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Engineer's Toolbox: How to design the optimum hinge

Although many pin styles are available, Coiled Spring Pins are particularly well suited for use in both friction- and free-fit hinges. To achieve optimum long-term hinge performance, designers should observe these helpful design guidelines from SPIROL.
Read the full article.

Innovative new robo welding gun

Comau's newest N-WG welding gun is designed for high-speed spot welding for traditional, hybrid, and electric vehicles, in addition to general industry sectors. It features a patented, single-body architecture that enables rapid reconfiguration between welding types and forces, and it delivers consistent performance across a broad range of applications, including steel and (soon) aluminum welding. It supports both X and C standard gun configurations, has fast arm exchange, and universal mounting options. It is fully compatible with major robot brands and represents a significant advancement in spot welding performance and cost efficiency.
Learn more.

What's a SLIC Pin^®? Pin and cotter all in one!

The SLIC Pin (Self-Locking Implanted Cotter Pin) from Pivot Point is a pin and cotter all in one. This one-piece locking clevis pin is cost saving, fast, and secure. It functions as a quick locking pin wherever you need a fast-lock function. It features a spring-loaded plunger that functions as an easy insertion ramp. This revolutionary fastening pin is very popular and used successfully in a wide range of applications.
Learn more.

Engineering challenge: Which 3D-printed parts will fade?

How does prolonged exposure to intense UV light impact 3D-printed plastics? Will they fade? This is what Xometry's Director of Application Engineering, Greg Paulsen, set to find out. In this video, Paulsen performs comprehensive tests on samples manufactured using various additive processes, including FDM, SLS, SLA, PolyJet, DLS, and LSPc, to determine their UV resistance. Very informative. Some results may surprise you.
View the video.

Copper filament for 3D printing

Virtual Foundry, the company that brought us 3D-printable lunar regolith simulant, says its popular Copper Filamet™ (not a typo) is "back in stock and ready for your next project." This material is compatible with any open-architecture FDM/FFF 3D printer. After sintering, final parts are 100% pure copper. Also available as pellets. The company says this is one of the easiest materials to print and sinter. New Porcelain Filamet™ available too.
Learn more and get all the specs.

Copper foam -- so many advantages

Copper foam from Goodfellow combines the outstanding thermal conductivity of copper with the structural benefits of a metal foam. These features are of particular interest to design engineers working in the fields of medical products and devices, defense systems and manned flight, power generation, and the manufacture of semiconductor devices. This product has a true skeletal structure with no voids, inclusions, or entrapments. A perennial favorite of Designfax readers.
Learn more.

Full-color 3D-printing Design Guide from Xometry

With Xometry's PolyJet 3D-printing service, you can order full-color 3D prints easily. Their no-cost design guide will help you learn about different aspects of 3D printing colorful parts, how to create and add color to your models, and best practices to keep in mind when printing in full color. Learn how to take full advantage of the 600,000 unique colors available in this flexible additive process.
Get the Xometry guide.

Tech Tip: How to create high-quality STL files for 3D prints

Have you ever 3D printed a part that had flat spots or faceted surfaces where smooth curves were supposed to be? You are not alone, and it's not your 3D printer's fault. According to Markforged, the culprit is likely a lack of resolution in the STL file used to create the part.
Read this detailed and informative Markforged blog.

Test your knowledge: High-temp adhesives

Put your knowledge to the test by trying to answer these key questions on how to choose the right high-temperature-resistant adhesive. The technical experts from Master Bond cover critical information necessary for the selection process, including questions on glass transition temperature and service temperature range. Some of the answers may surprise even the savviest of engineers.
Take the quiz.

Engineer's Toolbox: How to pin a shaft and hub assembly properly

One of the primary benefits of using a coiled spring pin to affix a hub or gear to a shaft is the coiled pin's ability to prevent hole damage. Another is the coiled pin absorbs wider hole tolerances than any other press-fit pin. This translates to lower total manufacturing costs of the assembly. However, there are a few design guidelines that must be adhered to in order to achieve the maximum strength of the pinned system and prevent damage to the assembly.
Read this very informative SPIROL article.

What's new in Creo Parametric 11.0?

Creo Parametric 11.0 is packed with productivity-enhancing updates, and sometimes the smallest changes make the biggest impact in your daily workflows. Mark Potrzebowski, Technical Training Engineer, Rand 3D, runs through the newest functionality -- from improved surface modeling tools to smarter file management and model tree navigation. Videos provide extra instruction.
Read the full article.

