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
Blog
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
Vickers Hardness Test: What it is and how it’s measured
How often have you wondered if a material you need for your project is hard enough for its intended purpose? Hardness is a critical property
Basic stress analysis calculations
Mechanical engineers need to be able to calculate things! One of the most important things a mechanical engineer must know are basic stress analysis calculations.
What is a Good Mechanical Design?
When it comes to judging a good mechanical design, there is a fine line between resonating with the artistic aspect and assessing the practical one.
Amazing materials: Transparent Wood
Transparent wood is a type of a composite material that has the potential to revolutionise the fields of construction and the manufacturing of various products. It
Swaging: Rotary and Extrusion
Swaging is a process that belongs to the forging class of manufacturing processes, where the dimensions of the work piece is changed using dies which
5 Tips for Finding a Mechanical Design Job
Job hunting is upon freshly graduating students and people hoping the start of this year will bring them a better position. Here are our top
Understanding the Dzhanibekov Effect
The Dzhanibekov Effect phenomenon, also known as the Tennis Racquet Theorem, is a result in standard mechanics which describes the movement of a rigid object
4 Unique Engineering Materials you have never heard of
Metals, plastic, ceramics, and composites are used by engineers every day. We all know common properties like; metals are strong but heavy, plastics are lighter
Repurposing Space Vehicles With NASA
According to Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk and other tycoons of the aerospace sector, reusability is the next and compulsory technology in the world of spacecraft
INVAR: The amazing super-low thermal expansion alloy you’ve never heard of – that’s been around for over 100 years.
While it is highly likely that many people have never heard of Invar this is an alloy which has been round for more than 100
Auto Tuning Part 2: Suspension Elements
This is a continuation of an earlier article entitled “Auto Tuning Part 1: Fundamentals of Vehicle Dynamics” where we began an in-depth look at the
Makerspaces in Universities
There is no doubt that entrepreneurship and innovation continues to prosper with new ventures and projects emerging on a regular basis. Most people would recognise
6 Extremely Weird 3D Printing Applications
Previously we discussed 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing and how it works in the aerospace industry. In these articles, we learned that some of the benefits
Additive Manufacturing in the Aerospace Industry
You know a trend transitioned from a hobbyist tool and news candy to solid production asset when aeronautics and aerospace officially start using it. Additive
