Tag: mechanical

Convergence of Mechanical and Electronic Design

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Electronics and product design have now become so much inter-dependent that it is difficult to imagine a product that is purely mechanical. Most importantly, the physical form of electronics plays an important role in product design.

Issues with distinct Mechanical and Electronic Design

Mechanical products under development move back and forth between electronics and mechanical design phases during their development life cycle. They also face delays due to reasons such as:

  • A board created by the electronic engineer is sent to a third party to create a prototype.
  • The prototypes often do not fit into the enclosure due to some additional changes.
  • A collective effort of electronic, mechanical, and software engineers also create conflicts.

Uniting Electronic and Mechanical Designs

To resolve such issues, CAD vendors are now making efforts to develop workflows that seamlessly integrate software, mechanical, and electrical parts of product design. For instance, to reduce such delays and improve the overall product development life cycle, Siemens PLM started working with Mentor Graphics in 2017. The product now offers electronics and electrical design with their CAD packages, SolidEdge, and NX.

Similarly, Autodesk is working in association with EAGLE since 2016. EAGLE is Electronic Design Automation (EDA) software that enables the printed circuit board designers to connect easily with schematic diagrams, PCB routing, and component placement.

All of these software vendors strive to create bi-directional associativity without carrying out file translation to develop an easy workflow across electrical, electronic, and mechanical aspects of a product. Designers now enjoy product design benefits such as:

  • The integrated suite now supports importing board outlines from the mechanical model design suite Fusion 360 to EAGLE and vice versa.
  • The application also letsusers update their component placement on the board.
  • It helps to populate each component with a 3D model.

The integrated workflow also faced some constraints in the product design. Typically, the electronics designers have to work under them. Some of these include:

  • Size of the board
  • Placement of critical components
  • Position of the mounting holes

Specialists then developed an integrated EAGLE/Fusion 360 environment which eradicated these issues. Now, any change in one model is directly reflected in another. The best part is, the designer can either choose to accept or reject these changes.

The new functionality has proved to be a game changer in the overall product development and design. Designers can now carry out the product design more efficiently and quickly. The tool also helps the designers to explore new techniques to design electronic products.

Nano Technology: The Engineer’s New Frontier design

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Nanoscale energy transport is a new day working concept, that can redefine the whole engineering field.

Below listed are technological aspects that define the future outlook of Nano Technology:

Unlimited Possibilities:

Nano engineering mainly concentrates on material and design processing. With so many advances over the last decade, Nano engineering, will  become the new face of engineering and technology. Soon, there will be endless opportunities for manufacturing, microfluidics, robotics, biomedicine, energy, heat transfer, storage and much more.

Interdisciplinary outlook:

Nano engineering is so popular and integrated that, soon it will become the interdisciplinary branches for science and technology which requires the knowledge of mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, biology, physics, photonics, material science and other fields working on product and design management.

Advanced usage:

Nano technology will start to play an important role in research fields like Nano scale technology, energy transport, conversion, storage, electromechanical systems, Nano materials and alternative energy systems (Including solar photo voltaic devices) can be used to the maximum extent.

Interconnected to well being and longevity:

In the upcoming years, Nano technology will start to play a major role in enhancing mankind’s life and well being. It will become so possible that, chemically modified Nano material will start having huge impacts on biochemical sensing and human health.

Improved and Diversified Mechanical Engineering:

Through Nano technology it will become possible for mechanical engineers to start expanding their toolbox. Through Nano engineered materials, biochemical sensitivity, mechanical strength, selective transport, thermal/electrical conductivity and optical properties usage can be enhanced to a large extent.

Like any other technology, Nano engineering will soon revolutionize the way we see of work with systems, products and designs. It may be also possible for users to apply their understanding and see how individual atoms and molecules are controlled and composed of.

Eli Zero’s latest electric car replaces the need for additional car requirements

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Electric-vehicle manufacturer Eli Electric, has invented a compact and urban friendly car Eli Zero for easy transportation and on the go mobility.

