used when working on furniture drawings, house and building architecture, and of course mechanical and industrial components. As more
How a SAFE is Designed (Part 1: Ingenious Engineering Against Attack)
A safe is a safe, is a safe, right? It’s just a big metal box? Actually. nothing could be further from the truth – the
Extreme manufacturing danger: the steel mill cobble
While many of us will be well aware of the dangers of working in a steel mill, the excessive temperatures and molten steel, few people
Pipe Size Chart & Common Pipe Schedule Chart
Pipes are extensively used in mechanical engineering, from the Oil & Gas industry and their offshore rigs to the more simplistic home tap water networks,
Designing and building the Queensferry Crossing
When officially opened by the Queen on 4 September 2017 the total duration of the Queensferry Crossing project was a decade from the initial idea
Gold engineering alloys – the ultimate guide
Let’s talk about gold engineering alloys. Gold has been one of the most revered precious metals from the birth of civilisation. As a symbol of
The basic mechanics of Toggle Clamps
I’ve always been fascinated by mechanisms that use some kind of geometric ‘trick’ to accomplish a task. A prime example of such a mechanism are
The Engineering of DEATH. How the Nazis killed on an industrial scale.
Even to this day the scale on which the Nazis gassed prisoners, men, women and children, is unknown but suffice to say it was in
Basic Thermal Calculations
Thermal engineering is one of the most fundamental areas of mechanical and chemical engineering, with the study of heat transfer being one of the most
MatWeb – Top 6 Alternative Websites
Material scientists and engineers rely on good quality and reliable information provided via the internet. Gone are the days of huge compendiums of material data
304 Stainless Steel Properties
In this article, we’re going to look at 304 stainless steel properties and what makes it such a popular choice across a range of applications.
Reynolds Number Calculator and Formula (Equation)
Below is a handy Reynolds Number Calculator. The Reynolds number (Re) is a dimensionless quantity that is used to determine what type of fluid flow to
5 Absolutely Mental Manufacturing Processes
What you’re about to witness is a roundup of some absolutely mental manufacturing techniques that are insanely interesting, and just a little bit wacky. Some
Maraging Steel: Unique Properties and Uses
While there are many materials which are tough and long-lasting and others which are malleable it is difficult to find materials which have all of
A Quick Guide to Ferrous Metals
Have you noticed how some materials rust over time, due to prolonged exposure to the environment? Those materials invariably contain iron and are called ferrous
Crap Design: The USB
What is worse than a bad design? A crap design that stays around for fifteen years over a wide variety of updates, upgrades, and changes.
Elon Musk on the Cost of Populating Mars
As far as science-fiction and the human stare towards the universe go, populating Mars has always been a big theme. While technology is working towards
Why Are Robots Shaped Like Humans?
Machine shapes based on the human form is an old idea, dating from Hephaestus in ancient Greek mythology and spanning through the civilizations and centuries.
Making Carbon Fibre More Cost Effective
Lightweight and extremely rigid, carbon fibre was a game changer for the aerospace and motorsport industry. Although some manufacturers have been doing a good job
