Traditionally, consumers use mechanical buttons, knobs, dials, sliders and switches to adjust time, temperature and other settings on household appliances. However, engineers have been experimenting with a wide variety of touch-sensitive interface technologies that make appliances easier to use and more aesthetically pleasing to look at. The new displays and controls found in refrigerators, dishwashers, ovens, microwaves, coffee makers, washing machines and other products are inspired by the consumer electronics industry.
Demand for composite materials is growing rapidly, as manufacturers in many industries scramble to find new ways to reduce weight, eliminate corrosion and enhance durability. Composites have high strength-to-weight ratios that often exceed steel and aluminum, which promotes weight savings. In addition, composite materials are dimensionally stable, provide design flexibility and create part consolidation opportunities for engineers.
Make no mistake about it, error-proofing the fastening process continues to be extremely important for assemblers. The reason is simple: People make mistakes when installing fasteners. Here are some best practices for the fastening workstation.
HVHC Inc. is the parent company of Eye Care Centers of America Inc. To meet Eye Care Centers’ need for product, HVHC opened a new plant in
Schertz, TX. However, one problem remained: several
smaller-volume material-handling applications were being addressed by
people pushing carts between multiple locations.
La Marche Manufacturing has
overcome the limitations related to just-in-time delivery by using Millennium III, an enterprise resource
planning software system with several
modules that tracks the entire manufacturing process from
start to finish.
Advanced Coating
Technologies plays a crucial role in the performance of Pratt & Whitney jet
engines for commercial and military aircraft. Its thermal burner coatings
provide essential heat resistance to the burner section of the
engines. Recently, ACT expanded its capabilities.
Containing hydrogen
sulfide, sour crude oil is a sulfurous mixture that corrodes the iron in the
carbon steel pipe that extracts the oil. ARC Specialties Inc., a custom automated and robotic equipment manufacturer in
Houston, has developed the KLADARC TriPulse hot-wire gas tungsten arc welding cladding machine, which controls this corrosion.
The ceiling of a vehicle
has become an information hub, containing everything from DVD players and
televisions to navigation and communications devices.This reality has been a challenge for Covert Manufacturing, which builds
machines and fixtures to assemble headliners for the automotive, heavy truck
and aircraft industries. Covert‘s customers require the machines to have precise controls and sensors in
the assembly fixture, without increasing the size of the control panel.
RSS
