Category: Engineering

If there is a love and hate phase in any design process in engineering, that is, for sure, the moment when the prototype has to be tested. No matter how wonderful the ideas to solve a particular problem are, the final product has to be actually useful in the real world. Testing the prototype is the moment where all engineers – no matter if they are beginners or if they already have an extensive career – are ready to learn from their mistakes. But without this, machines as fascinating as the 3D printer and the NiLiBoRo robot wouldn’t exist!

 

1. Real People

Chances are that your final product will be used by those who don’t necessarily have such an insight on the particularities of this item as you do. That is why you need to test the prototype with real people – and not colleagues. In this way, you’ll be sure they find it useful.

You may be wondering what kind of people you need – age, gender, geography – but nothing is as important as bringing participants who are knowledgeable of the domain or industry you are working with, as they are the potential audience for the final product.

2. Different tests for different results

What do you want to discover about your prototype? To make sure that not a single second is wasted during this phase, you have to design a set of instructions you will deliver to the people testing the prototype, so they do exactly what you need to see if the product has accomplished all that was designed for.

Direct

Direct tests are those in which you tell your participants the exact action they need to perform. They must do what they are told.

Scenario

In a scenario test you allow people more freedom. You just provide them with general guidelines and then they can use the prototype as they think it is best.

Closed

Closed tasks are those in which success can just be reached under specific conditions and anything else will result in failure. They are ideal if you want to test a specific function of your prototype.

Open-Ended

These are tasks that can be completed in many different ways. They are good if you want to know how the minds of your potential users work.

3. Be Aware of Any Regulation

This phase is also the point to make sure that the product you are creating can exist according to the relevant regulations and legislations, such as the British standards. This will assure that the item that will be manufactured in the future is completely safe.

 

4. Communicate with Your Clients

The participants who have been testing your prototype may be happy with it, you may be happy with it, but what about the clients you are creating this for? It is very important that you also invite them to see the prototype and listen to their impressions. If they are not pleased with the design or any of the functions, you are still at a stage when these things can be easily amended.

In most cases, it doesn’t mean that your product is wrong; sometimes clients change their minds on very specific aspects. Communication is the key to make sure everyone is happy with the final outcome.

 

Here at European Springs Ireland we are experts on designing the best springs and pressings. Check out our catalogue and don’t hesitate in contacting our friendly team with any enquiry, we’ll be delighted to help!

 

 

You wake up in the morning. It’s still very early and you don’t feel much sympathy for the singing sparrows beside your window. You take a shower, have a nutritious breakfast if time allows you to – if not, you just grab a slice toast and a coffee in your thermal mug. You run to your car… And sit inside, sipping your coffee and watching the latest episode of your favourite drama series whilst the car drives itself to your job.

Commuting turned into spare time… sounds like a dream? In that case, you’ll be happy to know that self-driving cars are not a fantasy from science fiction movies anymore but something very real. In fact, Google has decided it will open a self-driving car engineering centre in Michigan.

How Does a Self-Driving Car Work?

You might be wondering how it’s possible that  a self-driving car knows where to go and, at the same time, can avoid unexpected obstacles. Well, this is doable thanks to the Velodyne 64-beam laser that allows it to generate a detailed 3D map of its environment. The software in the car compares this information to its own high-resolution maps, producing the data that allows it to drive itself.

In this way, the car will be able to detect the colour of the traffic lights and also react if there are any unexpected obstacles in the middle of the road.

What Are its Advantages?

Perhaps you love driving, and you indulge in it as a hobby and a way to relax and forget the tensions of the day whilst you listen to your favourite band. But if you’re one of these people who just sees their car as an appliance – and get stressed whenever they have to drive somewhere – you will already be counting the days until you’re able to purchase your own self-driving car.

1. The End of Selfish Driving

It has been proved that traffic jams are a direct consequence of selfishness. If drivers allowed at least three to four car lengths of space between the car that is in front of them, traffic would flow smoothly – regardless of the quantity of cars on the road. But because people are anxious to arrive at their destination on time, they tend to drive very tightly together – which ultimately causes traffic congestion. Self-driving cars can be programmed to space out automatically, though, so this problem will be solved.

