I’m going to veer off the normal engineering focus of this column for a month to dabble in a scientific field that’s close to my heart: astronomy. We’re a month out from this year’s big heavenly spectacle in the U.S., the total solar eclipse on April 8th. This eclipse will sweep across the country from…
Emerson switching things up for Hannover Messe 2024
Emerson is changing some things up for this year’s Hannover Messe trade fair, scheduled for April 22-26 in northern Germany. The engineering and automation company is moving to Hall 11, known as the Automation, Motion & Drives area, to better represent its vast product and solution range. Last year, Emerson invited attendees to see how…
Beckhoff looking to AI advancements at Hannover Messe
At the official Press Preview for the 2024 Hannover Messe tradeshow this week, Dr. Fabian Bause, Product Manager, Beckhoff Automation GmbH & Co. KG was the keynote speaker, discussing how AI in automation is something that will affect the entire manufacturing process. Bause noted that AI is simply a tool that can be used to…
Technical thinking: We still don’t know everything about ice
I recently saw my first icicle of the year. It was a small, wiggly thing. I know why thanks to some of the ice-related discoveries of the past year. Written by Mark Jones In an example of curiosity driven research, the observation that icicles aren’t perfect cones led researchers to ask why. No one had…
Hannover Messe focusing on AI’s impact for 2024 trade fair
This year’s Hannover Messe trade fair (said to be the world’s largest industrial trade show) takes place from April 22-26 in this northern German city, and some may say the outlook for manufacturing is uncertain. For sure, in his opening remarks, Dr. Jochen Köckler, Chairperson of the Managing Board, Deutsche Messe AG listed many reasons…
Technical thinking: Use AI — but with care
By Mark Jones ChatGPT can write code. All who have written code likely thought it required human creativity. It can now be done by a computer. I’ve played with ChatGPT. I’m growing less impressed. ChatGPT is not creating code; it is copying code. It simply regurgitates what it finds on the internet. It turns out,…
Hannover Messe cooperating with German Robotics Assoc.
At this year’s Hannover Messe industrial trade show in Germany, visitors will be able to experience the Application Park in Hall 5, which has a strong partner in the German Robotics Association (DRV). The DRV has made it a mission to promote and foster the use of robotics in Germany. Given the shortage of skilled…
Thinking outside the bus
I love learning about engineering colleagues who are innovating in new ways — people who are rethinking problems that seem to be up against the proverbial brick wall. Take the current issues with renewable energy. While strides have been made in many areas of solar and wind, the daily (or hourly) variability of these technologies…
Technical Thinking: The long road to Lego sustainability
By Mark Jones Many readers of Design World will likely recall gifts of Lego, and maybe some of them will be giving Lego (curiously, a word that is both singular and plural) this season. Lego bricks, as we know them today, came on the market in 1958. Other shapes have been added. Electronic controls have…
Reshoring manufacturing — and the Texas-Mexico connection
JCB recently announced that it will build a new factory in North America, creating 1,500 new jobs over the next five years. The British company is a global manufacturer of construction equipment and also builds machinery for the agricultural and waste-handling industries. JCB said this new facility will manufacture machines mostly for North American customers.…
EFC International launches Power BI, linked to SAP and CRM
Engineered fastener and components distributor, EFC International, continues to “Redefine the World of Distribution”, exhibited in part by the company’s recent implementation of Power BI (from Microsoft). Power BI is linked to their internal SAP operating system and CRM software. EFC has been at the leading edge of the industrial distribution industry, embracing and implementing…
How do you minimize air bubbles in a two-part epoxy?
Many two-part epoxies can be mixed by hand in small batches. A hardener is typically added to the epoxy resin, then the two are stirred with a utensil in a mixing vessel. Complete mixing may take several minutes. Pot life varies from minutes to hours, and mixtures may require additional mixing after a period of…
What are U-clips?
