Developed by engineers for engineers.

June 2009 Blog Posts (14)

Question on design and energy efficiency

Now that the U.S. House of Representatives has passed a climate bill, what effects do you think this will have on your product design projects?

Make your job more difficult
It will create new opportunities for new techniques and technologies to tackle energy efficiency
No effect
Your management will provide strong leadership in meeting these new requirements
Your management will resist the new requirements

Added by Leslie Langnau on June 30, 2009 at 12:23pm — No Comments

Efficient 3D CAD Manipulation and Improved Ergonomics

When I worked as a design and manufacturing engineer, I did a lot of 3D design work in SolidWorks, AutoCAD, and various other packages. It didn't take me long to look for an alternative to the traditional mouse to manipulate my designs in the digital 3D environment. After a little searching, I found the 3D Connexion line of products, and purchased a SpaceBall 5000 (replaced by the SpaceExplorer).… Continue

Added by Brian Jones on June 29, 2009 at 3:30pm — No Comments

Help! I want to keep my design-engineering job.

It should come as no surprise that President Obama is having a tough time “making friends” among not only the Republican Party, but also within his own Democratic Party. It seems to me that one major reason for this is that he is trying to make sweeping governmental changes, legally, that will put a big hole in the pocketbooks of the rich in both parties. Having gold-lined pockets is more important to these politicians than serving the needs of their constituents. Never mind that past-president… Continue

Added by John R. Gyorki on June 23, 2009 at 6:52am — 19 Comments

Industrial Interface, Inc. Focuses Growth on Research, Design, and Manufacturing for the Medical Device Market

SAN DIEGO, CA -- May 8, 2009 -- Industrial Interface is focusing its growth and development on the medical device market. Company president, co-founder, and former manufacturing engineer, T. Brian Jones said, "Medical devices is a dominant industry in Southern California where we are located. It's an industry with diverse and complex… Continue

Added by Brian Jones on June 22, 2009 at 8:30pm — 2 Comments

Industrial Interface's Presence on the Web

Industrial Interface: This is our online community for engineers, designers, and suppliers in manufacturing. Engineers can discuss their design problems and get innovative solutions from knowledgeable technical suppliers. We represent every industry segment and every product category within the Industrial Research, Design, and Manufacturing… Continue

Added by Brian Jones on June 20, 2009 at 3:00pm — No Comments

Lack of resources

I have found over the years that when I need things like, 3D cad models, Material mechanical properties, finishing specicifications, etc that I either cannot find them or when I do that I am having to scavenge from various website, whos' info varies or people are want me to pay 100s of £/$ for a 3D model that may do what I want.

My job is quite varied in, one project may include extruding, the next plastic moulding and now I'm in the throws of subsea instruments and tooling which… Continue

Added by Gavin Allen on June 19, 2009 at 6:26am — 4 Comments

A blog for Industrial Interface

We've been debating starting a blog for quite some time at Industrial Interface. So why have we started one now?

Three reasons:

Working as engineers and suppliers in the manufacturing industry and researching and building Industrial Interface has provided us with a lot of information…

Continue

Added by Brian Jones on June 15, 2009 at 3:30pm — No Comments

Energy Management: the latest trend

A recent press meeting on energy management brought out several opinions of mine.

So, fair disclosure: I have several doubts regarding the “crisis” of global warming. As various sages, including Benjamin Disraeli and Mark Twain have been quoted as saying, “There are lies, damned lies, and then there are statistics.”

What I don’t doubt is that global warming has become a market.

I don’t doubt that various environmental organizations are really “businesses” promoting… Continue

Added by Leslie Langnau on June 11, 2009 at 1:32pm — No Comments

Licensing

As with most political processes, they're only half baked!

I have been a practicing Engineer for 26 years. I cut my teeth designing Helicopter Transmissions, an invaluable experience to work amongst some of the most talented engineers I've ever met. Some, I might add, were not degreed!

Sixteen years ago I went out on my own and began consulting as a Mechanical machine designer. About 5 years into it I thought that a PE might help. I studied and took the EIT and PE in one weekend and… Continue

Added by Matthew Hayduk on June 6, 2009 at 9:54am — 3 Comments

Licensing Issues

Why license any profession? Let everyone be self-proclaimed expert?

Where would this world be?

I find it amazing that the "have not" complain about the "haves". Why?

There is good and bad in everything, so do we just stop because there is good and bad?

Is there room for improvement, yes. How do we make it better?

Why bother? Are we smarter then that?

Thank you,

Yes, I am a PE!

Added by Richard Thonre on June 5, 2009 at 7:00pm — 3 Comments

Barringer - Reliability Engineering Principles

So, this past week I had the opportunity to attend Paul Barringer's "Reliability Engineering Principles" three day training course, and I have to admit, I was a little disappointed.

First off, let me talk about Paul (as he prefers to be called) for a minute. In case you've never met the man, he's of rather average height, maybe 5'10", has slightly hunched shoulders with a very noticeable gut, and has sort of a gentle, froggy voice with a pleasant southern twang to it. And, after… Continue

Added by Patrick Green on June 5, 2009 at 3:45pm — No Comments

Licensing Issues

I obtained my P.E, License 8 years ago in the state of Virginia. Most if not all of the State Boards in the U.S. use a standardized test developed by the NCEES (The National Council of Examiners for Engineering). I had been out of school for about 12 years when I sat for the EIT. The EIT was the major hurdle as it covers just about everything ( Thermodynamics, Engineering Economy, Ethics, Strength of Materials, etc.). I didn't pass the EIT on the first attempt. I already had enough qualifying… Continue

Added by Michael Jones on June 5, 2009 at 12:18pm — 1 Comment

What good are PE licenses

Mostly, a PE gives you entry to do a particular job. I find it strange that those who have not gone through the process judge people as being incompetent. I found the 2 eight hour exams to be challenging, and it showed me that I have a minimum competence as an EE. I got my registration because I started seeing more jobs requiring it. Plus I listed myself as a "consultant" when apparently it was illegal without registration (in my state). When I took the PE exam I met a person who had failed… Continue

Added by Kyle on June 4, 2009 at 8:44pm — 7 Comments

New Pittsburgh IEEE CPMT (Components, Packaging, and Manufacturing Technology) Society

Hi everyone. Last week I met with Dr. Louis Hart from Compunetics, a company in Monroeville, PA. Louis has invited me to join him in setting up a chapter of the IEEE Components, Packaging, and Manufacturing Technology (CPMT) Society here in Pittsburgh since we do not currently have one. A local CPMT chapter would feature technical presentations on topics of interest to all IEEE members and promote professional interaction among those in the CPMT Society. In order to set up this chapter, we need… Continue

Added by Patcharin "Rin" Burke on June 2, 2009 at 11:30am — No Comments