Using ultra-fast laser pulses, a team of researchers led by University of Arizona (UA), Tucson, assistant professor Vanessa Huxter made the first detailed observation of how energy travels through diamonds containing nitrogen-vacancy centers-promising candidates for a variety of technological advances such as quantum computing.
Alfe Heat Treating, Fort Wayne, Ind., sponsor of the University of Texas Austin’s Solar Power Team, helped design and build the TexSun, a vehicle with an aluminum sub-frame and chassis. The 35-pound design is much lighter than the previous model’s 80-pound steel sub-frame and chassis. “The aluminum chassis was great because it is so much lighter,” said Alfe Vice President Dan Andersen.
Edwards Vacuum, Sanborn, N.Y., offers the GXS dry screw industrial vacuum pump with advanced temperature control, low maintenance, and long service intervals. The compact and highly intelligent GXS is Edwards’ most robust and economical vacuum pump for industrial applications, with pumping speeds from 160 to 3450 m3/hr. The GXS vacuum pump uses patented screw technology to deliver high vacuum performance and increased capacity from a smaller sized pump.
Dan DeVries of Criterion NDT Inc., Auburn, Wash., presented “Advances in Eddy Current Verification of Heat Treat Processes” at Heat Treat 2013 in Indianapolis last month. The latest generation of eddy current test instruments and probes enables manufactures to perform 100% in-line inspection of heat-treated components, thus reducing warranty, scrap, and testing costs.
Alcoa, Pittsburgh, will invest $275 million over the next three years to expand and convert capacity at its rolling mill in Alcoa, Tenn. The project will convert some of the plant’s can sheet capacity to high-strength automotive aluminum, as well as install incremental automotive capacity. The Tennessee expansion is scheduled to be completed by mid-2015. Much of the volume for the automotive expansion is already secured under long-term supply agreements.
