Manufacturing Engineering

Continuous improvement is one of the core strategies for excellence in production. In semiconductor industries, they manage to be more competitive by increasing their productivity and producing a variety of products in a large quantity at a low processing time. The goal of this study is to develop the universal parts on pick and place (PnP) machine and reduce on the setup time that impacted to the overall output of the products. The Quality Function Deployment (QFD) method as a supported tool was used for the development of this universal part. Then, production rate of three different products before and after improvement of the parts were recorded. The results revealed that the overall rate of production was improved up to 13.3 %. In addition, total errors from the PnP machine between the current and the new parts design significantly can be reduced up to 6 %. Keyword: quality function deployment, house of quality, voice of customer, semiconductor industry. INTRODUCTION In order to...

Point defects are responsible for a wide range of optoelectronic properties in materials, making it crucial to engineer their concentrations for novel materials design. However, considering the plethora of defects in co-doped semiconducting and dielectric materials and the dependence of defect formation energies on heat treatment parameters, process design based on an experimental trial and error approach is not an efficient strategy. This makes it necessary to explore computational pathways for predicting defect equilibria during heat treatments. The accumulated experimental knowledge on defect transformations in diamond is unparalleled. Therefore, diamond is an excellent material for benchmarking computational approaches. By considering nitrogen, hydrogen, and silicon doped diamond as a model system, we have investigated the pressure dependence of defect formation energies and calculated the defect equilibria during heat treatment of diamond through ab-initio calculations. We have plotted monolithic-Kröger-Vink diagrams for various defects, representing defect concentrations based on process parameters, such as temperature and partial pressure of gases used during heat treatments of diamond. The method demonstrated predicts the majority of experimental data, such as nitrogen aggregation path leading towards the formation of the B center, annealing of the B, H3, N3, and NVHx centers at ultra high temperatures, the thermal stability of the SiV center, and temperature dependence of NV concentration. We demonstrate the possibility of designing heat treatments for a wide range of semiconducting and dielectric materials by using a relatively inexpensive yet robust first principles approach, significantly accelerating defect engineering and high-throughput novel materials design.

Manufacturing industries are constantly identifying ways to automate machinery and processes to reduce waste and increase profits. Machines that were previously handled manually in non-standardized manners can now be automated. Converting non-digital records to digital formats is called digitization. Data that are analyzed or entered manually are subject to human error. Digitization can remove human error, when dealing with data, via automatic extraction and data conversion. This paper presents methodology to identify automation opportunities and eliminate manual processes via digitized data analyses. The method uses a hybrid combination of Lean Six Sigma (LSS), CRISP-DM framework, and “pre-automation” sequence, which address the gaps in each individual methodology and enable the identification and analysis of processes for optimization, in terms of automation. The results from the use case validates the novel methodology, reducing the implant manufacturing process cycle time by 3.7...

ABSTRACTWe investigate the stability of an unknown nonlinear discrete‐time non‐minimum phase system under a trajectory‐based control law. The system can be regarded as a first‐order approximation to a continuous‐time system. Hence, one of the parameters in the discrete‐time system equation can be regarded as the “sampling interval”. We show that, subject to certain conditions, as long as the sampling interval is neither too short nor too long, the closed‐loop system is stable in a certain sense.

R&D activities on diamond chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and field emission in the Frontier Carbon Technology Project are presented. The topics are (1) morphology control of diamond films grown by a 60-kW, 915-MHz microwave plasma CVD reactor, (2) growth technology of large single crystal diamond with a low density of defects, (3) heteroepitaxial growth technology of diamond films on Pt, (4) fabrication of sharp emitter tips on single crystal diamond, (5) field emission study from diamond particles, and (6) intense field emission from ion implanted homoepitaxial diamond layer. Research results of field emission obtained by Kyoto University and North Carolina State University are also described.

