Articles tagged with Manufacturing
Rutgers University engineers are monitoring the buildup of empty containers in New Jersey and proposing strategies to improve their management. Rising steel costs have made it more economical for shipping companies to take back empties, but a study aims to optimize container movement within the region.
The NMSU Physical Science Laboratory designed and fielded a countermeasure device in under three months to combat IEDs, providing increased survivability for warfighters. The signal-jamming equipment is being used by the US Army, Marines, and Navy Explosive Ordinance Disposal unit.
Researchers from NIST and UC Berkeley use NEXAFS spectroscopy to track chemical reactions, molecular reordering, and defect formation in organic electronic devices. The study reveals the importance of film structure and composition on charge carrier movement, offering a new tool for improving device performance.
Researchers have created new stain-resistant coatings that use novel short-chain fluorocarbons, reducing the environmental impact of PFOA. The compounds perform as well as conventional coatings and have been filed for patent, offering a potential solution to reduce PFOA in environments.
A recent study by the University of Cardiff's Economic & Social Research Council found that fast turnaround times on car carriers lead to a decline in seafarers' lives, causing fatigue, social isolation, and limited free time. The research highlights the need for better working conditions and labor protections for crew members.
Researchers have developed a new technique that allows for the creation of complex patterns in nano-electronics using self-assembling materials. This breakthrough enables the production of complex nano-electronic devices with non-regular geometries, which is crucial for advancing computer architecture by Moore's Law.
The team successfully fabricated four niobium single cell cavities from large-grain and single crystal ingots, achieving an accelerating gradient of 45 MV/m, exceeding the ILC specification. This new fabrication process simplifies manufacturing, reduces cost, and improves cavity performance.
The study found that classification of research and development in the services sector has become increasingly difficult due to blurring lines between manufacturing and services. The researchers make recommendations for improved definitions and revised wording of questions to improve accuracy.
GM's innovative use of operations research has saved the company over $2 billion by improving productivity at 30 assembly plants worldwide. The award recognizes outstanding implemented operations research that has had a significant positive impact on GM's performance.
A new study reveals that tattoo inks contain diverse chemical compositions, including heavy metals, which may pose health risks. The research aims to encourage closer regulation of the tattoo industry and improve safety standards for patients undergoing tattoo removal surgery.
The new test structures provide a wider range of reference feature sizes and are measured more precisely than previously available materials. Industry can use these reference materials to calibrate tools to reliably measure microprocessor-device gates.
USC researchers have found that flawed hardware can be tolerable in various applications, such as graphics and accounting. They've developed simple test structures to determine attributes of erroneous performance, enabling cost-efficient testing and prediction.
The Center for Advanced Microelectronics Manufacturing (CAMM) will combine resources from academia, government, and industry to speed up microelectronics manufacturing research and development in a roll-to-roll format. CAMM's R2R research capabilities include flexible displays, 'foldable' radars, and protective clothing.
Virginia Tech researchers have developed a chemical process to extract ethanol and xylitol from cotton gin residue. This technology has the potential to create a new industry in the state's cotton-growing region, providing a solution to the problem of residue disposal.
Researchers tested recordable optical disks' durability in various conditions, finding that some can store data for decades. The Government Information Preservation Working Group is setting requirements for archival quality media, allowing organizations to identify suitable high-quality media for long-term data storage.
The microchip industry is struggling to achieve precise timing as device dimensions and tolerances continue to shrink. To address this issue, NIST is supporting the development of time synchronization standards in collaboration with International SEMATECH's e-Manufacturing initiatives.
Price promotions benefit consumers overall, but not manufacturers or retailers in the long run. Introducing store brands is beneficial to premium brand manufacturers and offers increased profit margins for retailers.
Researchers are exploring spider silk's potential as an ecological material, with applications in wound-closure systems and durable surgical implants. By engineering artificial proteins, they hope to create intelligent materials that can assemble into new types of mesh with biochemically active groups.
A new report provides guidance for monitoring adverse events from dietary supplements, recommending a user-friendly approach and standardized questionnaire to detect and prioritize signals. The report aims to enhance the likelihood of identifying true adverse effects and improve the effectiveness of postmarket surveillance systems.
Operations research and manufacturing techniques will improve healthcare delivery by reducing costs and enhancing quality. Techniques such as supply chain management and scheduling systems are being adopted in hospitals and blood banks to reduce delays and improve patient care.
