Model Airplanes

here is no doubt, 3D printing is a cool technology. For sci-fi geek – myself included – it is a step towards the replicators seen in Star Trek, the creation of virtually anything in an instant. And while we are some way of that, it is for now a fascinating technology that’s fast becoming a must have for designers and engineers alike.

But while many – again including myself – are excited by the prospect of ‘having a play’, the technology has been criticised for lacking clear application. People have found uses for them – for sure – but there is a disparity and nicheness of how they should be used usefully and productively.

You can always tell when a 3D printer is new to an office as it filled with Yoda heads, Eiffel Towers, and many other random plastic paper weights. Cool, definitely. The ultimate tool for procrastinators, perhaps. A tool that improves design, functionality, and time to market? Well that really depends who you talk to.

Additive technology continues a rapid rise in many markets, but it is still very much finding its way and seeking solid application by users who are figuring out how best to leverage it specific production qualities. A forerunner in making high end machines for professional use is Stratasys. The Israeli company has been building ties with big engineering industries for some time including automotive and particularly aerospace. The latter has been particularly interested in the capabilities on offer, which are a natural fit

Article source: http://www.materialsforengineering.co.uk/engineering-materials-features/the-long-road-to-qualification/86548/

Dr. Yaun’s Blog

Learn the latest about all aspects of health including fitness, nutrition, sleeping habits, pain management, etc. Every aspect of health must be accounted for in daily life. This blog provides a guide to living an active lifestyle pain-free!

Article source: http://www.minutemannewscenter.com/articles/2015/06/23/westport/life/doc558996ba5516d914791956.txt

Perhaps you are familiar with several of the larger airplane museums in the United States such as the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington or the National Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Fla. However, there is a preponderance of smaller air museums worth a visit, including several in Illinois and Missouri.

Many have only a few planes and exhibits, but they are probably run by experienced pilots and volunteers eager to talk to visitors. All are destinations for aviation aficionados, but each also offers an opportunity for the public to learn about flying. Many offer volunteer opportunities to help restore historic aircraft. Below are brief descriptions of several air museums just a short drive from St. Louis.

THE CHANUTE AIR MUSEUM

Rantoul, Ill.; aeromuseum.org

Situated in a hangar and spread out over the airport tarmac on the deactivated Chanute Air Force Base, this museum is home to more than 40 planes and numerous exhibits. “Most are military on loan from military museums,” curator Mark Hanson said.

A popular plane for visitors is the P51 H Mustang used in World War II. “With an elongated, bulbous front nose and impressive wartime record, it is a cool plane,” Hanson says. “Another historically significant plane is our XB47 Stratojet, the forerunner of the B-52. Only two were built, and the museum has the one remaining.”

Displays are devoted to the history of flight before the Wright Brothers, civilian aviation, the Korean War, the Tuskegee Airmen, and POWs and MIAs.