This study presents an untethered magnetic manipulation technique for controlling a microrobot position under high rate laminar flows up to 4.5 mL/min. An increase in flow rate exponentially increases the drag force on the microrobot and negatively impacts its positioning accuracy. Increasing the longitudinal force generated by the microrobot's driving apparatus helps in overcoming the disruptive effects of the fluid flow and increases longitudinal motion stability. To this end, we propose a magnetic configuration with two ringshaped magnets, one above and the other below the microfluidic channel. This configuration causes the magnetic field lines emanating from the ring-shaped magnets to converge on both sides of the microrobot. Thus, the magnetic trapping forces that hold the microrobot in position are increased. To the best of our knowledge, no prior study exists on investigating the longitudinal motion for high flow velocities (> 5 mm/s). Investigating the longitudinal forces (along the x-axis) that affect a magnetically-driven microrobot is a novel research topic that has many potential application areas such as cell research, micromanipulation, and lab-on-a-chip systems. The microrobot's dynamical motion is modeled as a second-order system, and using this model as a guideline, we demonstrate the ability of a microrobot in a square-shaped microfluidic channel (900µm × 900µm) to follow a linear trajectory with a relative velocity up to 132.6 mm/s. A straight and longitudinal trajectory of 4000µm has been successfully followed in the same and opposite directions to the flow for different flow rates (1-4.5 mL/min) and different robot speeds (10-50 mm/s).

Annual surveys e.g. by the Bourton Group 1 have seen this pressure steadily rising. In their 1992 survey it was way down, at ninth in a list of ten; last year it was exceeded only by the need to cut product costs and increase shareholder returns (which in themselves are inextricably driven by new, well designed, products).

Son yıllarda, katmanlı imalat teknikleri oldukça ilgi görmektedir. Bugünlerde dijital imalat (3B üretim, katmanlı üretim ya da hızlı prototipleme) üçüncü sanayi devrimi olarak görülmektedir. Malzeme eksiltilerek yapılan geleneksel imalat yöntemlerinden farklı olarak, malzeme eklenmesi ile yapılan bu yöntem havacılık endüstrisi (tıp, otomotiv endüstrileri) alanında hızla artmaktadır. Boeing, GE Havacılık, Airbus, Bell Helikopterleri, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, gibi büyük havacılık şirketleri katmanlı imalat süreçlerini ve malzemelerini uçuş için kalifiye etmek amacıyla yoğun olarak çalışmaktadırlar. Havacılık endüstrisinde üretim yapan çoğu şirket geleneksel yöntemlerle imalatı mümkün olmayan kompleks yapılı parçaların, farklı malzeme kullanılarak katmanlı üretim teknikleri ile üretimlerinin mümkün olduğunu düşünmektedirler. Katmanlı üretim teknikleri kullanılarak, direkt 3 boyutlu modelden başlanarak, dövme ve talaşlı imalat ile işleme yerine, malzemelerin eritilmesinin ardından yeni nesnelerin inşaası mümkündür. Katmanlı imalat ile iyi yüzey kalitesine sahip ve nete yakın ölçülerde oldukça karmaşık kompleks yapılar üretilebilmektedir. İşleme prosesini neredeyse tamamen elimine ederek karbon emisyonunda ve maliyetlerde büyük tasarruf sağlanabilir. Bu yöntemin avantajları dikkate alınarak TUSAŞ mühendisleri bu doğrultuda geleceğe yönelik çalışmalara başlamıştır. Bazı TUSAŞ özgün projelerinde kullanılması amacıyla ilk aşamada ikincil yapılarda denenmek üzere katmanlı üretim tezgahının TUSAŞ tarafından sahip olunması ve proses kalifikasyonunun yapılması planlanmaktadır.

Katmanli uretim teknikleri son yillarda oldukca  ilgi gormektedir. Şimdilerde dijital imalat (3D yada  katmanli imalat) ile gelen ucuncu sanayi devriminden soz  edilmektedir [1]. Malzeme eksiltilerek yapilan geleneksel  imalat yontemlerinden farkli olarak, malzeme eklenmesi  ile yapilan bu katmanli imalatin orani ozellikle havacilik ve  tip, otomotiv v.b alanlarinda hizla artmaya baslamistir.  Boeing, Airbus, GE Aviation, Lockheed Martin, Northrop  Grumman, Bell Helicopters gibi buyuk havacilik sirketleri  katmanli imalat proseslerini ve malzemelerini ucus icin  kalifiye etmek amaciyla yogun olarak calismaktadirlar [2]. Cogu havacilik firmasi geleneksel yontemlerle imalati mumkun olmayan kompleks yapili parcalarin bircok farkli  malzeme kullanilarak katmanli uretim teknikleri ile  uretimlerinin mumkun oldugunu dusunmektedirler.  Katmanli uretim teknikleri kullanilarak, direk 3 boyutlu  modelden baslanarak, dovme (forging) ve malzemenin  islenerek uzaklastirilmasi yerine, malzemeleri...

