WEST LAFAYETTE, IN—Oysters build extensive reef communities by cementing to one another early in their lives. Scientists have known they secrete an adhesive for this purpose, but new research shows the glue they make as larvae and the glue they make as juveniles are different substances.
When buying a car, consumers place great importance on the aesthetics and quality of its interior. The dashboard, in particular, must have an attractive look and feel. But it's not just the beauty that matters; it's the quality as well.
With the rise in antibiotic-resistant "superbugs" in hospitals and medical centers, cleanliness and sterilization of medical devices have become a top priority. Cleaning products have become stronger and more aggressive to sanitize devices and prevent the spread of illness between patients.
Taken literally, the terms "accurate dispensing" and "dispensing with accuracy" are not interchangeable. In practice, however, manufacturers and their machine operators know that the words describe the same desired result: Dispensing an exact amount of material, at a specified location, on a repeatable basis
Engineers at BMW are working with the Self-Assembly Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to develop printed inflatable materials that self-transform, adapt and morph from one state to another.
A new research tool helps engineers quickly find the right adhesives for their assembly applications. The searchable Gluespec database from Ellsworth Adhesives was designed by engineers and contains curated, quality-checked data on more than 7,000 liquid adhesives, coatings, sealants and specialty chemicals from more than 70 suppliers.
Medical devices pose a special challenge to designers of parts feeding equipment. Parts for such devices can be tiny, sharp, clingy, floppy, tangly; or some combination of those properties.
From cameras to pacemakers, hybrid race cars to solar-powered ships, capacitors are indispensable in both industrial and everyday life. In electrical systems, they ensure that voltage peaks are smoothed out and fault currents are eliminated.
Picking the right adhesive almost always entails a balancing act as engineers attempt to find products that meet conflicting end-use and manufacturability requirements. Medical device engineers, who also have to contend with a strict regulatory environment, often have the toughest time striking that balance.