A crucial instrument for many engineers. The ball point pen might not seem like much, but is one of the most used tools in the engineering industry. Documents, diagrams, blueprints, the uses of the ball point pen extend far beyond its humble appearance. There is an issue with this tool though, and that’s its tendency to dry up. There are solutions to this issue though. Here are some of the methods you can use to loosen the ink in a ball point pen and get it going again. Scribble on a piece of paper vigorously until the ink loosens inside. This is the easiest method, but doesn’t work all the time. Try different surfaces while scribbling vigorously. A similar method as before. However using different surfaces can sometimes coax the ink... Read More »

Many engineering sites utilise the specialised abilities of the hammer head crane. Its ability to horizontally transfer extreme loads is a marked feature of the cranes design, and one of the main advantages of its use today. These cranes are heavy industry cranes, generally constructed in large sizes and can weigh up to 350 tons. Sometimes known as the cantilever crane, the hammer head crane is a fixed jib crane. It consists of a steel braced tower which is connected to a revolving, horizontal double cantilever; the forward part of this cantilever or jib carries the lifting trolley, the jib is extended backwards in order to form a support for the machinery and counterbalancing weight. Hammerhead cranes have been installed in shipyards around the world. Their unique design and function make these cranes an... Read More »

Cooling towers are widely used within engineering industries. They provide specialised cooling solutions to many companies. They work by combining air and water in order to reduce the waters temperature. As this occurs, a small volume of water is evaporated, reducing the temperature of the water being circulated through the tower. When the air and water meet, a small amount of water is evaporated which creates a cooling action. The cooled water is then pumped back to the condenser where it absorbs heat. It is then pumped back to the cooling tower to be cooled once again. Water, which has been heated by an industrial process or in an air-conditioning condenser, is pumped to the cooling tower through pipes. The water sprays through nozzles onto banks of material called “fill,” which slows the... Read More »

It is crucial that engineering tools are regularly lubricated and cleaned in order to maintain a high functioning standard. Especially important is the removal of excess water and debris. Water and Debris Contamination Water contamination and debris build up are some of the most common threats to engineering tools. A common misconception is that if you regularly drain the air tank in a compressor, you are protecting your engineering tool from water damage, but this only prevents rust in the tank. The motor in an engineering tool has machine polished surfaces much like the cylinders in your car’s engine. Water, dirt, rust and other contaminants quickly destroys these surfaces causing premature wear to a motor, reducing performance and the overall life of an engineering tool. It is recommended that draining and purging the entire air system from the compressor to the tools weekly,... Read More »

Continued from the previous post Engineering efficiency can always be improved upon. It is an important maxim that Engineering companies herald. With the goal of improving efficiency present in many different areas. An example of the drive for efficiency can be found in component weight to strength ratios. Weight to strength ratios concern the difference between the weight of a component, against the structural stability that the component offers. Many components are developed and tested with the goal of improving this ratio. By improving the strength of a component whilst simultaneously reducing the weight. The improvement of efficiency is an important and continuous process. Many engineering companies have vast research and development teams that work on this improvement constantly. To stop developing upon efficiency could cost the companies millions, so the process is worked... Read More »

Within engineering and manufacture, efficiency is one of the most sought after traits of every aspect of these industries. The main reason behind the need of efficiency is that these areas are industries, and that money powers their operations. Without money there is no industry. A more efficient engineering solution, or a more efficient manufacturing line will, as a by product also be more efficient in its use of money. If one way costs less to do than another, the cheaper way will be chosen. Of course there are other elements to the choice of method. Quality, safety, regulations, feasibility, are all factors that operations managers contend with. But the cost will always be seen on a certain level against these aspects. Efficiency is also an important aspect when concerning the amount of materials used. Using... Read More »

Everything comes from an initial idea. The world of engineering is no different. In order to create something new, there has to be an initial source for the new thing. This may sound slightly philosophical when it comes to the scientific nature of engineering. But to put it another way, it simply means that things need to be well designed to work properly. In engineering it is crucial that structures and components are well designed, planned and considered so that they work at optimum levels and stand up to the tests the world will throw at them. Design is so important in engineering that it is an enterprise of its own. Engineering designs can take the form of 3d computer aided designs, physical drawn images, blueprints, diagrams and technical illustrations. The creation of these designs are professions themselves,... Read More »

Testing something to see if it works, its an instinctual human skill that we’ve evolved over thousands of years. Making sure a tool does what it’s supposed could of been a matter of life or death when we lived in tribes and caves. Nowadays our lives aren’t in so much threat, but testing is still just as important and not just for tools. Almost everything that is produced for use by humans, has to have gone through some kind of testing procedure. One that is often enforced by law. If the thing that is being made and distributed is not tested, it could potentially break on use, which makes it useless. Decent businesses and corporations don’t want to distribute things that might be useless, they wont sell, at least not for long before people stop... Read More »

Design engineering is a field that is a distinctive aspect of engineering as it combines engineering and design principles successfully. These highly skilled design engineers are a part of a design team that consists of drafters and mechanical or lead civil or engineers. Their meticulous training means they are not only good at generating new ideas and discovering problems early but can solve the problems promptly. With the significant amount of training and work experience accomplished by certified design engineers, they may be asked to create blueprints that can be translated into working structures with only very broad orders or direct conceptual frameworks. A design engineer creates the initial schematics and blueprints for various systems, structures, machines or equipment. They are fundamentally vital to any engineering process as they consider... Read More »

One of the best ways to begin an engineering career is to start as an apprentice. Engineering requires the combination of manual and mental skill. Because of this one the best ways to learn the skills required is through an apprenticeship. On an apprenticeship you will be following the instruction of a mentor, as opposed to simply learning the skills through training programs or from colleagues. Learning from a mentor is different to the other practices because you are following the instruction of a skilled person, regularly and in close proximity. Learning in this way is one of the most efficient processes of acquiring skills. It’s no coincidence that the apprentice and master teaching method has survived throughout all of history and is still widely used today. It may be jarring at first... Read More »