How to design a new mechanical part in 3D CAD
In many situations mechanical designers will rely on their library of parts and case studies to work on a new mechanical part – this saves
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Robotics For Humanitarian Purposes
One can easily be in awe when witnessing the performance of robotics in outer space. It is proof of the progress and long way we,
The mechanical engineer’s guide to industrial design
What does the future of industrial design look like? How has the role of designers changed in the last half century? Many mechanical engineering professionals
Biomaterials: Read this and be an expert in 10 minutes!
While biomaterials have made enormous progress in recent times, the concept of biomaterials has been around for centuries. In its most basic form it goes
How does a Harmonic Drive work? Why are they used?
The harmonic drive is a type of gear arrangement often referred to as a strain wave gear because of the way it works. It is
How does a Centrifugal Clutch work? What are the pros and cons?
The centrifugal clutch is a clutch that bases its operation on the principle of centrifugal force generation. It is generally considered one of the smoothest
Lift Equation – fully explained and simplified for beginners
It has been observed that most aircraft accidents occur during the take-off or landing phase of the flight. Lift is a major part of takeoff.
55 types of hammers – the ultimate guide
This post was originally published in October 2016, and has been updated for freshness, accuracy and comprehensiveness. When we use the term “hammer” we all
3D Printed Biomaterials, and the first 3D printed organ
One of the new trends within the additive manufacturing sector is bioprinting (otherwise known as 3D printed biomaterials) which has shown promising results when looking
Cooling Towers Explained: How does a cooling tower work?
Even though cooling towers are not as common today as they were in years gone by, you will almost certainly come across at least one
Die Casting – design guide, materials, advantages and disadvantages
Die casting is a permanent mould casting process in which molten metal is poured into a mould and removed after solidification. There are two main
Drill size chart – inch and metric | Downloadable PDF
Every drill size chart you’ll ever need is in this article! No more scratching your head wondering which gauge relates to which size or how
Convert mm to inches INSTANTLY
Are you looking to convert millimeters to inches? Look no further, with our instant mm to inches calculator, you can do it in a second.
French drain design and cost, including pipe, gravel and installation
Since the days of the caveman we have seen the emergence of simple drainage systems. Used as means to reduce flood dangers or improve irrigation
Density of wood in kg/m3, g/cm3, lb/ft3 – the ultimate guide
Wood is a natural resource that comes from trees, and has been used for centuries in a vast amount of different applications from furniture and
6061 Aluminum Properties
It is the 6061 aluminum properties that make it one of the most widely used aluminum alloys, being applied in various fields since 1935. A member
What is a Profilometer and why is it used?
A profilometer is a highly specialised meteorological measurement device that is used for the determination of the roughness of a surface. As a measurement instrument,
Top 10 Most Innovative Products of All Time – what are yours?
You could argue that the world today is full of innovative products which literally changed lives. We see new services and products rolled out on
Solidworks Forum – Top 5 on the Web
Ask any engineer to list a few of the most popular software tools for 3D design creation and modeling, and the answers will most likely
5 ways to be a More Efficient Mechanical Design Engineer
Productivity within the mechanical engineering sector is not the same as that in for example supply chain management or factory production. The design process in
Compression Springs – Types, calculations and more
Compression springs are mechanical devices that are specifically designed to be induced to axial compression loads. They can usually also be extended as well as
Planetary Gears – a masterclass for mechanical engineers
I don’t think there is a mechanical engineer out there who doesn’t have a soft spot for gears. There’s just something about spinning bits of
Types of Gears – a guide to 11 important types you must know
Many people might not be aware but there is a whole range of different types of gears on the market today. Every mechanical engineer must
The 10 Commandments of Mechanical Design
Whether you’re a seasoned engineer or a wet-behind-the-ears novice, there are some immutable laws that must be followed to produce a good mechanical design. If
3 Things You Don’t Know About Aerodynamics
If your answer to the above questions is “NO”, then consider yourself lucky. You are in for a treat today. In this article we will
A Guide to Rebar Sizes – an overview of steel reinforcement bars
Steel reinforcing bar, or rebar, is used to reinforce concrete in building work. It can be a complicated area of construction to navigate if you’re
Viscosity of Water – the Ultimate Guide
Viscosity refers to the amount that a fluid (gas or liquid) resists changing shape. In other words, how much a fluid opposes flow. Therefore, the
Women in ISS & the future of women in space
The International Space Station is perhaps the most visual success in the world of space exploration. It is one of the few locations in space
Gauge Symmetry for Boneheads – a brief explanation of the fundamentals.
Have you ever wondered why gauge symmetry is synonymous with electromagnetism equations? Anytime the topic comes up, it reminds us of Maxwell’s electrodynamics. Gauge field
HydroCAD – review and latest 2018 pricing
As engineers we love to model the world around us and estimate the impact of variables on our design. It is an activity that appeals
Rhino CAD – Review and 2018 Latest Pricing
When deciding whether or not to invest the time and money into learning a new CAD package, the sea of choice is often overwhelming. Making
Why did the Urdaneta Bridge collapse in 1964?
Named after a Venezuelan war hero, the General Rafael Urdaneta Bridge is situated in western Venezuela. It connects Maracaibo with the rest of the country,
