55 types of hammers – the ultimate guide (updated for 2018)
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
Category: General articles
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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.
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
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
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?
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
Going Back to the Classroom: How hard can it be?
So you have decided to go back to university (going back to the classroom), get a proper Bachelor, a Masters or enroll in a PhD
Makerspace: Center of Medical Innovation
We previously spoke about the subject of Makerspace and the objectives, visions and way in which it can create inspiring workplaces. The ability to bring
Going Back to the Classroom: Why?
Whether you’re intending to go back to university (or going back to the classroom as some would describe it) at some point in your professional
Suborbital Flying with Blue Origin
We have to say that 100 km above the Earth isn’t exactly what you find on vacation brochures and going at Mach 3 beyond the
What is Microtomography?
Heterogeneous materials are gaining more popularity in use for manufacturing high-tech parts. This means that analyses and certifications need to be conducted and will therefore
Bridges of Communication : Bringing Science to the Public
As news about the Paris agreement starts to filter through the system, the controversial stand of a significant portion of the population over climate change
The Threat of Space Junk
Since the 60s, the majority of satellites launched into space have successfully fulfilled their tasks with new technology improving the services which they offer. Unfortunately
The Future of Cars: Flying or Self-Driving
Now that cars have become affordable and filled with options, several issues has arisen with regards to the vulgarization of the automotive technology. How do
Amazing Design – Primitive Tools vs New Tech
When thinking about what makes an amazing design, a fun thought experiment is to compare the design of products to the natural evolution of different
5 Top Places for Mechanical Engineering Academic Research
It may not be common knowledge but almost all research and scientific progress takes place in universities around the world. While universities are obviously associated
