Lightweighting is the No. 1 challenge facing automotive engineers today. Manufacturers are scrambling to build vehicles that contain a variety of weight-saving materials, such as aluminum, carbon-fiber composites, high-strength steel, magnesium and plastic.
Whether it is text, numbers, bar codes or even just a pattern to aid identification, producing clear, accurate and long-lasting marks on wire and cable is becoming increasingly important.
Taking tests and waiting with hope for positive results is a stressful activity that most people perform only when absolutely necessary. For wire-harness assemblers, it’s a daily challenge.
At a recent Fabtech convention, many visitors to our booth told us the same thing: “We’d really like a large fan in our facility, but we can’t—we weld.”
The door hinge is among the world’s most widely used devices. This common piece of hardware may seem simple, at first glance, but in fact, hinges offer a sophisticated range of functionality that design engineers can use to improve the operation of their assemblies.
Many important considerations in bolted joint development are often overlooked. While estimating the bolt tension achieved for a given tightening strategy is certainly a common focus, the effect of load on joint components is less fully discussed and understood.
Of all the things that conveyors have moved the past 222 years, none is more iconic than the small chocolate candies that overwhelmed Lucille Ball and Vivian Vance working on the assembly line in September 1952.
An international team of physicians and medical device engineers made medical history in October 2015 when they successfully designed, manufactured and implanted a titanium sternum and rib cage in a person for the first time.
In my December column, I discussed how total cost of ownership (TCO) can reveal the hidden costs of offshoring and determine the real profit and loss impact of reshoring and offshoring.
Pharmaceutical OEMs and their suppliers know all about the concept of ‘Japan quality’ products. This phrase refers to packaged pharmaceuticals that are flawless in appearance.
Every day, fastener suppliers preach an important message to manufacturers: Fasteners that hold together a product are critical to its functionality, design, durability and end-user satisfaction. Sometimes, this advice hits home.