Composites Unethical?

A recent product that has hit the market is the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.  There has been a lot of talk about this one of a kind airplane and the very unique way that it was designed and manufactured.  Almost the entire plane is made from composite material, compared to normal planes that use very little composites.

Credited to: http://www.copterplane.net

Composites are a fairly new material that is starting to get a lot of research and experimental use over the last few decades.  They are made by combining two or more materials together that are usually very different from one another, which creates a totally different material which has much better properties.  The goal when creating composites are to be lighter, stronger and more ductile than the materials that it is going to replace.  It is a relatively expensive process, compared to raw materials and elements that are found naturally and used in many different products, such as the metal, aluminum.

Composites definitely have a very bright future in many different area of manufacturing products.  Yes, they are more expensive than most other materials (metals, polymers and ceramics), but businesses and corporations will pay the extra dollar for the best material in order to get the best product.  Plus, using composites in products like vehicles that use gas to power them, can get much better fuel efficiency because of the low-weight of the composite.

Many people are still are little unsure about the use of composites in the real world, so people have been trying to prove to the doubters that composites are the best choice for upgrading vehicles and other products.  This leads me to the reason why some are questioning the use of composites in the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

Without a doubt, a successful Boeing 787 made almost entirely of composites would be huge for getting composites to be used in a wider range of application.  This is why the Dreamliner was a little rushed in the production and manufacturing stages.  The 787 has been in use now for a few years and has had minimal problems with it, except for a few batter and electrical problems.

Is it unethical to rush the use of composites into real-world products?  I say no, because of the many great benefits that it can provide for us.  Global warming has been a huge debate for the last few years, but composites can greatly help that cause by increasing fuel efficiency and greenhouse gases released by cars and airplanes.  Also, the strength of certain composites can be much higher based on its weight compared to most metals that are being used in military vehicles and equipment today.  This technology could save lives and create much better lives for us in the future, so what's holing us back?

Most people are a little uneasy, as would I, riding in a humongous plane thousands of feet in the air, that was glued together, and has almost no screws.  This, and how fast composite use has been rushed into many products such as the 787 without too much testing beforehand, are the main reasons holding the doubters back.  But to me, this is not unethical, due to the number of positives that outweigh the negatives.  All we need is a little faith; we are very close to revolutionizing the use of materials.

The Mobile Robot From a Mechanical Engineer's Perspective

There is a new class of mobile robots entering the world today, specifically in the indoor plant and warehouse environments.  The new Mobile Industrial Robot from Adept allows material handling equipment to behave as mobile robots, which enables a more efficient and leaner manufacturing process.

This piece of technology is able to maneuver its way around a warehouse after being programmed and can grab different materials or products that you so desire.  It is able to drive around a shop with much more ease and durability than any other automated industrial vehicle ever has.  A lot of the older technologies required magnets in the floor, which was cost a great deal of money to install.  Also, they were usually on a fixed path, like a bus route, so if something that you needed was not on its path, you were out of luck.  This highly advanced product, is more like a point to point taxi, where it can go anywhere in the warehouse that you ask it to, and retrieve your desired object a lot quicker because it does not have to take an unnecessary long route as the older vehicles did. 

As a mechanical engineer, I have many values, for myself and for the community that I work in.  Some of the things that ME's value are: efficiency, safety, dependability, and making a difference.  The Adept Mobile Industrial Robot is a product that would help many engineers and businesses bring these values to life in their field of work and help them to exceed their goals and aspirations.

This robot is nothing less than efficient.  Replacing a forklift or conveyor while adding durability and many other great qualities, is definitely something that this is capable of.  This could cut costs for companies paying for large and inefficient equipment, while improving productivity.  There is no doubt, any engineer or technician would be relieved of some unnecessary duties by incorporating a Adept Industrial Robot into their processes.  It would also speed up the manufacturing process, thus being able to get things done on time or ahead of time, which engineers value greatly as well.  If an engineer suddenly needs a few screw that are located on the other end of the shop, the robot can maneuver its way over there to pick up a few screws while you work on something else.

Safety is a huge concern in warehouse across the world.  Rather than dipping and dodging a forklift or other dangerous machinery, this compact robot incorporates sensors that ensure it does not bump into or touch anything that it is not supposed to.  So, instead of you looking out for dangerous machinery in the warehouse, the robot looks out for you, so you can go about your business faster, without worrying about getting smacked in the head.

One of the biggest values that mechanical engineers are concerned with is dependability.  The robot itself, is nothing less than dependable.  Compared to the older technology in industrial robots, which use magnets and permanent routes that the vehicle can travel on, the Adept robot can go wherever you want it to go at any time, and you are sure to get the objects you asked for on time and safely. 

Engineers love to make a difference in the community and their field of study.  This robot will for sure allow workers to achieve this goal because the Adept Mobile Robot makes a difference itself.  It allows the engineers and technicians to spend less time running around the shop looking for things, and more time perfecting products they might be working on or developing new and better technologies that would make a bigger difference to the people that they sell to.

This technology would benefit anyone in the manufacturing world.  Mechanical Engineers definitely approve of this product because of the values that it improves: efficiency, safety, dependability and making a difference.

 Full News Article - Mobile Indusrtrial Robot

 

 

Credited to:  http://img.deusm.com/designnews/2013/02/259391/094956_780411.jpg

A Review of the Toro Z Master Zero Turn 2000 Mower

Rating: 

Compared to others in it's class, such as the John Deere EZtrack Z255 and the Ariens Zoom 50 Zero Turn mowers, the Toro Z Master 2000 is a superior commercial mower in most aspects.  There are three choices to choose from when it comes to deck size (48", 52", 60") and horsepower (20.5 hp, 22 hp, 23.5 hp).  A few things to look for when reviewing any Zero Turn Mower are: Power, Durability, Comfort, Aesthetics, Build Quality, Noise, Safety, and Price.