2. Protecting the Earth… and Your Pocket.

In an age when everyone is concerned about preserving the environment, a decrease in the use of fuel would be ideal to protect the natural resources of the planet – and your finances. A self-driving car can literally anticipate if the car in front of it is going to brake, and, ideally, this will allow all the cars following to brake simultaneously, too. This will protect the car’s engine and save fuel.

3. Cars Will Be for Everyone 

If you are blind or suffer from a disability, you might not be able to enjoy the benefits of having your own vehicle to travel whenever you need to go the healthcare centre, the mall or to visit your children living down south. Driving is also not accessible for children or elderly people. A programmed self-driving car, though, can pick up people and bring them to specified destinations. This will indeed bring freedom and better quality of life to many.

Technology is evolving constantly, but here at European Springs Ireland we don’t want to be left behind. That is why our assorted catalogue of products is always being updated to make sure that every time you come to us you find exactly what your project needs. Contact our expert team today and we’ll be delighted to help. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook to keep updated with the latest news.

Scientific progress is being made at large scales, aided by the development of new and better technologies, which has a great positive impact on all fields. From the discovery of gravitational waves that prove Einstein’s theory, and which has been called the breakthrough of the century, to the constant advancements made in engineering, science is moving forwards at a fast pace. This leads to incredible discoveries that can make our lives better and improve society as a whole.

Whiskers and Navigation

It’s not a surprise that animals have better navigational skills than humans. Birds can travel thousands of miles every year and still come back to the exact place they left, without getting lost, and cats can find their way around a room using their whiskers to paint a picture of their surroundings. They brush their whiskers against surfaces and are then capable of orienting themselves. Likewise, seals judge water currents by how the water flows through their whiskers.

Researchers from the US and Singapore have developed a system similar to animal whiskers, which uses elastic metal alloy wires covered in plastic straw-like structures. They’re capable of recording delicate movements, and those signals are then interpreted to form an image of the surroundings. The goal of this project is to eventually use these whiskers in robotics as an alternative to other systems, such as vision and sonar.

A Flexible Camera

Researchers at Columbia University have recently created a novel camera that works unlike any other. Due to its flexibility, this camera works by being wrapped around everyday objects and capturing images that other cameras are not able to. The lens array is capable of producing high quality pictures when the sheet camera is bent, and in the future it could be used to photograph everything – and with unusual fields of view.

Handheld Surgical Pen

Engineering is a vast field that has a wide range of applications, and one of those is in medicine. Australian researchers have now created a handheld 3D printing pen that is capable of drawing human stem cells in any pattern. These cells have a high survival rate and will enable surgeons to design customised cartilage during surgery. This pen has a huge potential, as it can revolutionise tissue engineering, since it allows cells to be printed at will. Surgeons will be able to treat defects by simply printing new tissue to replace the damaged or missing ones.

Here at European Springs Ireland we’re always interested when engineering takes a step forward, which is why we provide high quality springs, wireforms and pressings that can help you develop your scientific projects. We also offer bespoke solutions that are custom-made specifically for your needs, so don’t hesitate to contact us or call us on 028 9083 8605 and discuss your requirements with us. We’re also on Facebook, Twitter and Google+, so find us there to stay updated with our latest news.

 

The engineering world is huge, and deciding on a specific type of engineering to specialise in can often be quite a difficult choice for many young people.

Aerospace engineering is one of the most rewarding industries which focuses on engineering, but is often overlooked by many people as they feel as though a prestigious position in such a crucial industry is out of their reach.

However, securing a job in aerospace engineering needn’t be any more difficult than other engineering positions. Here’s our guide for all our young, aspiring engineers of the future on how you can land a position in the aerospace engineering sector!

What Does Aerospace Engineering Entail?

As the name suggests, aerospace engineers are tasked with designing, building and maintaining parts that belong to an aircraft.

Depending on the company, engineers may be required to build full scale aircraft parts from prototypes as well as repair any parts which may require it. You may work on fighter jets, helicopters, vehicles to be used in space or various instruments which are crucial for the flight success of an aircraft.

