CNC Fabrication: 3, 4 and 5-Axis CNC Explained
CNC fabrication involves the use of Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines to shape and resize a block of material (known as a workpiece) by automatically
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Selecting your certified Solidworks reseller in the UK
When you finally made your choice between different CAD softwares, and settled on Solidworks, you need to consider which reseller you are going to choose.
Top 5 Hottest Engineering Topics for 2020
These are exciting times to be involved in engineering. The 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR or Industry 4.0 – whichever you prefer) is in full swing.
Top 5 New Year’s Resolutions That Mechanical Designers Never Fulfill
What better time than the New Year to reflect on the ups and downs of the last twelve months? Hopefully, there are many achievements and
Top engineering inventions that save lives
You may have thought about or discussed the question: Which invention has saved the most lives throughout human history? The field of medicine has many
Markforged Metal X price, technology and 3D printing materials
Metal 3D printers have been around for over a decade but have been out of reach for most. With the introduction of the Markforged Metal
Poisson’s Ratio for Boneheads, plus FAQ
Poisson’s ratio is a value that defines the amount of contraction that occurs when something is stretched, or the amount of expansion when an object
How To Strengthen 3D Printed Parts
Additive Manufacturing is gradually gaining inertia throughout the different branches of industry. However, one of the mains obstacles is the endurance and performance the parts
Mollier Diagram – A Basic Guide
Most engineering installations and equipment are subjected to (and designed to withstand) a variety of atmospheric conditions and over a wide range of temperature, pressure,
3D Printing in Surgery
Surgical interventions are now relying more and more on 3D printing to gain a deeper insight into complex operations and devise surgical interventions. All the
What is Parylene coating and when should you use it?
Deciding on the ideal coating for your engineering application is always a very difficult task, you need to decide on chemical, process, mechanical and component
The Venturi Effect explained
The Venturi Effect was discovered by Italian physicist Giovanni Battista Venturi who lived between 1746 and 1822. In practice there were a number of other
Metrology – a mechanical engineer’s guide
The act of measuring has become an important part of our everyday lives. The need to measure and standardise has developed into the science of
HALT Testing (Highly Accelerated Life Testing)
Highly Accelerated Life Testing (HALT) refers to a reliability testing technique that aims to expose the weaknesses of a product. The main objective is to
What is Watt’s law?
In the study of electronics, many laws and theories exist. These laws enable us to understand the workings of electric circuits and components. One such
What do engineers REALLY think about Tesla’s Cybertruck?
This week Tesla unveiled their highly anticipated cyberpunk inspired Cybertruck much to the amusement of the automobile industry experts. Elon Musk presented Cybertruck as a
What is Burnishing and what is it used for?
Burnishing is the process of rubbing metal with a small hard tool, which can be either a ball type or roller type, to compact the
5 of the Most Interesting Updates in Solidworks 2020
Solidworks releases a new version of their software every year without fail. And every year there is an impressive lineup of new and exciting features
What is Electroforming and where is it used?
The best way to describe electroforming is a metal forming process used to manufacture parts using electrolyte deposition onto a model. In the manufacturing industry
What is Thermoforming and what is it used for?
Thermoforming is a plastic manufacturing process where a thermoplastic sheet is deformed into a specific shape. The process starts with the heating of a flat
A Guide to Shot Blasting / Shot Peening
Shot peening (also known as shot blasting) is a surface conditioning process carried out after various manufacturing processes. In simple terms it increases/improves the surface
Magnetic Bearings – The mechanical engineer’s guide
As the name suggests magnetic bearings use magnetic levitation to support the rotating shafts, without directly contacting them, thus there is no friction. As we
What is Parkerizing, how does it work?
Parkerizing is a method used on ferrous metals such as wrought iron, cast iron, steel and alloy steel, offering added protection from corrosion. This process
What is Electropolishing and what is it used for?
Electropolishing is a material removal process using an electrically powered chemical process called electrolysis. In this process the amount of material being removed is very
Metals Used for Surgical Instruments
Out of all the materials available on the earth, only a few satisfy the design and regularity requirements for use in surgical instruments. In this
The Melting Point of Steel Alloys
In simple terms, the melting point of steel for example, is the temperature when it starts to change from a solid state to a liquid.
Tap Drill Chart – inch and metric
Taps are cutting tools used by machinists to cut or form screw threads. The first recorded use of taps in metalworking is placed sometime in
Main Parts of an Airplane and their Functions
Although aircrafts have evolved a lot since the WWI, the major components of an aircraft have remained same. The location, size and type of the
Introduction to Hydraulic Pumps
Hydraulic pumps are omnipresent and used in applications ranging from mud pumping (drilling site) to movement of the antenna in space stations. They convert the
The 7 Types of Bridges
There are many different types of bridges although typically their structures can be traced back to one of the seven main types. It is the
Top 5 Engineering Websites
To be a successful and well-informed engineer, it’s not enough to just have an engineering degree anymore. You need to be constantly aware of new
3D Printing with Metal Powders
Metal additive manufacturing (AM) has been steadily gaining traction in the manufacturing industry. At present, there is a big focus on advanced aerospace, medical and