What's so special about wave springs?

Don't settle for ordinary springs. Opt for Rotor Clip wave springs. A wave spring is a type of flat wire compression spring characterized by its unique waveform-like structure. Unlike traditional coil springs, wave springs offer an innovative solution to complex engineering challenges, producing forces from bending, not torsion. Their standout feature lies in their ability to compress and expand efficiently while occupying up to 50% less axial space than traditional compression springs. Experience the difference Rotor Clip wave springs can make in your applications today!
View the video.

New Standard Parts Handbook from JW Winco

JW Winco's printed Standard Parts Handbook is a comprehensive 2,184-page reference that supports designers and engineers with the largest selection of standard parts categorized into three main groups: operating, clamping, and machine parts. More than 75,000 standard parts can be found in this valuable resource, including toggle clamps, shaft collars, concealed multiple-joint hinges, and hygienically designed components.
Get your Standard Parts Handbook today.

Looking to save space in your designs?

Watch Smalley's quick explainer video to see how engineer Frank improved his product designs by switching from traditional coil springs to compact, efficient wave springs. Tasked with making his products smaller while keeping costs down, Frank found wave springs were the perfect solution.
View the video.

Top die casting design tips

You can improve the design and cost of your die cast parts with these top tips from Xometry's Joel Schadegg. Topics include: Fillets and Radii, Wall Thicknesses, Ribs and Metal Savers, Holes and Windows, Parting Lines, and more. Follow these recommendations so you have the highest chance of success with your project.
Read the full Xometry article.

New laser-cutting tech pushes limits for steel cutting thickness under water

The KIMM research developed laser-processing equipment simulating environments deeper than 10 m under water. From right: Senior researcher Ryun-Han Kim, principal researcher In-Deok Park, principal researcher Su-Jin Lee, senior engineer Jung-Soo Choi, and researcher Dan-Bi Song. [Credit: Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials]

 

 

 

 

Researchers in South Korea have created and tested an new, innovative laser-cutting technology for nuclear dismantlement under water. This system ensures safety in underwater conditions while minimizing contamination. Furthermore, a water tank that simulates laser cutting in an underwater environment for nuclear dismantlement has been developed and patented for the first time globally.

The development team, led by Dr. In-Deok Park, principal researcher at the department of Industrial Laser Technology of the Busan Machinery Research Center at the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM), successfully developed the underwater laser-cutting technology, which is capable of cutting stainless steel specimens with a thickness of over 100 mm in a simulated 10-m water-depth environment.

During nuclear power plant dismantlement, structural cutting methods include mechanical and thermal cutting. The technology developed by KIMM falls under the thermal cutting category, employing high-power lasers to perform underwater cutting that is both safer and generates minimal contamination. The research team achieved a breakthrough by successfully cutting a 100-mm-thick stainless steel specimen, the primary material used in nuclear pressure vessels, at an actual water depth of 10 m. Currently, laser cutting under water is usually limited to cutting 50-mm-thick steel max, although that figure can be achieved at depths to 200 m.

The team optimized the kerf width (cutting gap) to approximately 2 mm, and reduced the flow rate of cutting gas used in the laser process to 600 l/min. A cutting speed up to 50 mm/min. was also achieved, demonstrating the efficiency of the technology.

10-m-grade pressurized underwater tank and cutting head. [Credit: Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials]

 

 

In preparation for full-scale nuclear dismantlement, the team developed and patented the world's first 30-m-grade underwater laser-cutting pressurized tank, replicating actual field conditions. They also designed a compact multi-nozzle system optimized for high-pressure underwater environments, for which a patent application is currently underway. Additionally, they independently developed an anti-collision device to prevent accidents during the underwater laser-cutting process caused by collisions between the specimen and the nozzle.

"The underwater laser-cutting technology developed is significant, as it directly simulates the nuclear dismantlement environment, greatly minimizing secondary contamination during the dismantling process," said Park. "With the number of nuclear facilities expected to permanently shut down continuing to rise until 2050, we plan to further advance and conduct demonstration research based on this technology."

The research was supported by the project "Laser Decontamination and Underwater Laser-Cutting Technology Development Project for Safe Nuclear Dismantlement," with collaborative efforts from Pusan National University and Korea Maritime & Ocean University and funded by a major project of KIMM. Follow-up demonstration tests are being conducted through the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy's Advancement and Demonstration of Laser Cutting/Dismantling Technology (Nuclear Dismantlement Competency Enhancement Technology Development Project).

Source: Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials

Published November 2024

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