There are a variety of different roles within aerospace engineering, including:

• Research and Development
• Production
• Maintenance and Repair
• Testing.

You would be expected to work around 37-40 hours a week on average, and starting salaries for new aerospace engineers can be anywhere between £20,000 and £26,000 per year, rising up to around £65,000 per year depending on the role and experience as you progress through the industry.

What Qualifications Would I Need?

Like most engineering positions, you will need to have had some form of relevant training or education which covered some aspects of the aerospace industry. This could be in the form of an aerospace engineering related degree or college course which provides a Higher National Diploma or Certificate.

You may also be able to gain access to the industry through apprenticeships. This gives a prospective aerospace engineer a valuable insight into the way that the industry operates and they will be trained on the job to develop and learn all the relevant skills needed to be a successful aerospace engineer.

What Skills Should I Already Possess?

Due to the critical nature of many aerospace engineering projects, it is important that you are able to think on your feel and have excellent problem solving skills. Hesitation can often lead to injury, and working with large, dangerous vehicles such as aircraft means that there’s very little room for error.

It is also advantageous to be able to communicate clearly and precisely to get the job done. You won’t always be working alone, so it is essential that you are able to communicate with the rest of the workforce in order to be able to advance through projects seamlessly.

You should also be committed; becoming an aerospace engineer doesn’t happen overnight. You will need to be fully invested in your work and be willing to continuously learn new things as technology is always advancing.

The aerospace industry is one of the most successful industries in the world, make sure you’re preparing yourself adequately if you are looking to secure a job in the field. With great career prospects available, we’d love to see more young aerospace engineers step up and fuel the next generation of incredible aircraft!

Here at European Springs Ireland, we work closely with the aerospace industry to provide them with the best quality compression springs for their crucial engineering processes. For more information on our services, please feel free to get in contact with us today and we’ll be more than happy to help you.

 

As leading spring manufacturers, we’ve had many years of experience in the engineering industry and already know how many engineering processes are carried out.

However, for young engineers coming into the industry, it can be quite daunting and difficult to get to grips with such a busy sector. With so much going on and a variety of different processes to learn, it can be quite nerve-wracking for newcomers to experience.

Using our knowledge of the engineering industry, here are 3 essential pieces of advice for young engineers wanting to join this fast-paced sector!

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions

All the processes involved in engineering must be completed with precision and the only way this can be achieved is through understanding how it works completely.

If you are unsure at any point, make sure you ask an experienced member of staff to either explain or show you how to complete the task. The success of the engineering project you are working on will most likely be affected if you were to carry out a task incorrectly, so make sure that you know what to do and how to do it before embarking on attempting it.

Remember – there’s no such thing as a stupid question. It’s safer to ask than to assume!

Be Prepared to Work in a Group As Well as Alone

Many young people come into the engineering industry thinking that they can just get their head down and work on a project by themselves.

Even though this isn’t a rare occurrence, more often than not you will need to be able to communicate with and work alongside other people in order to complete your work. This will give you access to a wider set of skills than your own, giving you more scope to produce a higher quality product.

It’s also a great opportunity to find out more about other engineering and manufacturing roles, especially if you are dealing with different departments while working on your project.

Look Up to a Role Model

The majority of young engineers usually find a more experienced member of staff to look up to when they first start their career in engineering, and although you may feel like you are annoying them by asking for advice, more often than not they will willingly help you out without any prompt or nudge from the higher ups.

These individuals will have already gone through the process of being a new engineer, and will definitely know what you are probably wondering about. Take advantage of their knowledge and listen to the advice that they give; learning never stops in the engineering industry and the more you listen, the more you will understand and learn.

The engineering industry is an incredible sector to work in, and we hope that the next generation of engineers are ready to take on the industry and help produce some of the most wonderful feats of engineering ever created!

No matter what the future holds for engineering, European Springs Ireland will be here to provide you with all the spring products that you need! For more information on how we could help your business with our springs,  please feel free to get in contact with us today on  028 9083 8605 or head over to our Facebook, Twitter or Google+ pages today!