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7 Dec 2018

How Does Electroplating Work?

While there is no magic trick to change common chemical elements into rare and valuable ones, electroplating is as close as it gets. Electroplating is similar to electrolysis which is the opposite of the process batteries use to produce electric currents. The earliest form, which became the modern electroplating process, occurred in the early 19th century.

The development of bigger electric generators meant higher currents which drastically improved the process. Advancements in industrial and manufacturing practices over the past two centuries have changed this process considerably.

While some of you may already know what electroplating is, what about how it works?

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30 Nov 2018

Audi Combines Electric Car With Flying Taxi Quadcopter

Credit: New Atlas

We can never get tired of reading and writing about engineering developments, emerging technologies and the flying taxi. This year has already seen a few interesting concepts from Uber signing with NASA to the CityHawk and Pal-V. And now it is time for Audi to step up to the plate.

The German automaker is living up to their name with the new Pop.Up Next, a hybrid quadcopter and compact two-seater electric vehicle. This is certainly an ambitious attempt but one that seems well worth it considering their partnership with Italdesign and Airbus.

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23 Nov 2018

CNC Machining And 3D Printing In Manufacturing

In modern-day manufacturing, technology is forever advancing and it is essential to keep up with the all latest trends. Throughout our history, we have seen a number of methods implemented to manufacture custom parts. Today, CNC machining and 3D printing are seen as two of the most widely used manufacturing processes.

With the rapid growth of 3D printing technology, some believe it has become the first choice for many industries. On the other hand, CNC machining is still considered a reliable standard and there really aren’t many things that don’t involve CNC machined parts somewhere in the process.

Looking at the available technologies and industries utilising CNC machining and 3D printing, how do they work? Which industries prefer one or the other and how do they compare?

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9 Nov 2018

Military Vehicles And Robotics Through The Ages

Military vehicles and robots date as far back as WWI with small, remote-controlled and tracked, disposable explosive devices. WWII saw even more innovative designs with the Soviet Army developing full-sized remote-controlled tanks between 1930 and 1940. Even the Brits had a hand in remote controlled tanks with their Matilda MK2 Infantry tank, the ‘Black Prince’.

While nothing compares to modern day military vehicles and autonomous systems, our history is filled with incredible engineering feats. With so many different autonomous military vehicles and systems, we’re only focusing on a few of the standouts.

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26 Oct 2018

6 Ways You Can Save On Fabrication Costs

As a manufacturer, you’re likely looking to save costs in several areas but none more so than fabrication. And this refers to everything from materials and labour to the shipping of fabricated components.

Everything boils down to identifying cost saving ideas that can really help improve your bottom line for optimal business growth. However, rushing into a decision and making big changes in a specific area may not be the right approach. Instead, implement several smaller methods to cut costs as it will ultimately lead to significant savings on your fabrication project.

While it is challenging to effectively reduce the cost of a fabrication project, it certainly is possible. The most important question here is, “How to minimise cost without sacrificing quality?”

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19 Oct 2018

Construction and Technology Connecting Europe To Africa

The world of construction and technology is advancing at a rapid pace achieving what no-one thought possible only a few years ago. A split-pylon concept bridge is the focus of an EPSRC-funded project at Sheffield and Brunel University. Partnering with a long span bridge expert, Ian Firth, the team of UK engineers used mathematical modelling techniques to identify new bridge designs. They claim that it could beat the current record of a 2 km single span bridge.

Newly identified bridge structures could allow for the construction of significantly longer bridges in the near future. The possibility to make a crossing over the Strait of Gibraltar, from the Iberian Peninsula to Morocco is very real.

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12 Oct 2018

UK’s Futuristic Combat Aircraft: The Tempest

The Farnborough Air Show in July 2018 featured several new projects, concepts and prototypes but one that stood out was the Tempest, UK’s new combat aircraft. A number of companies are involved with this project including BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, Italy’s Leonardo and missiles expert MBDA. Reports suggests that the UK will invest £2bn in the project with the aim of a first flight in 2035.

There is no denying that the UK has been a leader in aerial combat for over a century with a wide range of skills and technology. This latest project sends a clear message that they are determined to make sure they remain at the top.

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5 Oct 2018

New Amphibious Combat Vehicle Tried And Tested

BAE Systems has been a trusted supplier to the US Marine Corps for more than 70 years. Their most recent engineering accomplishment is the next-gen ACV 1.1 Amphibious Combat Vehicle. Set to replace the current range of Amphibious Assault Vehicles (AAVs), the new vehicle offers improved survivability.

This particular combat vehicle was designed from scratch to meet the real mission challenges of deploying Marines from ship to shore. The ACV 1.1 is a combination of the long history between BAE Systems’ amphibious legacy and Iveco Defence Vehicles’. Together, they have produced more than 30 000 multi-purpose armoured vehicles with the latest variant a certain standout.

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28 Sep 2018

Waterjet Cutting Essentials

The evolution of hydro-abrasive waterjet cutting has been remarkable and is one of the most effective methods of machining. There is no heat affected zone (HAZ), the small cutting widths and omni-directional cutting means we can machine virtually any material with high precision and accuracy. As a result, waterjet cutting produces a much-improved product finish with little to no secondary processing needed.

Advanced technology and methods make waterjet cutting far more environmentally friendly. So much so that the dust, chippings or gas produced with other cutting methods do not occur. There is also no need to change tool heads, blades or lubricants for each type of material which means machining time is greatly reduced.

This highly versatile cutting method produces much less waste than other forms of cutting which allows for more diverse design. The ability to cut more intricate designs and patterns offers

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3 Aug 2018

3D Printing Houses For Mars Colony

We see the benefits of 3D printing all the time from manufacturing, medical, the fashion industry to prototyping and production. With construction in mind and large-scale 3d printers, it is now possible to think about bigger projects. There’s no doubt that that additive manufacturing is an ideal building solution for creating models in architecture.

With that in mind, 3D printing has made headlines once again. This time though, it’s not a 3D printed house in your neighbourhood unless you live on Mars. We take a closer look at how the 3D printed habitat challenge from NASA and their partners have developed. If you are remotely interested in aerospace design, engineering and space exploration, you should really watch these videos.

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