Engineering TV : Material

Solar Decathlon Refract House - Part 2

CurtisEllzey — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 13:22:00 GMT

We continue our interview with Preet Anand about the Refract House, which uses a holistic and environmentally conscious design to produce a contemporary architectural solution using highly efficient and sustainable systems and materials. The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2009 combines the latest in home design and energy performance with the innovative spirit of university students from around the world. In the fall of 2009, the teams will transport their homes to the National Mall in Washington, D.C., forming a "solar village", where they will be judged in 10 different categories or challenges. Also watch this episode: Solar Decathlon Refract House - Part 1. For more information, visit Refract House.

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Solar Decathlon Refract House - Part 1

CurtisEllzey — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 12:05:00 GMT
For three weeks in October 2009, the U.S. Department of Energy will host the Solar Decathlon—a competition in which 20 teams of college and university students compete to design, build, and operate the most attractive, effective, and energy-efficient solar-powered house. Engineering TV talks with Santa Clara University's Preet Anand about the Refract House, made in conjunction with California College of the Arts. The Refract House uses the latest in sustainable, bio-based building materials, cutting-edge thermal efficiencies, and comprehensive controls systems. Also watch this episode: Solar Decathlon Refract House - Part 2. For more information, visit Refract House.

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PulseForge 3100 Demo

CurtisEllzey — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 14:07:00 GMT
Stan Farnsworth from Novacentrix demos the PulseForge 3100 for the manufacturing of printed electronics. The PulseForge 3100 uses rapid pulses of high-intensity light for high-speed drying, curing, sintering or annealing of high temperature materials on low temperature substrates such as plastic and paper, enabling inexpensive and flexible electronics. PulseForge tools are being used by customers in the development or production of advanced new products in applications such as photovoltaics, RFID, displays, smart packaging, medical sensors, and flexible circuits. Also watch this episode: PulseForge Tools for Printed Electronics. For more information, go to: NovaCentrix.

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PulseForge Tools for Printed Electronics

CurtisEllzey — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 14:00:00 GMT
The PulseForge family of tools sinter or anneal thin-film materials in only milliseconds, and are able to do so on a wide variety of substrates, including low temperature, flexible materials. The use of PulseForge tools can save time and money, and enable new types of products in applications like solar, RFID, displays, smart packaging, and even flexible circuits. Also watch this episode: PulseForge 3100 Demo. For more information, go to: NovaCentrix.

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Lightning Hybrids Body Mold Fabrication

CurtisEllzey — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 12:00:00 GMT
CEO Dan Johnson describes the various plugs and molds they've created for fabricating the carbon fiber bodies on the LH4 and LH3 vehicles. They have partnered with EBS Carbon in Boulder, CO, to create their unique composite car bodies. Lightning Hybrids creates the part plugs in-house using a 5-axis router from DMS, and then send them to EBS Carbon to be made into molds and then actual carbon fiber body parts. Also watch these episodes on Lightning Hybrids: Lightning Hybrids on Engineering TV. For more information, go to: Lightning Hybrids.

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Assembling Wind-Turbine Blades

CurtisEllzey — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 14:00:00 GMT
In Part 2 of our interview with MAG's John Hawthorne, John takes us through the steps to assembling wind-turbine blades. The new Rapid Material Placement System (RMPS) brings integrated manufacturing – with automation and repeatable process control – to what has largely been a manual or piecemeal-automated process. MAG has also developed a new, patent-pending quick-cure mold system. The molds are produced using the customer's CAD data. The system can be infused with resin in an hour, followed by a two-hour cure, about half the normal time. Also watch this episode: Automating Wind-Turbine Blade Fabrication. For more information, go to: MAG Industrial Automation Systems.

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Automating Wind-Turbine Blade Fabrication

CurtisEllzey — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 14:00:00 GMT
In Part 1 of this interview with John Hawthorne, Application Engineer at MAG Industrial Automation Systems, John discusses new systems that automate composite wind-turbine blade fabrication. The company's new Rapid Material Placement System (RMPS) and quick-cure molding system for wind blades combine to reduce labor content by two-thirds, double throughput, and produce a consistently high-quality blade from the start of a shift to the end. Also watch this episode: Assembling Wind-Turbine Blades. For more information, go to: MAG Industrial Automation Systems.

