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
Blog
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,
How much does Abaqus cost? Your 2018 guide to Abaqus pricing
As engineering designs increase in complexity we rely more and more on finite element analysis (FEA) packages to solve the problems encountered in these designs.
Riccardo Morandi – Profile of a revolutionary bridge designer
Born on 1 September 1902, Riccardo Morandi is very much in the news even though he passed away on 25 December 1989. Renowned as a
Genoa Bridge collapse 2018 – how did it happen, could it have been avoided?
On 14th August 2018 the Morandi Bridge (Ponte Morandi) in Genoa collapsed with initial fears that more than 30 people lost their lives. As you
What is the best ERP software for plastic injection moulding products?
Injection moulding seems like it would be a straightforward process. Simply insert the plastic pellets into the hopper, inject the molten material into a mould,
The 7 Deadly Sins of Mechanical Design
Have you got your tablet of stone and hammer and chisel at the ready? Ok, so these are the 7 deadly sins, not the 10
2-Way Manual Ball Valve – Basic Principles
A ball valve is a quarter turn valve that can control the flow of a gas or liquid through a hollow pivoting ball, as seen
Material Selection in the Digital Age
Too much choice can be paralysing. Just think if you went to a shop to pick up some glue and there were thousands of different
What Can On-Demand Manufacturing Do For You?
While the term “on-demand manufacturing” may seem fairly broad it has actually revolutionised the way in which small, medium and large sized companies are able
What Caused the Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster: In Detail
The Chernobyl accident was a nuclear explosion which took place at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the city of Pripyat during the time of
CNC prototyping: 5 things you need to know
Computer Aided Design (CAD) was seen by many as a turning point in the world of business but now we have Computerised Numerical Control (CNC).
5 Engineering Materials You Must NEVER Use
Are you an engineer in the industrial or commercial sector? If you are part of the design team, you must know that selecting the best
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
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
