CAM Does More in 2017

By: Lawrence S. Gould - April 05, 2017 at 10:45 AM

The latest advances in computer-aided manufacturing software do more of the job of programming toolpaths while making such work simpler for the machinist.

Ford’s Approach to Additive Manufacturing

By: Gary S. Vasilash - March 20, 2017 at 6:30 AM

Although 3D printing has become something that is hip an almost artisanal among the digital cognoscenti and within the maker movement, there is the set that contains 3D printing as a subset—additive manufacturing—which is something that is being pursued in earnest by a number of mass manufacturers in order to achieve parts and products the likes of which would be difficult if not completely impossible to produce with conventional methods.

Simulating Motorcycle Handling

By: Gary S. Vasilash - March 17, 2017 at 5:50 AM

Although this may appear to be a rather sophisticated video game, it is actually what’s claimed to be the “world’s first vehicle dynamics grade” driver-in-the-loop (DIL) simulator for doing things like creating chassis setups.

Simulating Injection Molding Gets Even Better

By: Lawrence C. Boyd, Jr. - March 07, 2017 at 2:45 PM

New injection molding software can simulate—and analyze.

Ford Enhancing Development Capabilities

By: Gary S. Vasilash - February 16, 2017 at 5:58 AM

Although computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and other digital tools are extensively used by Ford (as well as all other major—and minor—vehicle developers), at the end of the day, cars and trucks exist in the real world.

Building Bikes

By: Gary S. Vasilash - February 03, 2017 at 5:26 AM

According to the folks at Sculpteo, a 3d printing and engineering services company based outside of Paris, they built what they describe as “the first ever fully functional bike created using digital manufacturing.” To prove that this is a real bike, not a booth exhibit, the two designers of the bike, Alexandre d’Orsetti and Piotr Widelka, rode it from Las Vegas, where it had been on display at CES, to San Francisco, where Sculpteo has a facility.

Making the Analysis of Requirements Documents Easier

By: Lawrence S. Gould - February 01, 2017 at 4:26 PM

Natural language processing is good enough to take out a lot of the drudge work in creating, reviewing and revising requirements documents.

Introducing “IoT Platforms” – Part II

By: Lawrence S. Gould - January 04, 2017 at 10:03 AM

Last month, an article introduced the latest “platform” on the factory floor: the Internet of Things (IoT) platform. Here is what these platforms comprise.

Beer, Data & Big Rigs

By: Gary S. Vasilash - December 06, 2016 at 6:02 AM

A few weeks ago, a self-driving semi carrying 50,000 cans of Budweiser traveled 100 miles, from a weight station in Fort Collins, Colorado, to a depot in Colorado Springs.

Beyond Aluminum

By: Gary S. Vasilash - November 04, 2016 at 6:58 AM

If you want to get a sense of why this is a multi-material industry going forward, an industry that is making a transition from (almost) strictly ferrous materials to various others, including ferrous materials, just as it is making a transition from strictly internal combustion engines to electrification, including internal combustion engines, then know that on Tuesday, November 1, a new company was launched, Arconic Inc. 3D printed polymer prototype patterns—not aluminum Which is notable because Arconic used to be part of Alcoa Inc.

CAE from Powertrain to Radar Systems

By: Lawrence S. Gould - November 02, 2016 at 12:49 PM

A major update to the flagship CAE/FEA/CFD/simulation software from Ansys responds to the variety of new engineering in automotive.

All About Acadia

By: Gary S. Vasilash - October 31, 2016 at 8:00 AM

One of the features of the 2017 GMC Acadia is, compared with the outgoing model, that it is some 700 pounds lighter.