PODCASTS

In a recent podcast interview, we got the chance to talk with Jeff Johnson of Beckhoff Automation about linear-motor conveyors (also called intelligent transport systems) as well as the planar-motor system from Beckhoff called the XPlanar. Listen in:  Design World · Planar motors and linear transfer systems in action! Beckhoff engineer Jeff Johnson explains […]

In our most recent Technology Tuesdays podcast, Dave Hein — senior vice president and engineering and chief technology officer at Nexen Group — chatted with us about three brake options that now have Functional Safety certification. Listen in:  Design World · Brakes with Functional Safety certification: Update from Nexen Group engineer Dave Hein According […]

A recent interview with Daniel Lazear, Strategic Application Engineer, at Markforged, covers tips on getting the most out of your additive manufacturing project. Design World · Design tips for metal additive manufacturing Here are a few points from the interview. 1. Increasing yield to same time and money. Yield, in the context of additive manufacturing, […]

Regal Beloit Corporation, a leading manufacturer of electric motors, electrical motion controls, power generation, and power transmission components, announced the launch of its new Community News — On The Air podcast series from its Power Transmission Solutions (PTS) unit. This podcast will share tools, tips, and new innovations to help Regal customers address their challenges…

3D Systems has a long history in the 3D printing/additive manufacturing (3DP/AM), beginning when Chuck Hull developed stereolithography technology. Throughout the years, the company has expanded and adjusted its mission as the 3DP/AM industry has evolved. With the recent appointment in May of Dr. Jeffrey Graves as the new president and CEO, the company will […]

The additive industry is dynamic, with new techniques introduced frequently.  Ethan Escowitz, CEO and founder of Arris Composites, for example, developed a technique called additive molding. This proprietary process combines additive manufacturing and high-volume molding technologies to create composite materials made of continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastics. The technology has broad benefits across many applications and markets, […]

Desktop 3D printers continue to evolve. We take a look at developments in metal desktop systems. Design World · Developments in desktop additive manufacturing   Leslie Langnau, Senior Contributing Editor Desktop 3D printers have evolved into professional systems for engineers, especially those that work with metal-based materials. Notes Jason Meers, Director of Application Engineering for […]

The Covid-19 pandemic brought considerable attention to the 3D printing/additive manufacturing industry. Much of it focused on systems that work with polymer and resin materials. But what about metal additive manufacturing? How has the pandemic affected the metal side of additive manufacturing? Kevin Brigden, additive manufacturing applications engineer at Renishaw, addressed this and other developments […]

Recent events show the need for agility to meet market demands. Dr. Joe DeSimone, executive chairman of Carbon, discussed the unique levels of agility offered by additive manufacturing. Design World · Additive manufacturing meets the need for agility   Here are highlights from the interview. MPF: Will the recent focus on the additive industry’s abilities […]

In today’s episode of Technology Forward, we explore trends in additive manufacturing. I’m speaking with Arjun Aggarwal, VP of business development at Desktop Metal. Desktop Metal uses carbon fiber to make metal 3D printing with a desktop system accessible to all engineers, designers, and manufacturers. Design World · Trends in metal additive manufacturing Here are […]

The additive manufacturing (AM) industry is continuously changing. We asked Justin McCurnin, Vice President of Marketing at Stratasys what trends and developments he sees today. (Stratasys was one of the founders of this industry, and not only have the engineers witnessed a number of developments, they have created many of them as well.) One of […]

The use of 3D printing technology to build devices with embedded electronics has evolved. In the early days, special 3D printers injected dielectric inks onto a layer of a build, creating electronic traces, to build electronic parts. Nano Dimension was the first company to develop such a system, and it continues to evolve the technology. […]

In a recent interview with Jonah Myerberg, co-founder and CTO of Desktop Metal, we explored how metal additive manufacturing, including desktop printers, will affect automotive design and production.   Desktop Metal printers are used in a number of industries, with automotive one of the major ones. Ford and BMW were early adopters of Desktop Metal’s […]

In this edition of the Bearing Tips podcast, Design World editor Mike Santora speaks with CCTY Bearing Company’s Director of North America, Evan Poulakidas. Poulakidas talks about creativity in the design process, inclusivity within the design team, and predictions for the bearing industry in 2020 and beyond. CCTY Bearing Company cctybearing.com

In our latest Executive Edition series, Mary Gannon of Design World chats with Festo Didactic’s CEO Thomas Lichtenberger, about the organizations successful programs to change the manufacturing landscape in the United States. Festo Didactic provides equipment and solutions for technical education for all areas of technology in factory and process automation, such as pneumatics, hydraulics,…

In our latest Technology Tuesdays podcast, Design World’s Mary Gannon speaks with ITT Enidine’s Dan Kowalik, about the company’s entrance into the IoT world with its intelligent shock absorber, the Sentinel 1. A lightly edited transcript of this conversation follows below: Mary Gannon: I’m Mary Gannon and today I’m joined by Dan Kowalik, director of…

Say an engineering team wants to switch their design’s PLC from one model to another — a relatively infrequent but ordinary specification decision. How well do XML files really work for importing and exporting? How much are component manufacturers really motivated to make that work … and not lock engineers onto one specific hardware? Engineers […]

According to some, today’s most demanding motion designs either incorporate a PAC or industrial PC — and these are engineers’ two leading options for machine control right now. Recall that until recently, industrial automation (including motion control) was extremely segmented. So supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems were at the system top layer … […]

No one IEC 61131-3 language leads for all uses. In fact, the best way to program with IEC 61131-3 languages is by using multiple languages together. That accommodates (among other things) the way every engineer has a different methodology for programming. Sequential function chart (SFC): Recall that SFC is the highest-level code standard in IEC […]

A lightly edited transcript follows: Mary: Welcome to Design World’s Executive Edition where we speak with leaders of manufacturers, OEMs and other engineering companies. I’m Mary Gannon. Today I’m joined by Tom Kelly, Executive Director and CEO of Automation Alley. Thanks for being here today, Tom. Tom: Thanks for having me, Mary. Mary: Over the…

[A lightly edited transcript follows …] DW: Welcome to Design World’s executive idea where we speak with leaders of manufacturers, OEMs and other engineering companies. I’m Mary Gannon, senior editor. Today, I’m joined by Nitin Mathur. TE Connectivity’s chief digital and e-business officer. Thanks for being here today, Nitin. With its official launch in September,…

[A lightly edited transcript follows …] DW: I originally met Adam at the Fluid Power Distributor Association’s conference in Lake Tahoe earlier this year, and I thought the company gave some really interesting value propositions from the IoT for companies in the industrial space. Adam, for our audience, can you please describe for us a…

[A lightly edited transcript follows …] DW: I’m Mary Gannon, senior editor with Design World. Welcome to Design World Executive Edition, where we speak with the leaders of manufacturers, OEMs and other engineering companies. Today I’m joined by Steve Gosk, president and CEO of Fischer Connectors. Thanks for being here today, Steve. SG: Thank you,…

        [A lightly edited transcript follows …] DW: Welcome to Design World’s executive edition. I’m Paul Heney, VP and Editorial Director. Today I’m pleased to have Mike Rennie, the General Manager for Adaptall, in Mississauga, Ontario on the podcast with me. Welcome, Mike. MR: Thanks for having me, Paul. DW: Certainly. Well,…

  [A lightly edited transcript follows …] DW: Tell us about how Orange Seal came to be. GK: Orange Seal is a subsidiary of Alaja Hydrolic, a full service supplier down in Trinidad, that’s actually run by my Dad. The name of that company is Hydraulic Components Ltd., and they’ve been in operation for more…