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Engineer's Toolbox: The secret to living hinges that fold flat

Living hinges are often used to produce a container and its lid as a single molded part. If properly designed, they can open and close thousands of times without ever losing strength or flexibility. Proto Labs provides valuable tips on designing these (sometimes thin and fragile) parts.
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Bottom tapped rails available for quick ship

Bottom tapped rails are useful for mounting from the bottom of a base, as well as when contamination protection is required -- eliminating the need for bolt-hole caps. See the available models from THK, including standard and radial LM guides and standard and radial caged ball. All units are available for quick shipping.
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Non-marring blowoff nozzle protects expensive equipment

EXAIR's new PEEK 1/2 NPT Super Air Nozzle™ has been engineered to produce powerful blowoff without damage to expensive equipment. It features PEEK plastic construction and excellent resistance to damage from harsh chemicals and temps up to 320 F (160 C). The PEEK Super Air Nozzle is great for blowoff, cooling, and drying applications located in general industrial or corrosive environments.
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Flex thixotropic one-component dual-cure epoxy

Master Bond UV23FLDC-80TK is a moderate viscosity, cationic-type system that offers both UV light and heat curing mechanisms. It cures readily within 20 to 30 sec when exposed to a UV light source. The adhesive can also undergo a secondary heat curing for shadowed areas, typically curing in 60 to 90 min. The system's adaptability to varying depths and applications, such as encapsulation and bonding, enhances its versatility. Well suited for uses where low stress is critical.
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Standard parts with signal feedback included

JW Winco standard parts are becoming even more functional -- multifunctional, to be precise. From smart stop bolts that report whether workpieces are precisely positioned in the machining process to cabinet handles with signal lights and fluid level indicators with electronic REED contact signals, intelligent standard parts from JW Winco ensure greater safety, higher efficiency, and increased stability. Many more very useful options available for a wide range of applications.
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Particle foam perfectly distributed thanks to simulation with Ultrasim

BASF's Ultrasim simulation solution now includes Infinergy, an expanded thermoplastic polyurethane (E-TPU) that is used in a wide range of applications to make components with particle foam -- from bicycle tires to the soles on shoes. Identify and solve problems related to pneumatic filling when distributing particle foams in molds, even taking gravity and mold closing into consideration. Avoid those pesky air pockets.
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Best practices for making technical drawings

Ambiguities in technical drawings can cost extra money when a part must be redone or reworked, leading to unexpected project delays. It is essential to create clear technical drawings the first time around. Did you remember to include an isometric view if possible? Did you limit the number of hidden lines? Xometry lays out 14 tips that to help engineers create clear and professional manufacturing drawings. A solid review.
Read the full Xometry article.

NEW! Semi-automatic pin installation technology from SPIROL -- Better, faster fastening

SPIROL's new video showcases their updated Model PR and Model CR Semi-Automatic Installation Machines for Pins, Alignment Dowels, and Bushings. The video demonstrates how to operate the machine, details standard features, and optional quality and error-proofing enhancements. More than 80% of the components in this installation equipment are standard, pretested, production-proven, off-the-shelf parts. This translates into faster delivery, greater reliability, and lowest cost for equipment of comparable quality.
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Are fasteners over-torqued in your assemblies?

According to Mountz, if you currently use a click wrench for your bolting application, you should proceed cautiously because click wrenches are easily misused, which leads to over-torque events. Replacing a click-wrench with a Mountz FGC cam-over wrench helps prevent operator anomalies and over-torque occurrences, because a cam-over mechanism physically prevents the operator from over-torquing fasteners.
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Tools for robotic metal weld grinding

There are many ways to automate grinding processes, but according to ATI Industrial Automation, "Compliance is the key to successful robotic grinding applications." Learn about the pneumatic compliance built into ATI's tools -- the CGV Compliant Angle Grinder and the PCFC Passive Compliant Force Control device -- that exerts a constant force and compensates for surface irregularities to ensure consistent results and facilitate easier robot programming.
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How BMW Group uses ExOne binder jetting tech to make parts