By Dr. Jody Muelaner U-clips are an easy-to-assemble mechanical fastener. They are normally formed from a single strip of sprung steel, bent into a ‘U’ shape to form two legs. These legs often have lead lips so that they can be easily pushed over panels and sheet components, causing the legs to open outwards. The…
What are spacers?
By Dr. Jody Muelaner A spacer is used to increase the distance between parts being fastened. Spacers are often a length of tube through which a fastener is inserted; a short spacer may therefore resemble a thick washer. Washers are sometimes used as small spacers. Spacers are similar to standoffs, but standoffs include a threaded…
Why understanding fasteners is more important today than ever
By John Wachman, Managing Director, Fastener Training Institute Unfortunately, most of the details of how components are assembled is an afterthought. This can be a mistake and add to the complexity and cost of finished products. Design for manufacture is not a new concept, but reliable current information about fasteners is not only important but…
Company profile: Kanebridge Corp.
We recently spoke with Vic LaPoma, Marketing Manager for Oakland-N.J. based Kanebridge Corp. about the company’s history, capabilities and outlook. LaPoma said that that company was incorporated 1975 and has two owners. Kanebridge, a master distributor, sells to distributors only and has three locations in the United States: New Jersey, Illinois, and California. “We carry…
What’s a thread repair kit?
By Dr. Jody Muelaner Thread repair kids allow damaged threads in a hole to be removed and replaced with new threads of the same size. They may also be used to provide strong threads in soft materials such as aluminum. A thread repair kit consists of a tapping tool, an insertion tool and some thread…
What are studs?
By Dr. Jody Muelaner A stud is essentially just a piece of threaded bar. This often resembles a machine screw without a head, although some studs to have heads that get permanently incorporated into the part they are attached to. Studs are often designed to be permanently attached to one part, proving a means of…
What is a universal joint?
By Dr. Jody Muelaner A universal joint is a connection between two objects, typically shafts, that allows relative rotation in two axes. It is made up of two revolute joints with perpendicular and intersecting axes. When shafts are connected using a universal joint, each shaft terminates in a revolute joint with its axis perpendicular to…
What is explosion welding?
Explosion welding, also called explosive cladding, joins two metals together by an explosive force. It is often used to join dissimilar metals that have a significant difference in mechanical properties, thermal expansion coefficients, or melting temperatures — such as a low-cost metal to a more expensive corrosion-resistant metal. Some of the common clad layers deposited…
Looking out for the industry — and toward the new generation
Chat with Frank Devito of Solution Industries for even a few minutes, and you’re a believer in the fastener industry. His energy and enthusiasm — not to mention his knowledge — are sure to draw you in. Middleburg Heights, Ohio-based Solution Industries has been around for 15 years under its current name. Devito explained that…
The birth of a new brand — Fastener Engineering
In my almost-nine years of being here at WTWH Media, I’ve had the pleasure to be involved in numerous new publication launches. When the company began in 2006, Design World was the sole print publication and its website was the only one under the corporate umbrella. But as the years ticked by, our corporate management…
What are handles?
By Dr. Jody Muelaner There are many types of handles, but they are all designed to transmit a force between a person’s hand and an object. Handles are installed on many types of tools, packages, furniture and machinery. Buildings and vehicles may also be fitted with safety handles which a person can hold to prevent themself…
What is a pin joint?
By Dr. Jody Muelaner A pin joint is a connection between two objects that allows only relative rotation about a single axis. All translations as well as rotations about any other axis are prevented — the joint therefore has one degree of freedom (1-DOF). A pin joint is formally called a revolute joint in kinematics…
Amada Miyachi America announces series of spot welding power supplies
Amada Miyachi America Inc. has announced that it offers complete local product and sales support for the DC1013-T and DC613-T Series of linear DC resistance spot welding power supplies, manufactured by sister company, MacGregor. Typically used in aerospace, medical, and electronic assembly applications, DC1013-T and DC613-T units are suitable for butt welding fuses, welding components…