Laminar Flow
Laminar flow is a phenomenon observed in flowing fluids that manifests during the study of fluid dynamics. In general, fluid flow can be described in
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How to Get Started with SolidWorks SimulationXpress
One of the best parts about SolidWorks is that you can design just about any product you can imagine. However, it isn’t always clear whether
Kinematic Viscosity
In simplest terms, the viscosity of a fluid is the measurement of its resistance to deformation at a specified rate. For liquids, viscosity directly corresponds
Top 25 Most Famous Bridges in the World
While suspension bridges tend to grab the headlines there are actually seven basic types of bridges. These are beam, truss, cantilever, arch, suspension, cable stayed
Constant force spring: properties and design equations
Constant force springs differ from traditional helically-wound springs. They are made from pre-tensioned, high yield strips of metal (often stainless steel) as opposed to wire.
SolidWorks Student Edition: free and licensed versions overview
Most students don’t have a lot of money to splash around, and unfortunately, students are not eligible for a SolidWorks free trial, as that’s only
CNC Fabrication: 3, 4 and 5-Axis CNC Explained
CNC fabrication involves the use of Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines to shape and resize a block of material (known as a workpiece) by automatically
Selecting your certified Solidworks reseller in the UK
When you finally made your choice between different CAD softwares, and settled on Solidworks, you need to consider which reseller you are going to choose.
Top 5 Hottest Engineering Topics for 2020
These are exciting times to be involved in engineering. The 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR or Industry 4.0 – whichever you prefer) is in full swing.
Top 5 New Year’s Resolutions That Mechanical Designers Never Fulfill
What better time than the New Year to reflect on the ups and downs of the last twelve months? Hopefully, there are many achievements and
Top engineering inventions that save lives
You may have thought about or discussed the question: Which invention has saved the most lives throughout human history? The field of medicine has many
Markforged Metal X price, technology and 3D printing materials
Metal 3D printers have been around for over a decade but have been out of reach for most. With the introduction of the Markforged Metal
Poisson’s Ratio for Boneheads, plus FAQ
Poisson’s ratio is a value that defines the amount of contraction that occurs when something is stretched, or the amount of expansion when an object
How To Strengthen 3D Printed Parts
Additive Manufacturing is gradually gaining inertia throughout the different branches of industry. However, one of the mains obstacles is the endurance and performance the parts
Mollier Diagram – A Basic Guide
Most engineering installations and equipment are subjected to (and designed to withstand) a variety of atmospheric conditions and over a wide range of temperature, pressure,
3D Printing in Surgery
Surgical interventions are now relying more and more on 3D printing to gain a deeper insight into complex operations and devise surgical interventions. All the
What is Parylene coating and when should you use it?
Deciding on the ideal coating for your engineering application is always a very difficult task, you need to decide on chemical, process, mechanical and component
The Venturi Effect explained
The Venturi Effect was discovered by Italian physicist Giovanni Battista Venturi who lived between 1746 and 1822. In practice there were a number of other
Metrology – a mechanical engineer’s guide
The act of measuring has become an important part of our everyday lives. The need to measure and standardise has developed into the science of
HALT Testing (Highly Accelerated Life Testing)
Highly Accelerated Life Testing (HALT) refers to a reliability testing technique that aims to expose the weaknesses of a product. The main objective is to
What is Watt’s law?
In the study of electronics, many laws and theories exist. These laws enable us to understand the workings of electric circuits and components. One such
What do engineers REALLY think about Tesla’s Cybertruck?
This week Tesla unveiled their highly anticipated cyberpunk inspired Cybertruck much to the amusement of the automobile industry experts. Elon Musk presented Cybertruck as a
What is Burnishing and what is it used for?
Burnishing is the process of rubbing metal with a small hard tool, which can be either a ball type or roller type, to compact the
5 of the Most Interesting Updates in Solidworks 2020
Solidworks releases a new version of their software every year without fail. And every year there is an impressive lineup of new and exciting features
What is Electroforming and where is it used?
The best way to describe electroforming is a metal forming process used to manufacture parts using electrolyte deposition onto a model. In the manufacturing industry
What is Thermoforming and what is it used for?
Thermoforming is a plastic manufacturing process where a thermoplastic sheet is deformed into a specific shape. The process starts with the heating of a flat
A Guide to Shot Blasting / Shot Peening
Shot peening (also known as shot blasting) is a surface conditioning process carried out after various manufacturing processes. In simple terms it increases/improves the surface
Magnetic Bearings – The mechanical engineer’s guide
As the name suggests magnetic bearings use magnetic levitation to support the rotating shafts, without directly contacting them, thus there is no friction. As we
What is Parkerizing, how does it work?
Parkerizing is a method used on ferrous metals such as wrought iron, cast iron, steel and alloy steel, offering added protection from corrosion. This process
What is Electropolishing and what is it used for?
Electropolishing is a material removal process using an electrically powered chemical process called electrolysis. In this process the amount of material being removed is very
Metals Used for Surgical Instruments
Out of all the materials available on the earth, only a few satisfy the design and regularity requirements for use in surgical instruments. In this
The Melting Point of Steel Alloys
In simple terms, the melting point of steel for example, is the temperature when it starts to change from a solid state to a liquid.