A Lean Engineer’s Guide to Building Enduring Innovation

Tesla vs. Toyota explores the two most influential automakers today—and reveals why speed and cutting-edge tech don't guarantee success on their own.

Tesla revolutionizes with fully electric vehicles, direct-to-consumer sales, and bold autonomous features.

Toyota dominates with its hybrid origins, mastery of the Toyota Production System (TPS), and steel-willed manufacturing excellence.

This side-by-side comparison dives deep into:

Powertrain strategy: EV purity vs. hybrid diversity

Automation philosophy: “Move fast” futurism vs. long-proven TPS reliability and resilience

Culture: Engineer-led disruption vs. respect-driven continuous improvement

Environmental plans: Renewable ecosystems vs. a pragmatic multi-path to carbon neutrality

Market approaches: Brand evangelism vs. mass-market trust and volume precision


Why You Need This Book
You’ll gain an insider's view of how great production systems—like Kanban, Jidoka, Hoshin, and Gemba—create durable competitive advantage. Learn what Tesla can—and must—borrow from Toyota, and see how Lean principles can future-proof any organization, tech startup or factory floor.


Perfect For:
Engineers, managers, and executives seeking sustainable innovation

Lean practitioners aiming to master modern production challenges

Investors, tech-savvy consumers, and mobility thinkers eager to understand tomorrow’s auto economy

Tesla’s pace got the world’s attention. But Toyota’s process built an empire that lasts a century. If you want to lead in the era of change, read this first—because technology without structure is a house built on sand.

Additive manufacturing, more commonly known as 3D printing is a rapidly developing, thoroughly novel means of producing complex, previously difficult to manufacture components. Slowly divorcing itself from previously held preconceptions of rapid prototyping and now capable of producing comparable structures from materials such as titanium and high strength nickel alloys, it is a means of manufacturing structures deemed too complex for existing fabrication techniques. Whilst free of conventional constraints, the unique intricacies of the manufacturing process can lead to the creation of factors, detrimental to production success. The research detailed within this paper demonstrates through example, how the orientation of a part prior to build can be optimized in order to significantly mitigate these effects and to maximize build economics. Furthermore the research details a new method for the combined assessment and tailored structural topology optimization of parts intended for production by specific additive manufacturing technologies.

The purpose of this research was to design and develop hydrogels by esterification of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) with gelatin. The membranes were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction (XRD), and differential scanning calorimetry. The viscosity of the esterified product (as solution) was compared with the mixture of PVA and gelatin of the same composition. The mechanical properties of the hydrogels were characterized by tensile tests. Swelling behavior and hemocompatibility of the membrane were also evaluated. The diffusion coefficient of salicylic acid (SA), when the receptor compartment contained Ringer's solution, through the membrane was determined. SA was used as a model drug. FTIR spectra of the membranes indicated complete esterification of the free carboxylic groups of gelatin. XRD studies indicated that the crystallinity of the membranes was mainly due to gelatin. The comparison of viscosity indicated an increase in segment density within the molecular coil. The membrane had sufficient strength and water-holding capacity. Hemocompatibility suggested that the hydrogel could be tried as wound dressing and as an implantable drug delivery system. The diffusion coefficient of SA through the membrane was found to be 1.32 × 10 -5 cm 2 /s. The experimental results indicated that the hydrogel could be tried for various biomedical applications.

The paper analyses a recently introduced two-motor five-phase drive system with series connection of stator windings. It has been shown, using physical reasoning, that introduction of an appropriate phase transposition in the series connection of two machines leads to a complete decoupling of the flux/torque producing currents of one machine from the flux/torque producing currents of the second machine. Consequently, independent vector control of the two machines becomes possible, while using a single current-controlled five-phase voltage source inverter (VSI) as the supply. The drive system modeling and control are elaborated at first in this paper, taking both machines as induction motors. It is shown, using rigorous mathematical derivations, that the independent control of the two machines results due to the placement of machines in two different sub-spaces of the five-dimensional space. This is enabled by the phase transposition in the series connection. The models of the complete drive in the stationary common reference frame and in the rotor flux oriented reference frames of the two machines are developed. An associated vector control scheme for the two-motor drive is presented next. The second part of the paper describes an experimental set-up, used further on to evaluate the dynamic behavior of the two-motor drive. Performance is investigated by extensive experimentation for various transients (acceleration, deceleration, reversing and disturbance rejection). Excellent decoupling of control of the two machines is achieved. Both the concept of the drive and the approach to modeling and control are thus fully verified experimentally. Finally, advantages and shortcomings of the series-connected fivephase two-motor drive are discussed and potential application areas are highlighted.