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Power Wave AC/DC 1000

CurtisEllzey — Tue, 19 May 2009 14:00:00 GMT
The Power Wave AC/DC 1000 inverter power source from The Lincoln Electric Company enabled T Bailey (a Washington-based construction and fabrication company) to significantly increase productivity and reach the higher deposition rates on its wind turbine towers. The machine’s patented Waveform Control Technology and variable AC/DC frequency allows for higher deposition rates at lower amperages compared to other available machines. It also provides a more stable arc for a consistent penetration pattern along the length of the weld, which is necessary in order for the welds to pass ultrasonic testing. Also watch this episode: Wind Tower Fabrication. For more information, go to: Lincoln Electric.

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Wind Tower Fabrication

CurtisEllzey — Mon, 18 May 2009 14:00:00 GMT
Essential to wind power generation is fabrication of wind towers capable of enduring the extreme conditions in which they are placed. Environmental exposure and high quality material requirements are two of the many challenges presented in wind tower fabrication. Patrick Wahlen details how Lincoln Electric is tackling the challenge of tower construction using submerged arc welding to fabricate and connect the sections, or steel "cans", to provide for quick and efficient assembly in the field. All these steps require quality welds able to meet exacting test standards. Also watch this episode: Power Wave AC/DC 1000. For more information, go to: Lincoln Electric.

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Micromuscle

CurtisEllzey — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:00:00 GMT
Electroactive polymers (EAP) are an emerging class of materials with many new revolutionary properties. One of the main advantages of electroactive polymers is the possibility to electrically control and fine-tune their behavior and properties. Using Micromuscle EAP technology, a wide variety of small moving components can be constructed. The possibility to create moving structures and exert force enables new functionality for medical devices and other life science products. For more information, go to: Micromuscle.

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Paragon Dive System

CurtisEllzey — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 14:06:00 GMT
The Paragon Dive System isolates a diver in a “space-suit like environment”, incorporating a Return Surface Exhaust design and upgraded materials, completely protecting divers from contaminants and hazardous materials present in their surrounding environment. The US Navy funded Paragon to redesign their existing surface supplied diving system because of the health risks posed to divers operating in contaminated water environments such as the USS Cole incident and Hurricane Katrina. Also watch this episode: Constellation Space Suit. For more information, go to: Paragon Space Development Corporation.

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Electrochromic Technology for Buildings

CurtisEllzey — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 15:00:00 GMT
At the World Energy Engineering Congress, Engineering TV talked with John Van Dine, SAGE Electrochromics President and CEO, about the benefits of using electrochromic technology in commercial and residential buildings. With SageGlass windows and skylights, architects no longer have to abide the drawbacks associated with "static" glass – glare, unwanted heat and energy waste. Electrochromic windows also facilitate sustainable building design. SageGlass is GreenSpec-listed, and can help buildings earn multiple LEED credits (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System). Also watch this episode: SageGlass Technology. For more information, go to: SAGE Electrochromics.

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SageGlass Technology

CurtisEllzey — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 15:00:00 GMT
At the touch of a button, SageGlass windows can be tinted to block the heat and glare of the sun, or untinted to let the sun shine in and provide a clear view of the world outside. SageGlass is manufactured by coating ordinary glass with five layers of thin ceramic materials (total thickness is less than 1/50th the thickness of a human hair). By applying a low voltage DC current, the ions and electrons in one layer of the coating migrate to another layer creating the darkening effect. Reversing the polarity causes the ions to migrate back to their original location and the glass “untints.” SageGlass products save energy, contribute to a more comfortable interior environment, and allow architects more daylighting design freedom. Also watch this episode: Electrochromic Technology for Buildings. For more information, go to: SAGE Electrochromics.

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Dermasol Thermoplastic Elastomer

CurtisEllzey — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 15:00:00 GMT
Dermasol is a new thermoplastic elastomer that feels remarkably like real human flesh. It can be made in any color (including clear), any shape and almost any durometer (hardness). It is especially useful for simulating tissue in organs and body structures for practicing operations and medical training. For over 20 years, California Medical Innovations has been formulating and compounding natural rubber latex, plastisols, and thermoplastic elastomers. For more information, go to: California Medical Innovations.

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Printed Solar Power

CurtisEllzey — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:04:00 GMT
Plextronics, Inc. is an international technology company that specializes in printed solar, lighting and other electronics. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, the company's focus is on organic solar cell and OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) lighting, specifically the conductive inks and process technologies that enable those and other similar applications. In printed solar cells, sunlight is collected in the photoactive layer to create charge carriers. When voltage is applied to the device, these carriers are separated into positive and negative charges and then directed to the conductive electrodes (cathode and transparent anode) to create power. The hole transport layer improves extraction of positive charges from the photoactive ink by matching of energy levels to photoactive ink. The combination of the Plexcore PV inks in a printed solar cell enables consistently improved device efficiency, which results in the ability to convert more sunlight into power.

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