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The advantages of a well-made electrical enclosure
Overheating and moisture can shorten the life expectancy of the equipment in need of protection, resulting in major system failures and the possibility of electrical shock to users.
McDonald's to use AI at the drive-thru
McDonald’s will likely get a high-tech makeover following a trial of artificial intelligence (AI) at the drive thru.
The challenges of food-grade lubricants
What are the benefits and challenges associated with food-grade lubricants?
Chinese hot pot restaurant debuts AI-driven kitchen
The robotic arms aren’t only capable of cooking and food prep, they can also manage waste in the kitchen by using ingredients before expiration dates. Likewise, the robotic chefs can store customer preferences in the cloud for future visits.
Boeing 737 Max: As automation proliferates, risk of human error persists
The automated system that played a key role in two fatal Boeing 737 Max crashes, MCAS, was beset by implementation problems, including deficient design rigor, rushed certification and insufficient pilot training.
National Clean Your Virtual Desktop Day: 6 tips to speed up your computer
While multiple factors impact computer speed and responsiveness, today focuses on one that might be overlooked: the number of files and programs saved on the desktop.
Researchers adding recycled mineral wool waste to cement mortar to improve construction sustainability
Researchers from the School of Building at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) have demonstrated that mineral wool from construction and demolition waste (CDW) could potentially be used as an alternative to the reinforced fibers commonly used in building materials.
Factory maintenance checklist
Four principles for keeping a factory running like a well-oiled machine.
Exothermic welding applications
What are some well-known uses for exothermic welding?
Startup turning sawdust into plastic bottles
A tech startup in Ontario, Canada, will soon be paying local sawmills for sawdust to use in the making of plant-based plastic bottles, according to reports.
A basic understanding of spell-checking and grammar-checking algorithms
Simple errors can lead to big engineering disasters. A variety of software tools give engineers an extra layer of security against typos and other errors.
Better welding of aluminum: Melting, solidification and hot cracking
This article is Part 2 of Welding Digest's series on aluminum welding.
Choosing the right amount of flex for abrasive sheets, belts and discs
Coated abrasive products, in the form of sheets, belts and discs, are used in numerous industries and manufacturing operations to remove finishes and materials, or to smooth and polish surfaces.
Cassava-based, biodegradable food wrap boosts strength with canola byproducts
The leftover straw is typically used for little else beyond bedding for soil nutrients, yet contains valuable ingredients such as lignin and cellulose.
New bioplastic food film made from fish scales, red algae
A product design student at the University of Sussex in the U.K. has developed a plastic film wrap alternative that is composed of fish skin, fish scales and red algae.
Human errors in the age of automated manufacturing
Automation is often seen as the path to higher efficiency, better safety and reduced human error. But it can easily give rise to human error.
Manganese hydride material magnifies hydrogen storage
A new material allows hydrogen to be stored four times more efficiently than available technology at a fraction of current costs.
Recycling plastic into bricks to build classrooms in Africa
Plastic from sources such as tires and flip flops will be melted and turned into bricks that are fire- and wind-resistant, waterproof, well-insulated and have a life expectancy of hundreds of years beyond traditional construction materials.
Using a centering microscope for precise workpiece location
Centering microscopes are toolmaker set-up instruments that precisely locate work on a milling machine, lathe, electrical discharge machine, drill and other machine tools as well as coordinate measuring machines for part inspection.
Tolerance rings: eliminating tight assembly tolerances
Tolerance rings are precision mechanical fastening components manufactured out of spring/carbon steel and alloys or stainless strip. They are used to join mating cylindrical components, such as bearings, gears, sprockets and pulleys, and offer an alternative to precise machining tolerances.