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
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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
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 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
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.
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
Types of Bridges. The 7 Main Types
What are the 7 main types of bridges? What are the 5 main types of bridges? Which type of bridge is strongest? What 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
Wrought iron vs cast iron: A comparative analysis
Iron is one of the most alloyed elements on earth. It combines with various elements to form numerous materials. These materials all have different desirable
World’s Longest | Danyang Kunshan Grand Bridge
It is safe to say that the Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge is a marvel of modern day bridge engineering. It is 164.8 km (more than 100
9 cool things to 3D print right now!
Looking for some cool things to 3D print? If you’re a maker or tinkerer of any kind, then it’s highly likely you have a 3D
SolidWorks vs Solid Edge – which is best?
The amount of CAD packages available is overwhelming and it is often a painful exercise to decide which is best. This article will compare two
Revit 2019 – latest pricing and review
Revit is multipurpose Building Information Modelling (BIM) software created for architectural, structural engineering, construction, landscape and MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering) designs. Currently, it’s
Introduction to hydraulic actuators
The modern day hydraulic system has a very close resemblance to the human body. The heart does the work of a pump by pumping blood
Needle Valves – function and selection criteria
Needle valves are used to accurately control flow rate. They are also suitable as reliable shut off valves. Common sizes are from 1/8” up to
Manometer types and working principle
What does a manometer measure? A manometer gauge is an extremely basic but very effective device which is used to measure pressure. In the majority
Boston Dynamics: From Google to Softbank
While R&D divisions often provide the most exciting news, several don’t survive a purge or a pivot in their missions. Once the big engineering programs
Taylor Functions – explanation and software tools
The Taylor Functions are series of sum terms that concern the values of the derivatives of a given function at a given point, so they
Machine Learning in Mechanical Design Engineering
Machine learning has become a pioneering field of research in recent years. Since 2014, many big companies have invested in large data/machine learning departments complemented
Circular sawing – process description and design guide
Circular sawing involves the use of a rotating cutting blade that can be fed horizontally, vertically, or at an angle into the material. Circular sawing
Bandsawing – process description and design guide
Bandsawing: As per the name of the process, the saw is formed as a band and is continuously cycled in one direction around pulley wheels.
Durometer Hardness Testing Explained
Hardness generally refers to the resistance of a material to scratching or indentation, and a qualitative measure of the strength of the material. The most