Credited to: www.media.toro.com

A picture of the Toro Z Master Zero Turn Commercial 2000 Mower

Power:

With 20.5-23.5 hp, there is no short of power in this beast.  You will never find yourself getting stuck on the bottom of a hill or not finishing a job on time due to a slow cutting speed.

Durability:

With a zero degree turn radius, there is no where that this machine cannot get to.  Be aware that turning sharp on grass can definitely cause tearing and physical damage to the grass.  Once used to how the machine turns, this is not an issue, but it is still a area for concern for beginners.

Comfort:

Compared to the Toro Groundsmaster, this falls way short on the comfort scale.  After a few consecutive hours riding on this mower, some strain is put on the lower back.  I do not recommend using this mower for hours on end without at least a few walking breaks periodically.

Aesthetics:

The bright red mower frame and deck definitely catches the eye.  In comparison to the Ariens Zoom 50 Zero Turn Mower, with its not-so-appealing vintage orange frame, the Toro Z Master has no problem getting a "win" in this category.

Build Quality:

For the many months of my using this product, I never came across one broken part, loose screw, or gas/oil leak.  While riding this mower, you can feel the compactness and quality that this was built with.  Some maintenance is required though, as with any commercial equipment, such as greasing the major components weekly, sharpening the blades every few days, and cleaning off the belts and deck after every use.

Noise:

Resting on idle, there is no concern for noise.  When turning up the throttle and with the blades turned on, hearing protection is needed if you are planning on mowing for multiple hours.  It can definitely be a nuisance to others as well.  So be aware of any noise ordinances that may be in your area, and make sure to follow them because the noise from this Toro mower is quite loud.

Safety:

Safety is always a huge concern when it comes to commercial mowing, and can be a problem with this machine.  Beware of running any objects over that are not meant to be run over, because this mower will project objects directly sideways at unearthly speeds, endangering anything in its path.  However, for the rider of the Z Master, safety is one of the machine's high points.  It comes with a seat belt and most importantly, a safety bar which rises high into the air, made of steel, which protects the rider from being squashed in the event of flipping the mower over.

Price:

The Toro Z Master is about equal with its competitors when it comes to price.  Prices range from $7000 to $8000 depending on the size of the engine and deck size.  But for the quality of this product, it definitely surpasses its sticker price.

Overall, the Toro Z Master Zero Turn Mower is a fine piece of machinery and would be my first choice for maneuvering around trees and other obstacles while mowing.  The Build Quality is the best aspect of this mower, as long as you are willing to perform simple maintenance tasks.  The comfort could be improved as well as the noise of the engine and the safety for others who are next to the Z Master.  But in my opinion, the pros far outweigh the cons, so look no further when looking for a compact, Zero Turn, mower.

An Explanation of Mechanical Engineering

Many people seem to think that the field of my career choice is boring and uninteresting.  However, mechanical engineering is just the opposite.  People in the ME field get to use the knowledge that they learned in college and apply it in any way they choose to.  There are many sub-fields that mechanical engineers can break into such as manufacturing, construction, power, nuclear and medical.  All ME's perform the same tasks though: research, develop, design, manufacture and test machines and other mechanical devices.  This is a long, but exciting, process that allows the engineer to put their own ideas and thoughts into, so that at the end of production, the ME can call it his own work.  This is the most enjoyable aspect of being a mechanical engineer, because you are able to see directly how your hard work has impacted the world and perhaps made it a better place.

New technologies that the company that I work at such as the double displacement piston pump and the Wobble Drive really advanced the efficiency and quality of the fluid handling industry.  Without mechanical engineers, and the knowledge and background that they have in an array of subjects, those technologies would not exist today and a lot of wasted money and effort would be the result.

Numerous medical products, such as mechanical hearts, would not be in existence if it weren't for mechanical engineers, which are products that greatly enhance some people's lives and perhaps lengthen their lives greatly.  ME's are able to calculate very important properties that the mechanical heart must be able to withstand such as stress, strain and  time until failure in order to pick the right materials and forming processes for the heart to ensure that it is able to function exactly how "real" hearts do and for a great length of time.  Other engineers do not have a broad enough education to evaluate these properties and make a valid decision or assumption, based on the numbers obtained through research.

Mechanical engineers allow ideas to come to life and be a reality by making them possible.  Without ME's, products and technologies would never get past the drawing board, and therefore the idea would never benefit anyone or generate any profit.  We know the limitations, both by cost and physics, that we are constrained to, unlike some of the other engineers or managers that we work with who might have a good idea but not realize the amount of resources or cost and time that must go into the production process for the idea.  Many people think that mechanical engineers just sit in front of a computer all day, designing a bunch of products on  a 3-D CAD program, and that's it.  Well that is actually not correct at all.  ME's are involved with almost all steps of production, and are in the company's shop a lot of the time, looking at problems that a certain prototype may have, then working out a solution to fix it.

Mechanical Engineering has a very bright future, specifically in the relatively new but very important and interesting fields of nano-technology and bio mechanics.  Materials designed by nano-engineering are lighter and stronger than other materials, making this applicable in all fields of engineering.  Bio mechanics is something that will save people's lives and enhance the quality of life for people who are born with defects or had tragic accidents.  As you can see, ME is going in the right direction to make ideas that were dreamed about centuries ago a reality in the near future.