Mechanical/Mechatronics

Mechanical & Fluid Systems

Access the latest news and technical advancements impacting Mechanical and Fluid systems. Explore articles and technical briefs about fastening, joining, mechanical components, fluid handling, and micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMs).

Stories

Briefs: Materials

Handheld 3D Skin Printer Accelerates Healing of Burns

The handheld printer deposits sheets of skin to cover large burn wounds and its bio-ink accelerates healing.

Briefs: Energy

Process Converts Ethanol to Jet Fuel

A new catalyst and microchannel reactors improve efficiency and cost of the process.

Briefs: Manned Systems

Power Processing Unit for Small Spacecraft Electric Propulsion

This scalable power processing unit (PPU) is for use with low-power Hall effect thrusters.

Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems

Nanoprecipitates Toughen Structural Alloys

Mechanical properties, such as strength and ductility, can be improved for car, plane, and building components.

Articles: Mechanical & Fluid Systems

Strategies to Solve Enclosure Thermal Management Challenges

Find the right components that protect your electronics from the effects of temperature and moisture.

Articles: Manufacturing & Prototyping

The Many Benefits of Smart IIoT Connected Factories

Automation can crumble, even when only one cog is loose, says Brad Walters from Monnit.

Products: Materials

New Products

Battery monitoring, flow meters, torque sensors, and more.

Technology Leaders: Data Acquisition

An Alternative Approach to 3D Reconstruction

The method combines concepts of global and local stereo methods for accurate, pixel- wise matching at low runtime.

Blog: Data Acquisition

Machinery Health Monitoring: Which Equipment is Critical?

Which machinery requires constant monitoring? According to one industry expert, the answer boils down to “Criticality.”

Special Reports: Wearables

Test & Measurement - February 2022

From space vehicles to the modern battlefield to the human body, test innovations are improving device and system reliability while speeding time to market. Read about the latest advances – including the...

Products: Electronics & Computers

New on the Market: February 2022

Liquid-cooled workstations, universal amplifiers, hydrogen sensors, and more.

Briefs: Manufacturing & Prototyping

3D Printing of Polymers

A 3D-printable elastomer yields soft, elastic objects that feel like human tissue.

Briefs: Electronics & Computers

Sound Waves Transport Droplets for Rewritable Lab-on-a-Chip Devices

Vibrating transducers create tunnels in a thin layer of oil to transport droplets across a chip without leaving a trace behind.

Articles: Power

Discrete Proportional Valve Technology

The DPV concept matches the unique needs of electric vehicle cooling and energy management systems.

Articles: Mechanical & Fluid Systems

Designing Smart Solutions for Gas Flow Devices

Learn how design engineers are making better gas meters.

Products: Mechanical & Fluid Systems

New Products

Test servo drives, robot monitors, AC motors, and more

Briefs: Electronics & Computers

Giving Bug-Like Bots a Boost

A new fabrication technique helps improve the performance of flying micro-robots.

Briefs: Semiconductors & ICs

Soft, Mechanical Metamaterials

These “living machines” hold potential for applications from medical treatments to improving the environment.

Products: Electronics & Computers

New Products

Charger ICs, backup units, power supplies, and more.

Question of the Week: Energy

Will ‘Ocean Batteries’ Catch On?

Our lead story today highlights an innovative energy approach from a Netherlands-based company called Ocean Grazer. Tied to existing wind farms, the team’s “Ocean Battery” pumps water from solid subsea reservoirs into flexible bladders located just above the seabed. When there is a demand for power, the...

INSIDER: Manufacturing & Prototyping

Method to Create Upward Water Fountain in Deep Water

A pair of University of Houston engineers has discovered that they can create upward fountains in water by shining laser beams on the water’s surface. Jiming Bao, professor of...

Podcasts: Energy

How to Build an 'Ocean Battery'

Dr. Frits Bliek and his team at Ocean Grazer are building an "Ocean Battery" that brings hydrodam technology to the sea.

Question of the Week: Mechanical & Fluid Systems

Will a Breath-Like Approach Cool Down Machinery?

University of Central Florida researchers are developing a human-like way for large machines to cool off: Letting the machines "breathe." (See our January issue of Tech Briefs to learn more.)