Materials & Manufacturing

Manufacturing & Prototyping

Explore innovations supporting advances in manufacturing and rapid prototyping. Access the developments and solutions that have an impact on applications in 3D printing and automation.

Stories

Briefs: Electronics & Computers

System Standardization Streamlines Industrial Designs

Equipment designers can simplify design efforts and adjust controller platforms as needed when they standardize on electronic input/output products.

Briefs: Materials

Modification of Pigments Utilizing Atomic Layer Deposition

The coatings can be deposited on substrates such as glass, polymers, metals, and aerogels.

Briefs: Manufacturing & Prototyping

3D-Printed Smart Gel Changes Shape When Exposed to Light

The invention can become color-changing “artificial muscle.”

Briefs: Software

3D-Printed Working Heart Pump with Real Human Cells

The functioning human heart pump provides a model to track and trace what happens at the cell and molecular levels in the pump structure.

Products: Materials

New on the Market: March 2021

Vision software, thermal sensors, ceramic pastes, and more.

Articles: Mechanical & Fluid Systems

Industrial Connectivity with Single Pair Ethernet

Is "SPE" the future of industrial automation and automotive? It certainly has the potential, says Mike Anderson.

Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition

Autonomous Sensor Technology for Real-Time Feedback About Refrigeration and Heating

The sensor monitors the oil circulation ratio in real time for heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems.

Articles: Manufacturing & Prototyping

Quality 4.0: How Wireless IoT Sensor Networks are Reshaping Manufacturing

The ability to identify hidden patterns, predict future issues, forecast usage and costs, and derive insights from IoT sensor data will reshape the industrial process forever.

Articles: Photonics/Optics

Cost-Effective Day & Night Marking Using Lasers

The marking provides easy-to-see legends on plastic buttons under widely varying illumination conditions.

Technology Leaders: Imaging

Micro-Cameras Bring New Video Applications into Focus

Powerful, tiny cameras provide unique streaming-video solutions for NASA robots and defense applications.

Question of the Week: Photonics/Optics

Would You Use the 'LaserFactory?'

A technology from MIT known as the "LaserFactory" integrates 3D printers and laser cutters to fabricate wearables, robots, and electronics components like sensors and actuators.

Blog: Robotics, Automation & Control

How to Build and Test a Robotic Remote-Control for Ventilators

Dr. Axel Krieger from Johns Hopkins University explains how he is getting a robotic system ready for the fight against COVID-19.

Blog: Manufacturing & Prototyping

Q&A: For Engineers, Is Mixed Reality...A Reality?

Design engineers should be cautious in how they design and deploy mixed-reality technologies, says an industry expert.

Blog: Test & Measurement

Answering Your Questions: Laser Radar...Or a CMM with a Laser Scanner?

Should you replace your big coordinate measurement machine with laser radar? Or should you just add a laser scanner with a CMM? A reader asks our expert.

INSIDER: Sensors/Data Acquisition

Making Cheaper Biocompatible E-Skin Electrodes

Scientists around the world are working to develop electronic skins that attach to the body and monitor vital signs. These E-skins need to be comfortable, breathable, and flexible for everyday...

INSIDER: Motion Control

Ultra-Thin and Highly Sensitive Strain Sensors

A research team from National University of Singapore (NUS) has taken a first step towards improving the safety and precision of industrial robotic arms by developing a new range of...

Special Reports: Communications

Test & Measurement - February 2021

Sensors to search for ancient life on Mars...nano-thermometers that could revolutionize temperature measurement...a major advance in semiconductor testing. These are just a few of the technologies you'll read...