Test gauge measures very high pressure

Responding to the need for high-pressure products, Crystal Engineering, San Luis Obispo, Calif., a leader in high-end portable pressure calibrators and digital test gauges, introduced a 15,000 psi version of its popular XP2i test gauge. The ultra-rugged, intrinsically safe, easy-to-use test gauge joins the recently released GaugeCalHP Pressure Comparator and nVision Reference Recorder among other  instruments offered by the company.   The one-year XP2i accuracy specification is 0.

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Volume rendering on mobile devices

Bruker microCT (Kontich, Belgium) introduces a newly developed volume rendering application for mobile devices operating under iOS, such as iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch. It is now available as a free download on the App Store.   Any 3D results obtained using SkyScan scanners can be sent to a mobile device for realistic visualization by real-time volume rendering with the possibility of 3D object manipulation, virtual cut, adjustments of object’s opacity and colors, etc.

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Critical Materials Survey

The U.S. Defense Logistics Agency is requesting assistance on identifying materials critical to military and essential civilian needs. To ensure consideration of all materials important to the U.S. Department of Defense, the agency is seeking survey responses to be received before the end of July from organizations and experts who are concerned with availability of critical materials.

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Azzurro sets volume production for GaN-on-Si high-voltage wafers

Azzurro Semiconductors, Germany, has successfully achieved superior electrical performance and established a volume production track record for large size high-voltage GaN-on-Si high-voltage wafers. Unlike silicon, which has inherent limitations for fast switching at high voltage, GaN can meet these performance requirements with its excellent breakdown voltage and low leakage characteristics.   At present, the availability in the industry is still limited for production-suitable 6 in.

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Using 3D to make materials stronger

Aided by funding from NASA and using methods similar to 3D printing, researchers at Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, are running computer simulations of processes that could lead to stronger, more durable materials for the space agency. The researchers plan to fabricate some of these new materials soon, says Frank Liou, director of the Laser Aided Manufacturing Process (LAMP) Laboratory and the Michael and Joyce Bytnar professor of product innovation and creativity.

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Partnership formed to improve aircraft component design

Working with national laboratories, universities and industry, the Air Force is ensuring it stays on the cutting edge of global security by creating a new engineering paradigm to improve the safety and fuel-efficiency of aircraft.   Materials research engineers at the Air Force Research Laboratory, Lemont, Ill.

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NIST and ASM International to Collaborate on Structural Materials Data Demonstration Project

The NIST Material Measurement Laboratory, Gaithersburg, Md., and ASM International, Materials Park, Ohio, through its Computational Materials Data Network, formed a collaboration: the Structural Materials Data Demonstration Project. The project will establish a data repository focused on metallic structural materials, leveraging the overlapping interests and strengths of the two organizations.

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27th ASM Heat Treating Society Conference Reports Strong Attendance and a Sold Out Expo Floor

The 27th ASM Heat Treating Society Conference and Exposition (Heat Treat 2013) concluded this week with a strong attendance from the Heat Treating community and a sold out crowd of exhibitors on the show floor. Heat Treat 2013 was held in Indianapolis at the downtown convention center September 16-18. The event attracted over 2000 people from the heat treating community, marking a 16% attendance increase from 2011 and 28% increase from 2009.

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Optomec launches low-cost 3D printer for metal additive manufacturing

Optomec Inc., Albuquerque, N.M., launches a low cost metal 3D printer named the LENS 450. The system was developed specifically in response to growing industry interest in 3D printing of metals, including the need to train a new generation of workers in metal additive manufacturing technology. The first delivery will be to the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Material Science at the University of Pittsburgh, where it will be used in its new Advanced Manufacturing education program.

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