Capacitors are electronic components that store and release electrical energy in a circuit. The electrical energy stored in the capacitor is called capacitance and is measured in farads (F). Capacitors consist of two conductive plates separated by an insulating material known as a dielectric. When a voltage is applied across the plates, an electric field is created in the dielectric, causing a separation of charge. One plate accumulates positive charge, and the other accumulates an equal amount of negative charge. This ability to hold charge is what allows capacitors to store energy. Capacitan ..read more

The ongoing story of the recent Boeing 737 MAX issues is a warning to engineers of neglect and lack of engineering redundancy. The story begins as early as 2001 when Boeing began to restructure their company and focus on concurrent suppliers for design and manufacturing work. Boeing, over the next 5-10 years, became more of a systems integrator. The more Boeing outsourced to more suppliers, the more issues arose due to configuration management and integrating designs by different companies into a singular system. As Boeing management continued to focus on cutting costs, engineering and softwar ..read more

An ohm (symbol: Ω) is the SI unit of electrical resistance, named after the German physicist Georg Simon Ohm. It represents the resistance in a circuit when a voltage of one volt (V) applied across it generates a current of one ampere (A). In other words, if you have a device with a resistance of 1 ohm, and you apply 1 volt across it, it will allow a current of 1 ampere to flow through it. The relationship between voltage (V), current (I), and resistance (R) is given by Ohm's law, which states: Resistors are used to control the flow of electric current in circuits. They are designed to have a ..read more

The landscape of mechanical engineering is undergoing a seismic shift, thanks to the advent of groundbreaking technologies that are redefining the boundaries of design, production, and functionality. Modern innovative technologies such as 3D printing, augmented reality, and artificial intelligence have had and will continue to have a transformative impact on the mechanical design industries. By integrating these technologies, engineers are not only enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of mechanical systems but also pioneering solutions to complex challenges, thus paving the way for a fut ..read more

Summary In the summer of 1981, the suspended walkways on the second and fourth floor of the Hyatt Regency hotel in Kansas City, Missouri collapsed, killing over 110 people and injuring over 200 more. This structural failure during a party at the hotel was the worst in US history at the time. Design The two walkways at the hotel atrium were suspended from the roof, stacked one on top of the other. The design consisted of threaded hanger rods that were bolted to box girders, ultimately used to support the walkway deck. See - How to Calculate Maximum Fastener and Screw Torque for a Bolted Joint B ..read more

The holidays are an exceptional time of the year, during which we surprise our loved ones with memorable gifts. Engineers are thought to be a special kind of person with out-of-the-ordinary dreams and views on the world, but even though it is a generalization, there is truth to it as with people in every profession. When it comes to finding the right gifts for engineers, we tend to come up with something techy, but is that enough? Let’s begin the quest to buy the engineer’s dream gift! Gift Guidelines Being an engineer is luckily not a gender-specific job anymore, unlike in the 20th century, t ..read more

Welcome to the Omnia Manufacturing weekly aggregation of news articles, scientific journal releases, current research, and events that have been published recently. If you would like to see your research, article, event, or some other piece of news here, please send me a message here: Contact Mechanical Engineering Diabolical ironclad beetles inspire tougher joints for engineering applications The splendidly named diabolical ironclad beetle (Phloeodes diabolicus, Fig. 1) has an impressively tough exoskeleton — allowing it to survive attacks from predators, being stomped on by hikers and even b ..read more

What is the Hyperloop? Elon Musk released a white paper detailing an air levitation passenger and cargo transportation system concept, called the Hyperloop, in August 2013 and hosted a design competition around the world. The Hyperloop tube is designed to reduce as much movement friction as possibly by evacuating the interior to near vacuum, or approximately 1/6 the pressure of Mars’ atmosphere. The capsules, used to carry passengers or cargo, levitate on a set of 28 air-bearing skis that generate an air cushion for near friction-less gliding along the track. The system will be powered from so ..read more

Are Hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV) the future? – A question that has been on the mind of the world with the recent developments in the technology and the exponential success of battery electric vehicles. This is a comprehensive review on the workings of a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, their benefits, comparison with the standard electric cars, and the companies working for its advancement. Fuel cells have been in operation for decades, is it finally time for consumer products to see their benefits? Fuel Cells History of Fuel Cells The first documented development and invention of f ..read more

Summary Below is a summary of the topics covered in Real Engineering’s video. For the full effect and information including illustrations and examples, I recommend watching all the way through. Transistors are one of the most important inventions that has transformed the world faster than ever before. Over 59% population currently connected to internet now, and this number is growing with lower cost and higher accessibility. Without transistors, we would not have the internet, extensive connectivity, and everything that comes with this technology in it’s current form History Prior to transisto ..read more