The influenza vaccine faces production challenges, with Chiron's manufacturing troubles affecting UK and US supplies. To mitigate this, manufacturers are diversifying their output to ensure vaccination for high-risk groups is maintained.
A recent University of Florida study found that professionals with high intellectual and emotional demands, such as doctors and lawyers, are typically well-compensated. In contrast, workers in emotionally demanding yet low-intellectual jobs, like waiters and child-care workers, often receive lower pay despite facing significant stress.
Researchers have uncovered patterns of granular motion that promote layer formation and interfere with achieving uniform mixing, which could be useful in manufacturing and understanding particle flow on a larger scale. The study's findings could help engineers design barriers to divert rock slides from populated areas.
A new workholding technology uses light-activated adhesive to hold and release workpieces, offering an alternative to mechanical clamping. The technology has a yield strength of over 5500 pounds per square inch and can be used with a wide variety of workpieces.
Researchers at NIST discovered that adding carbon nanotubes to polypropylene eliminates a common manufacturing headache called 'die-swell'. The addition of nanotubes allows the polymer to be processed at high speed through extruders, enabling the controlled manufacture of smaller components.
Researchers at Georgia Tech and partnering institutions are studying the effects of high electromagnetic stress on launchers, aiming to reduce damage caused by intense heat and friction. The goal is to develop reliable railguns for the Navy's next-generation electric battleships.
NIST scientists have developed three new standards to measure microdevice materials more accurately. The standards aim to reduce variations in measurements between laboratories, improving the design and performance of microdevices. The new standards advance measurement of in-plane length, residual strain, and strain gradient.
Recent advancements in microchip lasers and optics have improved LADAR systems' speed of data acquisition, range accuracy, and reliability. LADARs are now used to generate topographic images, survey large bodies of water, and document construction sites.
The Rochester Institute of Technology is developing a new effort to provide logistics, guidance, and information sharing on direct methanol fuel cells for the portable electronics market. CIMS will analyze environmental impacts, life-cycle economics, and develop end-of-life strategies to reduce costs and improve sustainability.
Researchers at Hebrew University create gold-tipped nanocrystals that offer a solution to problems of building nanoscale transistors and electronic circuits. These nanodumbbells provide strong chemical bonds between the gold and semiconductor, leading to good electrical connectivity.
A new paper by Chris Phoenix and K. Eric Drexler argues that self-replication is not necessary for building an efficient molecular manufacturing system, contrary to previous understanding. Instead, simple robot-arms in larger factories are a more practical solution.
The new centre aims to help firms adopt sustainable practices through research on advanced technologies, miniaturisation, and waste minimisation. It will also explore shared and collaborative logistics, warehousing, and transport systems to achieve sustainable economics for the manufacturing industry.
A team of industrial partners, including TechSolve Inc., is working with Purdue University to create an intelligent system that improves precision-grinding processes for parts production. The 'intelligent optimization and control grinding processes' use artificial-intelligence software to learn and adapt to changing conditions.
Researchers have developed a faster and more environmentally friendly polishing slurry using green tea extract, which can save hard-drive manufacturers millions of dollars in disposal costs. The new slurry works by binding to tiny particles on the surface of read-write heads, making them easy to remove with water.
The NIST virtual surface calibration Web site provides free two-dimensional surface texture analysis software and a database of 10 different types of surface profiles. Manufacturers can validate software measurements and upload their own surface profiles to gain confidence in the accuracy of their software.
A new, biodegradable machining compound developed by Ventana Research Corporation uses green tea extracts to improve the efficiency of computer hard drive manufacturing. The compound has shown a three- to four-fold increase in efficiency, leading to potential cost savings and environmental benefits.
Researchers have created a microgel that can recover costly enzymes, overcoming significant obstacles in using natural enzymes in laboratory and industrial settings. The microgel enables efficient enzyme recovery, allowing for repeated use in catalyzing commercially important reactions.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has approved standards for electronic methods used in measuring live animals, carcasses, and individual cuts. The new standards aim to increase consistency and confidence in measurements across technologies, benefiting equipment manufacturers, producers, packers, and consumers.
The average desktop system requires 10 times its weight in fossil fuels and chemicals to manufacture, with a total of 1.8 tonnes of materials used per computer. The study highlights the need to extend the useful life of existing equipment to reduce waste and mitigate environmental impacts.
Researchers have determined the 7.6-angstrom scale structure of a reovirus, visualizing its molecular composition and internal workings. The discovery may help understand how the virus manufactures genetic weapons to infect cells, potentially leading to new treatments and applications.
