Plastic injection molding, metal casting and metal stamping are age-old processes that form the backbone of manufacturing. Traditionally, there's no better way to mass-produce plastic or metal parts.
Advances in meter-mix technology, process monitoring and bead control are making automated dispensing technology a more viable option for aerospace assembly applications
Adhesives are widely used throughout an aircraft. Jet engines contain structural adhesives, threadlockers, retaining compounds and thread sealants for hydraulic components.
Companies make countless decisions every day. There are micro decisions affecting short-term operations and macro decisions affecting the company's big picture over the long term.
About 2 million electric vehicles were sold worldwide in 2018, a whopping 57 percent increase over 2017, according to consulting firm Research and Markets. Some 69 percent of those were battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and 31 percent were plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs).
Automatic crimping systems may get the glamour, but handheld tools are the perfect choice when the project involves small to medium wire, limited production runs or tight working spaces
To the general public, the term handheld is synonymous with mobility. But, to assemblers of wire harnesses, the term also refers to tools that offer simplicity, reliability and accuracy.
Collaborative robots are an exciting area of growth for automation and manufacturing. A potentially useful and cost-effective automated tool for manufacturing, "cobots" can work safely with people in a shared workspace, enhancing flexibility and reducing risk.
There are good and bad aspects to repetition. On one hand, it's a proven way to learn to expertly perform a task. On the other, it can lead to physical problems like carpal tunnel syndrome, and bad arthritis in the hands, arms, legs and back.
When a customer learns that his car's engine needs to be replaced, the shop mechanic typically mentions three options, new, rebuilt or remanufactured, with the latter two being much less expensive because they contain new and recycled parts.
The appeal of 3D printing is strong and growing among manufacturers in all sectors. For those in the aerospace industry, this technology offers a way to quickly and economically produce lighter parts that reduce airplane mass and fuel consumption.
Raptor Performance in Concord, NC, designs and manufactures custom electronics for racing motorcycles and automobiles. The company's products are not for hobbyists, these are professional-grade parts.
Automotive engineers are intrigued by the numerous benefits of metal additive manufacturing for applications ranging from seat brackets to under-the-hood components.
In April, Ford Motor Co. announced that it would stop selling the Taurus, Fusion, Fiesta and C-Max passenger cars, leaving only the Mustang to be sold in North America.
Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are cutting-edge tools that are becoming increasingly important to engineers for applications ranging from product design to assembly line layout.