3D-printer maker ExOne and BMW have worked together for more than two decades on additive manufacturing projects. This video showcases how the premium automaker uses ExOne binder jet sand 3D-printing technology to manufacture water jacket cores in serial production. Binder jetting is one of the fastest 3D-printing methods for producing high-quality and complex precision parts in high volume.
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NEW: Build parts together with Teamspace from Xometry

Xometry's Digital Manufacturing Marketplace has just launched Teamspace, a new product feature that makes it easy for you and your team to build big ideas together. Teamspace is a collaborative workspace within your Xometry account that gives you and members of your team quick and easy access to quotes, order placement, part status, tracking info, and more. Turbocharge the way you make custom parts using additive manufacturing, CNC machining, sheet and tube fabrication, plastics, metals, and more.
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Clean in Place Latches save time and money

Spend less time and money on cleaning and cleaning media with two new standard parts from JW Winco. The new GN 1150 latches are designed to repel dirt and can be cleaned in place. The Hygienic Design latches support the machine and system cleaning concept known as clean in place, or CIP for short. Two versions available: front hygiene (FH) for applications such as switch cabinets that must comply with hygiene requirements only on the outside, and full hygiene (VH) with additional seals for HD quality, even on the latch arm side.
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Flex Locators for quick changeover of small and large fixtures

Flex Locators from Fixtureworks are designed for quick changeover of small and large fixtures, automation components, and more. They are ideal for applications that require frequent disassembly, providing excellent repeatability for locating and clamping in a single operation. Manual and pneumatic versions are available. Just turn the handle, knob, or screw!
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Injection-molded heavy-duty plain bearings for high mechanical loads

igus has introduced a new two-component plain bearing for high mechanical loads called the iglide Q3E series. With this new, greaseless offering, igus has, for the first time, found a way to manufacture heavy-duty bearings made of two layers of high-performance plastic using the cost-effective injection molding process. Applications include the construction and agricultural machinery industries.
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Top 25 engineering programs of 2014 based on ROI named by BestValueSchools.com

The top 25 engineering degree programs in the United States have been ranked according to return on investment in a new article released by BestValueSchools.com. The article compares 25 colleges and universities for best ROI in 2014 using statistics gleaned from U.S. News and World Report and the salary information specialists at Payscale.com. Best Value Schools' list is intended as a helpful guide to students looking for great earnings potential and low student debt in the engineering field. It's also fun to see where your alma mater placed, if you are out of school.

On average, engineers in all specialties can earn salaries well in excess of the average worker, according to information published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The cost of an engineering degree can vary greatly from school to school, and low student debt ratio can be a decisive factor for many college students and parents. The complete report can be viewed here.

Below is the list of the "Top 25 Ranked Engineering Programs With the Best Return on Investment" for 2014, according to the Best Value Schools website.

1. California Institute of Technology - Pasadena, CA
2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Cambridge, MA
3. Stanford University - Stanford, CA
4. Georgia Institute of Technology - Atlanta, GA
5. Harvard University - Cambridge, MA
6. Princeton University - Princeton, NJ
7. Carnegie Mellon University - Pittsburgh, PA
8. University of California-Berkeley - Berkeley, CA
9. Columbia University - New York City, NY
10. Duke University - Durham, NC
11. Cornell University - Ithaca, NY
12. Johns Hopkins University - Baltimore, MD
13. Rice University - Houston, TX
14. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University - Blacksburg, VA
15. University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign - Urbana/Champaign, IL
16. Texas A&M University - College Station, TX
17. Purdue University, West Lafayette - West Lafayette, IN
18. University of Maryland-College Park - College Park, MD
19. University of Texas-Austin - Austin, TX
20. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor - Ann Arbor, MI
21. University of California-Los Angeles - Los Angeles, CA
22. University of Minnesota-Twin Cities - Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN
23. Pennsylvania State University - State College, PA
24. University of Wisconsin-Madison - Madison, WI
25. Northwestern University - Evanston and Chicago, IL

BestValueSchools.com is a free Web guide to the best U.S. degree programs for the money. Best Value Schools ranks colleges and universities for ROI (return on investment) and offers helpful guidance for finding value in top colleges and universities.

Source: Best Value Schools.com

Published February 2014

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