Next slide: Engineer improvement
Your peers often have the best engineering tips, so why turn down free expert advice? At www.designnews.com/webcasts, registered visitors can tune in to new and archived webcasts covering management topics such as "How to be a more productive engineer," "How to bring the best E-practices to your design process," and "How to manage design projects" to more specific engineering issues, including "Learn the basics of plastic gears" and "The next move in CAD: Guidelines for migrating your software." The webcasts offer audio/slideshows presented by a panel of industry experts.
No dummy project
Who knew anthropomorphic test devices, better known as "dummies," were so complex? At First Technology Safety Systems (www.ftss.com), these plastic-molded human imitations are no joke. Available in countless versions—from frontal/side/rear impact to aerospace/military models—the dummies are surprisingly intricate. The site provides all the technical specifications involved, including measurements and materials used. Considering that the history of crash test dummies counts cadavers, chimpanzees, and hogs among test models, FTSS has done the auto industry a great service.
Color me now
Coloring just got easier. Clariant Masterbatches, a supplier of color and additive masterbatches, has debuted a new E-Business Center and updated its Technical and Design Center at www.clariant.masterbatches.com. The site offers online access to MSDS sheets, certificates of analysis (COA), price quotes, and invoices. The Design Center requires a brief registration process, but in exchange visitors may submit a color match request, enter custom compound specifications, enter data into a coloring-cost calculator, or browse the color, additive, and compound selector for products. Users may link to online seminars, troubleshooting guides, and an answer line, in addition to side-by-side cost comparisons of pre-colored vs. resin plus masterbatch materials.
See it now, hear about it later
At www.hondacorporate.com/new, visitors can find out about the latest technology to come out of Honda plants. Whether it be the humanoid robot ASIMO, the Civic Hybrid, or the company's environmentally friendly "green facility" in Oregon, Honda continually pushes for progression and innovation. Be sure to check out the Element, the latest SUV-like vehicle due out this month, the next time you go online.
Future models from the past
Be on the lookout for Cornell University's collection of 220 mechanical teaching models from the 19th century—the world's largest collection—at the National Science Digital Library (http://nsdl.org). Intended mainly for teachers and students, the Kinematic Models for Design Digital Library (K-MODDL) collection will include both still and moving digital images of mechanical models made to teach the underlying mathematical principles driving the machines. Users will be able to view the models from different perspectives and control their movement online. The project is funded by the National Science Foundation and is expected to be completed in two years.
Meter measure-up
Wavetek Meterman® has expanded its website (www.metermantesttools.com) to include an online guide for choosing between digital multimeters (DMMs), clamp-on meters and components, and bench-test products. The website offers product specifications, a glossary of terms, and an accessory compatibility chart. Newcomers may take advantage of the expert-written "how-to" guides and application notes for different test and measurement tasks.
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