Design Engineering

Replacing 4-Cycle With 6-Cycle Engine

March 13, 2013 9:08 am | by Terry Persun, Technology Journalist | Articles | Comments

In its phase 2 operation, the Kashmerick Engine Systems engine technology is proving its effectiveness and viability for military use, and more. The K6-Cycle System head was designed on a standard CAD system and then uploaded to Midwest Composite Technologies to their direct metal laser-sintering machine, which produced a production quality component using stainless steel.

Volvo V40 Equipped With Pedestrian Air Bag

March 6, 2013 9:44 am | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Many drivers buy Volvo for its safety record, but the Swedish carmaker is also trying to make the road safer for those who haven't bought the car. The hatchback V40 comes with a pedestrian air bag. If the car hits someone while traveling between 20 kph (12 mph) and 50 kph (30 mph), an air bag slips out from where the car hood meets the windshield.

Natural Gas Vehicles Making Inroads

March 6, 2013 9:19 am | by Dee-Ann Durbin, AP Auto Writer | News | Comments

Ford Motor Co. said Tuesday it sold a record 11,600 natural gas vehicles in its 2012 model year, more than triple the number it sold in 2010. It's the latest sign that natural gas is making inroads as a transportation fuel, particularly for truck fleets, buses and taxis. The consumer market is tougher to crack, but sales are gaining there as well.

Innovative Seat Belt Concept Unveiled

March 5, 2013 10:30 am | by PR Newswire | News | Comments

TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. is revealing a new seat belt concept in collaboration with Rinspeed at the Geneva Motor Show, which opened today. Instead of a seat belt buckle and tongue, the technology features a 'webbing catcher' which enables semi-automatic buckling and unbuckling. The system is being introduced on the microMAX commuter vehicle concept designed to travel short distances in urban environments.

Speedometer Top Speed Often Exceeds Reality

February 28, 2013 2:18 pm | by Tom Krisher, AP Auto Writer | News | Comments

The speedometer on the Toyota Yaris says the tiny car can go 140 miles per hour. In reality, the bulbous subcompact's 106-horsepower engine and automatic transmission can't push it any faster than 109. So why do the Yaris — and most other cars sold in the U.S. — have speedometers that show top speeds they can't possibly reach?

Too Big To Fly: Why Engineering Should Stay Small

February 27, 2013 8:00 am | by Chris Fox, Associate Editor, PD&D | Blogs | Comments

Everybody has heard the now-clichéd term, ‘too big to fail’, and all of the negative connotations that are associated with said title. Also, I’m sure most, if not all, of you have heard or read something about the recent problems Boeing is experiencing with the Lithium Ion batteries.

Top Five Benefits Of Additive Manufacturing (You Never Considered)

February 26, 2013 8:08 am | by Hanson, RedEye On Demand | Articles | Comments

Since the introduction of 3D printing (additive manufacturing) in the 1980s, the benefits of producing small quantities of complex parts fast is well understood among manufacturing circles. Despite this, the industry is just beginning to understand exactly how transformative the technology will be to the future of manufacturing.

Boeing To Propose 787 Battery Fix

February 21, 2013 4:24 pm | by Joan Lowy, Joshua Freed, Associated Press | News | Comments

Boeing has developed a plan that it intends to propose to federal regulators to temporarily fix problems with the 787 Dreamliner's batteries that have kept the planes on the ground for more than a month, a congressional official told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

Tour PlanetSolar

February 20, 2013 3:12 pm | by spectrummag | Videos | Comments

PlanetSolar is the first boat to travel around the world on sunlight alone. Christian Ochsenbein, the on-board electrical engineer during the 19-month journey, shows off the yacht's power system. For more information visit http://spectrum.ieee.org.

How 3D Metal Printing May Change Manufacturing

February 14, 2013 9:11 am | by Penn State | Videos | Comments

At a recent additive manufacturing, or 3D printing, showcase at Penn State, engineers demoed some of the latest technology in the field. Hear from experts about how 3D metal printing may change manufacturing in the United States, and what challenges it faces.

‘Good-Bye To All That’

February 13, 2013 8:00 am | by Robert Kozak, Advanced Biofuels USA | Blogs | Comments

For supporters of biofuels and all those who support balanced leadership of all DOE programs, it is a time of good-bye to all that and a hope that the future will be better. To set the stage: Just before Chu’s appearance, Nissan Automotive was on the schedule at the show. The topic? Dropping the price of the electric Leaf by $2,000 to $3,000 to improve sales.

A Rare, Experimental Mustang

February 6, 2013 4:46 pm | by CNN Money | Videos | Comments

This rare 1968 'Green Hornet' Mustang was used as an experimental car to test parts for Shelby performance cars. A new fuel injection system, disk brakes, and rear independent supsension are a few of the things Shelby was testing in this car. The car failed to sell at Barrett-Jackson but bidding went up to $1.8 million.

Michael Dell's Journey To Take Back Dell

February 6, 2013 12:29 pm | by CNN Money | Videos | Comments

Dell decides to go private, the latest move by Michael Dell to take the computer company he founded to new heights. Like all good tech stories, Dell started in a college dorm room where Michael Dell would build computers and sell them directly to his classmates. Here is a look at how Michael Dell built his company.

