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Daily industrial news and top headlines for plant and maintenance managers
The Beauty Of The Printing Press
April 26, 2011 7:10 am | VideosField Notes produces a number of high-quality notebooks for writers, journalists, and artist, but what’s probably more interesting to you all is the way these books are made. Their contracted printers, Freeport Press and Flywheel Letterpress , show off some of the machinery that’s used in the production.
Hurling Bricks At Mach 5
April 25, 2011 5:18 am | VideosGeneral Atomics has been testing a new railgun that can hurl "hypersonic bricks" at Mach 5 (roughly 3,800mph). Their new projectile, outfitted with a sabot , can travel 4.34 miles downrange — with the gun pointed completely parallel with the ground — even after punching through a steel plate.
How An Hourglass Is Made
April 22, 2011 9:57 am | VideosMarc Newson, director of this short film, says, “Each hand-made hourglass comprises highly durable borosilicate glass and millions of stainless steel nanoballs, and is available in a 10- or 60-minute timer.” The only thing more stunning than the filming of the process is the incredible craftsmanship that goes into each product.
Would You Stick Tweezers In This Power Strip?
April 19, 2011 7:59 am | VideosProducts don't always perform as advertised. In some cases, that's a major concern. The $70 Wet Circuits 4-outlet power strip claims it is resistant to water and you can stick tweezers into the sockets without electrocuting yourself to death. Techland's Doug Aamoth put those claims to the test.
Unlocking A Locked-In Artist
April 19, 2011 7:54 am | VideosThe inventor Mark Ebeling showcases his collaborative creation, the EyeWriter . The project began to help paralyzed graffiti artist, TEMPT, create art again, and developed into an open-source project that anyone can help improve. Better yet, anyone can make one of the devices, giving other paralyzed patients an incredibly affordable and versatile option for communicating with the rest of the world.
Get A Checkmate With CNC
April 19, 2011 7:51 am | VideosI know many of you are familiar with CNC milling — perhaps you even do your fair share during the work day — but it's hard not to appreciate the incredible complexity, not to mention the engineering, that goes into these processes. According to Glacern Machine Tools, the process involves turning out of a 2.
Deleting CDs With Electrocution
April 19, 2011 7:47 am | VideosNeed to delete the information from some CDs? You’d be hard-pressed to find a more over-the-top (or cool-looking) way to get the job done. If you’re having trouble watching this video, try downloading the latest version of Flash Player or contacting your IT department.
Saving Lives By Cutting Out Drivers
April 13, 2011 9:18 am | VideosSebastain Thrun helped build Google’s driverless car, which can navigate through almost any real-life driving scenario, all without any human interaction. At the end of the day, the project isn’t about the technology itself, but rather what it can do for everyone on the road. As Thrun explains, the benefits for machine-controlled motoring are numerous, if done correctly.
Robots Master The Art Of Flying
April 13, 2011 6:55 am | VideosThe SmartBird — a development from Festo, a manufacturer and developer of automation technology for industrial markets — is an ultralight, robotic replica of a bird, down to the subtle motions that make natural flight possible. The bird can take off, fly, and land autonomousy thanks to wings that beat just like a real bird's.
Manufacturing A 'Better' Putter
April 13, 2011 6:47 am | VideosRobert Bettinardi takes us inside his manufacturing facility, where his company makes sophisticated milled putters from solid blocks of carbon steel. Some of you golfers might take offense to some of what Mr. Bettinardi says in regards to his own product versus the traditional putter, but it's not difficult to appreciate the engineering and dedication put into the manufacturing process itself.
The Science Of Space Debris
April 13, 2011 6:46 am | VideosHolger Krag, a space debris analyst for the European Space Agency, explains how a piece of space debris — even as small as a cherry — will strike a manned craft or a satellite with the force of a hand grenade. With so much at stake, how do we protect our astronauts from being pelted by the 16,000 bits of junk soaring through Earth's orbit? If you’re having trouble watching this video, try downloading the latest version of Flash Player or contacting your IT department.
Surgical Robots Fold Tiny Paper Airplanes
April 6, 2011 7:38 am | VideosDr. James Porter, the medical director of robotic surgery at Swedish hospital in Seattle, has used their da Vinci surgical robot for a little after-hours challenge: folding a tiny paper airplane with the incredible precision and dexterity the system provides. One can only imagine the possibilities if this sort of technology finds its way into manufacturing someday.
A Cruelly Effective Alarm Clock
April 6, 2011 7:36 am | VideosMost of us don't like waking up in the morning, but an alarm clock (or two) is enough to get us out of bed and to work in time. YouTube user stampmaille , on the other hand, is a pretty deep sleeper. Luckily, he has the technical prowess to build himself the world's most brutal alarm clock, which includes some air compressors and one big air cylinder.
The New Global Economy
April 6, 2011 7:27 am | VideosThe recession is over and economies across the globe are awakening to a new reality: The recoveries are uneven, and the United States isn't the fastest growing economy. In the past, countries like China and India have come to depend on the U.S. and other Western economies for growth. Not anymore. If you’re having trouble watching this video, try downloading the latest version of Flash Player or contacting your IT department.
Building A Better, Stronger Mankind
April 6, 2011 7:23 am | VideosEythor Bender, the CEO of Berkeley Bionics , has been working hard on exoskeletons, which attempt to fuse the boundaries between humans and robots, in order to supplement users' natural abilities. The HULC allows soldiers to carry more gear into battle without experiencing chronic back injuries, while the eLEGS could serve both regular Americans and wounded veterans.
