22/06/2015
Carbon fibre uses the Henry Ford attitude: ‘You can have any colour, as long as it’s black’. And it’s
here designers and engineers face a challenge. But, is that about to change?
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14/04/2015
In the build up to the launch of the Manufacturing & Engineering North East event in July 2015, we asked John Pullin to look at how the past has influenced the present to make this such a vibrant region for the technology sector.
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01/04/2015
Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) at the University of Warwick has invested in an LDS V8 combo shaker, to support its government-funded research into low carbon mobility.
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12/03/2015
With a load capacity of 650kg and a reach of 2.7m, the Smart NJ 650 has been added to the range of robots available from Comau.
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12/03/2015
An engineering training facility was unveiled, by The JCB Academy and Parker Hannifin, to mark National Apprenticeship Week.
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10/03/2015
If you have the best sailor in the Olympic history, sailing the best boat available, then the long wait for a British victory in the America's Cup will be over. Easier said than done of course
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06/03/2015
The rise of non-standardised materials means the process of qualification has become a daunting and expensive task that’s in danger of suffocating further innovation. Chris Shaw asks, is there an answer?
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06/03/2015
While additive manufacturing continues to be used to produce mould tooling, research is pushing towards production volumes of metal parts, while quirky low volume consumer design applications continue to surface. Andrew Allcock explains.
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06/03/2015
Colin Williamson explains his plea to stop using biodegradable plastic: ‘Please don’t use them, don’t recycle them and don’t tell me how wonderful they are.’
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06/03/2015
Smartphones are being used for evermore varied applications, so protecting the delicate components inside from the elements has become vital. Engineering Materials takes a look at how a membrane technology designed for clothing is now being used to ruggedise electronic devices.
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06/03/2015
Despite being used by many engineers, CFD is far from straightforward. So when someone claims to have made the process easier, it is understandably met with scepticism.
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06/03/2015
Composites and the automotive industry are yet to answer the volume question. So will thermoplastics allow lightweight structures be produced in their millions quickly and at the right price? James Bakewell finds out.
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06/03/2015
As Europe's biggest composites show approaches, we look at the innovations that have been making the headlines.
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13/11/2014
The use of carbon fibre is proliferating throughout industry. But is the supply chain ready to respond to the expected increase in demand? Or is the wonder material about to unravel?
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13/11/2014
It is perhaps one of the most ambitious engineering projects of our time. For the last six years, Bloodhound SSC has been steadily and methodically developed, and it is now coming together ahead of initial test runs earmarked for September next year.
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13/11/2014
It might not have the glamour of carbon fibre, but effective seals and gaskets play a vital role in product reliability and longevity. Yet, like mechanical fasteners, specifying them is often done with little thought. Gaskets and seals are not typically associated with innovation, with the default often being whatever was used last time.
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13/11/2014
The 2010 Nobel Prize catapulted Graphene onto the world stage, and it's since captured the attention of the materials world. No doubt there are extraordinary opportunities.
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13/11/2014
Carbon fibre has taken a leaf out of Henry Ford's book. You can have it in any colour you like, as long as it is black. By its very nature, carbon is black, and consequently as nice as any lacquered finish might look, if you want it in any other colour you have to resort to painting over the surface.
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13/11/2014
This, the aluminium intensive XE, is arguably the most important car that Jaguar has launched in its 92-year history. There have been more iconic, notably the E-Type, but it's fair to say Jaguar's future hinges on this new mid-size saloon poised to take on the might of German rivals like the BMW 3-series, Audi A4 and Mercedes-Benz C-class.
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15/09/2014
Introducing exotic materials into industries where metallic's have ruled is an ongoing challenge for the composites sector. The materials' inherent low-density has always been its best selling point.
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15/09/2014
Next month the Ricoh Arena in Coventry will host the award winning Engineering Design Show, now in its third year.
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15/09/2014
One of the most successful consumer products in recent years is also one of the unlikeliest. Electronic cigarettes provide an alternative for smokers based on inhalation of water vapour instead of toxic smoke. In 2012 alone, UK sales rose dramatically from £2.5million to £23.9million.
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15/09/2014
Everyone remembers holding a piece of magnesium foil over a Bunsen burner and watching it rapidly combust in to a brilliant white flame. It's a powerful demonstration that is etched on the mind, leaving many to automatically equate magnesium with flammability.
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15/09/2014
As raw materials get more expensive and scarce, why not take materials in the existing supply chain, all be it at the end of their life, and use those instead? It's a nice idea as it cuts down on the amount of material that has to be sent to landfill and can make the lifecycle of materials much more sustainable and economical.
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15/09/2014
An unfortunate dichotomy is emerging from breakthroughs in 21st Century medicine. With better medical treatment people are living longer, but with an aging population comes an increase in failing organs. Coupled with unprecedented population growth, the shortage of donor organs is in a critical state.
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