Air India Still Flying Troubled 787s

February 4, 2013 1:01 pm | by CBS News | Videos | Comments

Air India continued to fly some of its 787 Dreamliner jets after the United States and other countries grounded the fleet as the probe into the aircraft's battery problems continues. Travel editor Peter Greenberg speaks to the "CBS This Morning" co-hosts about why some 787s are still allowed to fly.

Ford, Daimler, Nissan To Research Hydrogen Cars

January 28, 2013 2:04 pm | by Tom Krisher, AP Auto Writer | News | Comments

Ford is joining with Daimler and Renault-Nissan to speed development of cars that run on hydrogen, with hopes of bringing a vehicle to market in as little as four years. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles generate electricity after a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. Hydrogen is stored in special high-pressure tanks, and the only emissions are water vapor and heat.

Plastic Plain Bearing Competition

January 28, 2013 12:03 pm | by igus® | News | Comments

Plastic plain bearing specialist igus® has just launched its manus competition for the sixth time. The last contest, which ran in 2011, received over 300 entries from all over the world. The manus competition seeks innovative and challenging applications that use self-lubricating, maintenance-free polymer bearings to improve technology and reduce costs. Winners will receive cash prizes totaling over 11,000 USD.

Bendable Phones Are Bunk

January 28, 2013 8:00 am | by Chris Fox, Associate Editor, PD&D | Blogs | Comments

The age has come! Phones are now bendable and flexible while containing every nuance of your life. A recent AP story even said, “By showing off a phone with a flexible screen, Samsung is hinting at a day when we might fold up our large phone or tablet screens as if they were maps.” It’s the next revolution in electronics! Who hasn’t been chomping at the bit for this tech?

The Reimagining Of American Muscle

January 23, 2013 4:14 pm | by CBS News | Videos | Comments

In 1963, the newly unveiled Stingray turned the Corvette into something really special, and now the Corvette Stingray is back and in a big way. CBS News' Lee Cowan takes a spin in the new car and talks about this iconic roadster's history.

Is Technology A Job Killer?

January 23, 2013 2:17 pm | by Bernard Condon, AP Business Writer | News | Comments

To workers being pushed out of jobs by today's technology, history has a message: You're not the first. From textile machines to the horseless carriage to email, technology has upended industries and wiped out jobs for centuries. It also has created millions of jobs, though usually not for the people who lost them.

Fiat, Mazda Seal Deal To Build New Roadster

January 18, 2013 2:04 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Fiat and Mazda have signed a final agreement to jointly produce convertible two-seater Alfa Romeo and Mazda sports cars. The Italian and Japanese carmakers said Friday that the roadsters will go into production at Mazda's plant in Hiroshima, Japan, in 2015.

How To Ensure A Motor’s Energy Efficiency

January 15, 2013 8:08 am | by Baldor Electric Company | Articles | Comments

Since the inception of the first industrial electric motors, manufacturers have been developing technology to produce better motors which use the least amount of energy possible. While perhaps increasing the efficiency of electric motors is not a relatively new phenomenon, the last several decades of technological advancements in motors, as well as manufacturing methods, has vastly improved the efficiency of electric motors.

GM, Isuzu To Develop New Pickup Trucks

January 11, 2013 2:10 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Isuzu Motors Ltd. and its former shareholder General Motors Co. said Thursday that they plan to jointly develop new pickup truck models, reviving cooperation with an eye to fast-growing emerging markets. Isuzu and GM issued statements Thursday announcing the cooperation but gave no details.

From Innovation To Commercialization: Closing The Productivity Gap

January 4, 2013 8:02 am | by Michael Doyle, Ph.D., Director of Product Marketing and Principal Scientist, Accelrys | Articles | Comments

Today’s science-driven enterprises are increasingly challenged by a “productivity gap” that exists within the innovation-to-commercialization lifecycle. Errors that slow innovation to a halt are all too common due to disjointed processes, siloed information systems, and a lack of data visibility across the product discovery-design-test-manufacture continuum.

The Plant Of The Future: 3D Printing

December 18, 2012 8:04 am | by Joel Hans, Managing Editor, Manufacturing.net | Articles | Comments

3D printing is a technology that has, for more than a decade, seen inroads mostly in the hobbyist community. It’s expensive and slow, but is capable of producing items that are difficult — if not impossible — to replicate with more traditional processes. Kevin Sullivan, director and global practice lead of the Industrial Practice, Cisco Internet Business Solutions Group (IBSG), says that day will come by the end of this decade.

GM Gives Its Pickups A Much-Needed Makeover

December 13, 2012 10:42 am | by Tom Krisher, AP Auto Writer | News | Comments

General Motors is giving its big pickups a much-needed makeover. The company is unveiling new versions of its top-selling Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra on Thursday. The 2014 models will go on sale by early spring or late summer. The timing is good. The models roll into a market where truck sales are growing after a five-year slump.