The value of learning…then learning some more Welcome to the 2023 edition of Design World’s special Power Transmission Guide. Each year, the motion editors at Design World prepare four special issues devoted to motion control; one surveying the newest trends in the industry, one spotlighting unique motion applications, and two special issues covering the basics…

Mobile equipment continues path toward electrification At the recent IFPE and CONEXPO shows in Las Vegas, there was plenty to see for fans of mobile hydraulic technology. Hydraulics has long been the technology of choice for many off -highway vehicles thanks to its excellent power density. In the past decade, it’s been increasingly married to…

The in-person meeting returns from the brink The COVID-19 pandemic changed so much around our jobs, from how we work to where we work. It brought Zoom into the daily vernacular of the office, and for many of us, that office now bears a striking resemblance to our living room or den, or study. One…

Chips (semiconductor) chips, I dream of you “Chips chips da ti du di du … I dream of you …” skats Italian jazz musician Paolo Conte in his 1981 masterpiece Via con me. This is the manufacturing community’s refrain as international borders threaten to harden into chokepoints for semiconductor-related commerce. In fact, the chip industry…

A new way of thinking One of the most valuable pieces of “real estate” in any magazine is the page facing the inside back cover. Over the years, I’ve known many publications — both trade and consumer — with must-read departments or columns in that sacred space. Many times, they’re on the lighthearted or even…

New all-in-one Zymbit-secured Linux pi compute module for applications operating in zero-trust environments. Zymbit, Inc. brings their new Secure Compute Module (“SCM”), a Raspberry Pi CM4 compatible compute module for professional IoT and edge applications that require a high standard of security with long-term maintainability and cyber resilience. The SCM integrates the industrial grade Raspberry…

When team motivation becomes a dead end Engineering leaders are not immune to that constant management mantra of motivate, motivate, motivate. In fact, some managers I’ve known seem to do little more than try to motivate others, with flowery speeches and too-long-to-read emails ending in statements like “This is going to be THE YEAR!!!” But…

A solid state relay (SSR), is an electronic device that silently switches loads on or off when an external voltage is applied to its control terminals. Their lack of moving parts and silent, quick switching are merely a few of the distinct advantages an SSR has over an electromechanical relay (EMR). Two and three pole…

Providing a better product is the goal of every engineering department. When it comes to rail guides, the key factors that make a great unit included rigidity, accuracy, and damping capability. Each of these features has been available—in varying degrees—in products presently on the market. But, with the idea of providing a better product, we’d…

Leadership in Engineering Any time a manufacturer listens to and partners with its customers, its engineers will design and build the kind of products that can accelerate innovation. Engineers want to solve problems, whether with custom or off -the-shelf solutions — but they want their products to be reliable. After all, no one would build…

A thank you to two impactful editors With the new year always comes change. Here at Design World, we’re bidding adieu to two fantastic editors who are retiring after long and fruitful careers. Leslie Langnau, who served for more than a decade as this publication’s Managing Editor, has truly been my mentor here. She’s covered…

The function of gearing is to mesh with other gear elements to transmit altered torque and rotation. In fact, gearing can change the speed, torque and direction of motion from a drive source. In this eBook, the editors of Design World detail the most common gear types for precision applications — as well as the…

In this issue: Increasing supply to meet demand with 3D printing Partnering with 3D printing helps prosthetics developer create better products, gain workflow efficiencies, meet increasing demand, and shift to titanium 3D printing, all within in 6 months. Going small with 3D printing The scale of sizes that 3D printing machines can handle is impressive,…

STEM, diversity, and today’s manufacturer At the recent Danfoss Distributor Meeting in Orlando, I caught up with Eric Alström, the company’s President. The company is a year removed from the purchase of Eaton’s hydraulic business, and I asked him about some current issues facing manufacturers. One area discussed at the meeting was the importance of…

Before you specify a rotary ball spline, ask the question, “Should the rotary spline nut be riding on angular contact ball bearings or crossed roller bearings?” After ascertaining your application’s requirements – stroke length; velocity; applied load; mounting space; duty cycle; required life; dimensions; installation direction; environment and accuracy – you’re ready to factor in…

No, autonomous vehicles aren’t dead The hot-take artists wasted no time after the recent Argo AI shutdown. This was an unexpected move by Ford and Volkswagen, which were the two largest financial backers of the once-promising autonomous driving startup. But shortly after the news broke, many “experts” already signed the death certificate for the entire…

More on China’s strange future In June, I wrote about the insane-sounding predictions about China’s future and the repercussions they would have for the country’s manufacturing base. If you’ll recall, geopolitical analyst Peter Ziehan said the Chinese population is currently the fastest aging society in human history — and that, combined with a poor Covid-19…

Motion system applications take center stage the calendar year comes to a close, it’s time again for Design World’s annual Motion System Applications special issue. The fourth and final installment of our motion control-focused series, this edition houses a collection of case histories and in-depth looks at myriad real-world application challenges for motion systems. Here,…

Helping the world through engineering Today’s global engineering challenges require collaboration to solve. Engineering is a stepping stone to many opportunities Women don’t have to be perfect in math or science to consider becoming an engineer. Engineering skills can be applied to a range of fields and corporate opportunities. From engineer to author Today’s global…

How COVID continues to drive manufacturing COVID-19 changed so much in the world, from losing loved ones to financial distress for individuals and businesses. It also changed a lot of things in industry — fostered innovation in pharmaceutical and vaccine science, made remote working the norm for many workers, and made Zoom meetings more of…

Goodbye To Used EV Sales? There were some interesting developments at the recent and aptly named Battery Show near Detroit for those who follow battery technology. One in particular came from the Michigan-based Our Next Energy (ONE). The fi rm released details about a 240- Ah prismatic cell battery it has designed and which is…

This downloadable ebook on How to Properly Select a Proximity Sensor, provides a roadmap for people to properly determine which type of proximity sensor they’ll need for their application. Both types of proximity sensors are also available with IO-Link communications, so implementation to the IIoT / Industry 4.0 is fairly seamless. Learn about properly selecting…

NB has the widest selection of miniature linear slide guide’s. The SEBS series has a standard radial clearance that is twice as accurate as the competition’s – for the same price! It perfectly replaces other standard brands. All-stainless models are ideal for high temperature applications. Choose from retainedball (whose elements allow for easier handling since…

Leading and not giving advice Engineers who move up the so-called corporate ladder and become team leaders sometimes struggle with managing other employees. That can be because it was simply not part of their educational experience — or because their organizations are lacking in meaningful internal leadership development programs. One habit that new leaders can…

How Engineering Can Clear The Air Early in the COVID-19 pandemic way back in 2020, we here at Design World did quite a number of stories on companies designing and building ventilators and other medical devices to accommodate the rapid uptick in need in the face of the COVID surge. This was still in the…