Researchers at NIST are studying how different factors affect fuel cell efficiency, including electrical and heating demands, temperatures, humidity, and power systems. The goal is to develop performance ratings that can help consumers understand the financial costs and benefits of fuel cells in various geographic and climate conditions.
Researchers developed a hybrid approach to improve microelectronics production, combining lithography and self-assembling materials to achieve nanoscale dimensions. This technology could lead to faster, more powerful devices with increased data capacity, while reducing manufacturing costs.
Researchers have developed the most effective commercially available black coating, NPL Super Black, with a low reflectance of 0.35% in the visible region. This breakthrough has significant implications for fields like radiometry, spectroscopy, and optical metrology, where stray light reduction is crucial.
Researchers are working to make cell phones more accessible for people with disabilities by identifying user requirements and challenges in user interface designs. The study focuses on usability tests with selected Toshiba phones and aims to develop new features for future cell phone interfaces.
A comprehensive study by Ohio State University researchers found that the cutting process in factories significantly impacts magnetic tape data density. The quality of the tape edge becomes crucial as tapes with more tracks need to carry more data and wind less. The study developed techniques for measuring the forces that affect tape c...
A Texas forestry sciences researcher has developed a two-dimensional warping model based on the mechanics of layered composites, enabling factory managers to make changes in manufacturing processes. The model uses commercial spreadsheet software to calculate and plot overall linear expansion and out-of-plane warping of wood-based panels.
Researchers from Virginia Tech have made a significant breakthrough in fuel cell technology by developing an industrially available starting material for manufacturing proton exchange membranes. The starting material, derived from new copolymers, enables the mass production of fuel cells on an industrial scale.
Researchers at Binghamton University's IEEC are working on developing small-scale electronics, including microelectric mechanical systems and nanostructured materials. The goal is to create next-generation products with advanced technology, rather than lower cost manufacturing.
Researchers have developed DNA scaffolding for arrays of nanoparticles, enabling the processing of large amounts of information. The technology could lead to real-time image processing and improved noise filtering, potentially even rivaling human eye speed.
The partnership enables mill operators to better manage contaminants that foul machinery, reducing water usage by 50% and estimated annual cost savings of $250,000. The technology uses UV-Vis spectrophotometer hardware and software analysis tools to measure particle stability in papermaking process streams.
Researchers found that food producers responded positively to fortified products after government-led advertising campaigns, leading to widespread compliance. The study highlights the importance of governments as large food purchasers influencing industry behavior.
Researchers develop a novel method to assemble nanoparticles using non-uniform AC electric fields, allowing for the creation of ordered structures with desired properties. This process can be used to manufacture nanoscale tools and devices, including sensors and photonic devices.
Harold A. Sorgenti receives the Petrochemical Heritage Award for his entrepreneurial and community leadership achievements in the petrochemical sector. The award recognizes his significant contributions to the modern sciences, industries, and economies.
The pharmaceutical industry's focus on high-income markets is hindering access to essential drugs in less-developed countries, where millions lack access to life-saving medications. Voluntary licensing arrangements and freer trade could improve access to patented drugs, according to experts.
Researchers at Ohio State University have created a new method for shaping metal using magnetism, eliminating the need for industrial lubricants. The 'bump forming' technique increases the depth of metal parts by up to 47% while reducing production costs and environmental impact.
Researchers are developing robots inspired by cockroaches' legs using biomimetics and Shape Deposition Manufacturing. The study found that a cockroach leg's response to displacement inputs can be modeled as a viscoelastic material, enabling the design of stable and compliant robot legs.
A study of internal tobacco industry documents reveals that companies profited from both tobacco and nicotine replacement therapies, undermining efforts to combat smoking addiction. Researchers argue that such financial conflicts of interest should be made public to ensure greater corporate responsibility.
Researchers at Oregon State University have made a breakthrough in creating crystalline thin films at lower temperatures without the need for vacuum conditions. This advance could enable the mass production of electronic devices on plastics and facilitate cheaper production of some products.
A recent study by Ohio State University researchers found that semiconductor companies can improve their technological performance through outsourcing, but only under specific circumstances. The study identified critical characteristics of the end-product and production process that predict successful outsourcing outcomes.
A team of researchers from Purdue University and their partners have developed a new manufacturing approach to produce carbon-carbon composites at lower cost. The robotic system uses computer control to precisely deposit carbon fibers, resulting in better part quality and reduced production time.