Some of the special features of this ambitious Eli vehicles are:

  • The car can power up to a speed range of 25 miles to 55 miles per hour.
  • It can be used as standard road car.
  • Traditional car molds features are nil in this gen next car.
  • It comes with versatile urban and suburban features.
  • Features side by side seating for added comfort and leg space.
  • Equipped with USB fast-charging port for on the go mobile or device charging.

 

As per the latest news, the company plans to have the first Eli vehicles on the road by the start of 2019. The company is also planning to introduce 100 vehicles for a start. Experts also predict that, once,
Eli zero’s is introduced into the market, the need for additional car requirement will not be felt by modern day urban families.

How To Present Your Mechanical Design To The Team?

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The newbies in engineering often feel underestimated due to the lack of soft skills that are required to undermine the job role. For a mechanical engineer, it is more important to present the mechanical design more efficiently than knowing only the technical details.

For those who need to present mechanical design to the peers, or the client to pitch for new business, take help of these tips and make this task a less daunting:

Understand the audience

Represent your design from the perspective of an ordinary man. The audience may not be aware of the nitty-gritty involved, and therefore, your design must be able to communicate the required use and purpose to everyone.

Public Speaking Skills

Work on the confidence level to nail the presentation in front of people. If you still feel anxiety after practicing presentation behind the curtain, remain calm during the actual presentation to go on. Remind yourself that you halfway there, and face people with a smile.

Convey Details

Prepare for the questions that the audience is going to put in front of you. There can be questions related to designs, materials and choices, manufacturing processes and much more. If you don’t have answers to the questions, don’t get nervous and avoid fumbling. Tell them that you will get back with the right answer after the meeting.

Presentation Tips

Don’t keep reading all the content from the PowerPoint and take audience towards the pointer every time. It can leave them confused or bored while listening. Prepare bullets or rough narrative to explain your ideas.

Apart from the presentation, people will judge you more by the mechanical design and not the speaking skills. So, go easy and work on the essentials before the meeting.

Creo 5.0 Offers AR, Topology Optimization and More

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Yes! PTC has successfully launched a new version of parametric CAD software, Creo 5.0. This version of Creo is enticed with new extensions that will bring new functionalities among manufacturing, simulation, augmented reality, topology optimization, and also general productivity improvements.

Here, we have listed new features of the Creo 5.0:

  1. Additive and Subtractive Manufacturing:

The Creo 5.0 is extending support service of 3D printing with Creo Additive Manufacturing for Materialise allowing users to connect directly to printers for metal printing. Also, the Creo Mold Machining extension is giving high-speed 3-axis and 3+2 positioning machining which is optimized for molds, electrodes, and prototypes.

 

      2. Computational Fluid Dynamics:

The new feature of fluid flow extension allows product users or engineers to stimulate the fluid flow directly within Creo. The production company of Creo, PTC also claims that the fluid flow extension is easy to handle, accurate, and brings quick results.

 

      3. BI-Directional CAD:

There is a new collaboration extension which enables the bi-directional exchange of Creo parts and assemblies with the Autodesk Inventor.

  1. Augmented Reality:

With the development of the new version, PTC integrates Creo with AR platform, by allowing Creo users to manufacture and present AR experience from within the designs.

  1. Topology Optimization:

The feature of topology optimization will enable users to insert objectives and constraints. It will also allow the software to automatically create an optimized design.

  1. Productivity Improvements:

Creo 5.0 brings some improvements to the productivity of the user, which includes enhanced user interface, geometry creation, volume helical sweeps, design improvements, surface improvements and a lot more. The advancements in this CAD software will result in better functionality and effective product manufacturing.

PTC’s Brian Thompson also said that “Product designs these days requires advancements, and Creo continues evolving to meet the needs of customers.” The changes brought in the product Creo 5.0 reveals that it can help companies right from the earliest phase of design to smart, and useful product.

The significant features of Creo suggests that new functionalities and capabilities, sets the software apart and gives companies a true competitive edge from ideation till manufacturing.