Latest Mechanical Stories
‘Like children, there are no bad pumps – just pumps in the wrong environment’April 17, 2018
One example, writes Eoin Field, would be where pumps were sized based on 'future expansion' and therefore oversized and a vsd solution could put the pump running at below a minimum Hz
Gecko-inspired adhesives help soft robotic fingers get a better gripApril 17, 2018
Researchers have developed a robotic gripper that combines the adhesive properties of gecko toes and the adaptability of air-powered soft robots to grasp a much wider variety of objects than the state of the art
Pedestrian incidents and forensic tribology: An analysisApril 3, 2018
There is much to commend tribology and, for any consulting engineer, the use of experts in this field will allow their clients to derive improved return on capital investment - the inverse may otherwise apply, writes Patrick Donohue
New brain scanner allows patients to move freely for the first timeApril 3, 2018
A new generation of brain scanner, that can be worn like a helmet allowing patients to move naturally while being scanned, has been developed
‘Ironclad John’: the Irish engineer who taught the US Navy how to build a submarineMarch 20, 2018
John P Holland, a one-time trainee priest, was fascinated with the Battle of the Ironclads during the American Civil War and, perhaps influenced by '20,000 Leagues Under the Sea', became determined to design a vessel capable of defeating metal ships
Don’t want to lose a finger? Let a robot give a handMarch 6, 2018
In an effort to minimise injury and let carpenters focus on design and other bigger-picture tasks, a team has created AutoSaw, a system that lets you customise different items that can then be constructed with the help of robots
Technique to see objects hidden around cornersMarch 6, 2018
Someday your self-driving car could react to hazards before you even see them, thanks to a laser-based imaging technology that can peek around corners
Horse & carriage? Why engineering and entrepreneurship go togetherFebruary 20, 2018
To develop competitive advantages businesses need graduates with engineering skills and entrepreneurship capabilities in order to continuously improve and remain competitive, writes Colman Ledwith
Can a cockroach teach a robot how to scurry across rugged terrain?February 20, 2018
Researchers build a robot that moves more like a cockroach
Drones home in on becoming project manager’s best friendFebruary 6, 2018
With advances in technology and high levels of competition between the top manufacturers drones have become more affordable which has served to increase and make more accessible their commercial and industrial applications, writes Niall Gates
Engineers make microfluidics modular using LEGO bricksFebruary 6, 2018
LEGO bricks are manufactured so consistently that no matter where in the world they are found, any two bricks are guaranteed to line up and snap securely in place. Given their precision and consistency, the researchers chose LEGO as the basis for a new modular microfluidic design
Energy measuring and monitoring of machinery slashes manufacturing costsJanuary 23, 2018
After analysing the costs of oil, rest and inrush current in a manufacturing facility, recommendations made by Waterford Institute of Technology students have saved the company 13% in energy costs. Helen Curtis and Raymond Darcy report
Mobile solutions in manufacturing – supporting ergonomic machine operationJanuary 23, 2018
Lee Sullivan explains how engineers can monitor machinery performance on the move. Every machine can be tracked and monitored and the maintenance team can have constant access to data
Are these the 20 greatest engineers of all time?January 9, 2018
The need to invent new technologies is as old as humanity itself. The labours and achievements of the engineers in this article have made enormous impacts on society and the world we live in today, writes Christopher Madden
The role of mechanical engineering in modern biology and medicineJanuary 9, 2018
Prof Auro Ashish Saha examines how mechanical engineers contribute to the progress of biology and medical science and how the domains of engineering, biology and medicine have the potential to transform human health
How to get your car running in extremely low-temperature weatherJanuary 9, 2018
Should you let your car idle before hitting the road? Experts say the best way to heat up your engine is to start driving, and idling your car could actually cause damage, reports Jordan MacAvoy
Economic and environmental benefits from energy-efficient compressed-air systemDecember 5, 2017
Energy-efficient compressors and visualisation software have given Cork-based pharmaceutical firm Hovione more control over operating costs and energy use, writes Kenneth Lloyd
Bearing the harsh environment – lubrication selection for low-temperature operationsDecember 3, 2017
When a bearing is required to operate under demanding conditions, the selection of lubricant becomes even more important. Chris Johnson explains the lubrication requirements for bearings operating in low temperatures
LPE research investigates rapid tooling for injection mouldingNovember 21, 2017
LPE's collaboration with Athlone Institute of Technology found that rapid tooling using stereolithography and metal powder bed fusion is viable for short production runs or as an intermediate step in the design of a full metal-machined tool. Wilson McKay reports
Rapid growth in industrial robotics market affects all sectorsNovember 21, 2017
With the industrial robotics market expected to be worth €61 billion by 2023, Graham Mackrell looks at the drivers behind the boom in the industrial robot market and what businesses can expect to see in the coming years