Design World

Additive manufacturing with metals is a popular subject. A lot of work still needs to be done before we will see additive machines alongside CNC machines and injection molding systems in the average manufacturing facility. Part of the issue is that engineers need good information on how additively made metal parts will perform in an application. This conversation with Frank Herzog, Founder, President and CEO, Concept Laser GmbH, and John Murray, president of Concept Laser Inc. U.S. headquarters in Texas, discussed a number of these points.

How are power circuit designers making use of computerized fluid dynamics in dealing with heat problems? John Parry, Electronics Industry Manager at the Mentor Graphics Mechanical Analysis Div., talks about how much designers need to know about CFD to get useful results, the accuracy of new "simplified" CFD methods, what happens when CFD packages must work with different kinds of CAD models, and much more. Parry has 30 years experience applying 3D CFD methods to numerous areas of electronics.

In this podcast, Lisa Eitel of Design World chats with Ross Rivard, the new president of Ringfeder Power Transmission USA ... manufacturer of couplings, shock absorbers, and keyless connectors.

On this Technology Tuesdays Podcast for 2/24/15, Michael Jermann, assistant editor for Design World, speaks with Joe Conyers, senior consulting engineer for training and development at SKF Training Solutions. They discuss the common bearing lubrication mistakes users tend to make and how engineers are addressing the problem.

Underwriters Laboratories is working to address the short-term and long-term performance and safety concerns of 3D printers and additive manufacturing systems. Recently, UL initiated a number of initiatives that will help designers confidently harness the benefits of 3D printing in a way that’s relevant to their business needs.

A debate is going on in the additive manufacturing and manufacturing world, with some proponents pushing for the elimination of traditional manufacturing methods (such as CNCs and injection molding) in favor of solely additive manufacturing. For Skyven Technologies, a Texas-based manufacturer of solar technologies, CNCs, injection molding and additive manufacturing are needed to develop its Skyven Cogen System that simultaneously produces energy for both electrical power and heated water.

For this week’s Design World Technology Tuesdays Podcast, I spoke with Don Labriola, P.E., President of QuickSilver Controls, Inc., about hybrid stepper motors and the concept of microstepping error, including the role stiction plays in stepper motor performance.

It can be easy to create a printed circuit board that doesn't work well, even when using PCB automation software. Mentor Graphics' Dave Wiens talks about board features and design practices he's seen that habitually cause problems. He also explains what to expect and not expect from PCB layout software and other automation tools.

Design World's Senior Editor Mary Gannon talks about the impact of the Internet of Things and wireless technology on the connector industry with HARTING Inc. North America's President & CEO Jon DeSouza.

Leslie Langnau, Managing Editor at Design World magazine, interviews Oskar Zelazowski and Chris Ammons of Graphene Horizons on trends in 3D printing and the use of graphene as a printing material.