The purpose of the research process was to assess the state of knowledge on the use of Industry 4.0 postulates in the context of Engineer 4.0 and Manager 4.0 competencies in family firms, identify research gaps and outline future research directions. We conducted a systematic literature review of 21 articles from the Scopus database that relate to the topic of Industry 4.0 and Engineer 4.0 and Manager 4.0 in family firms. To identify the state of the art, keyword co-occurrence analysis using VosViewer software was used as an analytical tool. We identified the most influential journals and subject areas. The study allowed us to identify consistent clusters that show a wide variety of topics in the discussion of the mentioned topic. The results showed a wide dispersion of research interests and the lack of a single, in-depth or dominant research area dealing with the phenomenon worldwide. We recommend further research on family businesses and Industry 4.0. In addition, the lack of comparative research on family and non-family businesses should be addressed. Contribution and added value: Our systematic literature review systematizes the existing literature on Industry 4.0 in family firms, isolates key research interests, identifies future research directions and provides important insights for researchers.

Titanium alloys have numerous applications in the aerospace and medical industry due to their high strength and low weight. In the manufacturing of aerospace parts, surface integrity plays a key role due to its strong relationship with fatigue life and performance of the components. Since titanium alloys are difficult-to-machine, their Conventional Machining (CM) provides some technical limitations. As an alternative method, Laser-Assisted Machining (LAM) can be employed for this purpose and it is recommended for machining of hard materials. Laser Machining is the hybrid machining technique in which laser radiation is localized in front of cutting zone. However, surface integrity of the machined part should be controlled in LAM process due to the thermal effects of laser beam in to the workpiece material. Therefore, at the present study, experimental investigations were performed for both conventional and laser-assisted machining of Ti-6Al-4 V alloy and their results on surface integrity were compared and discussed together. In this regard, important indications of surface integrity including microhardness, grain size, surface roughness as well as thermal loads generated during the removal process were evaluated at different machining parameters. The results demonstrated that the use of laser-assisted machining under controlled process conditions can be significantly useful for improvement of surface integrity indications in machining of Ti-6Al-4 V superalloy.

In the last decade, the integrated transdisciplinary concepts and technologies for greener and more sustainable innovations and applications of Cleaner Production in the AsiaePacific region have been developed and implemented extensively. The endeavor to develop more precise, reliable, and costeffective tools and methods to assess the sustainability of the desired products and processes from Cleaner Production have been achieved. Regarding the two conferences, the International Conference on Green and Sustainable Innovation (ICGSI) and the International Thai Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry Conference (ITIChE2015), these conferences were co-organized to bring experts and researchers together from within and outside the AsiaePacific region to foster development of new research ideas on green and sustainable innovation. The selected articles from these events are included within this Special Volume together with articles from the Cleaner Production community outside these events. The papers cover a wide range of topics relevant to the Cleaner Production concepts and applications, especially for greener and more sustainable innovations and of applications of life cycle assessment, ecological footprint, and other environmental and ecological assessment tools for making improvements in agricultural products, biodiesel and biogas production, CO 2 reduction and utilization, and expansion of usage of alternative and renewable energies. The examples of life cycle thinking-based assessment techniques, together with progress in innovative technologies and their applications, strongly reflected the improvements made in practical applications of Cleaner Production in the Asia ePacific region, in recent years.

A detailed GHG emission inventory of a major Chinese city was developed for the first time. Lack of activity data was a major problem for development of the GHG emission inventory. Emissions of CO 2 from energy consumption caused 92% of the GHGs in Beijing in 2014. Three main emission sources were selected to simplify GHG inventories for Chinese cities. The accounting processes were open and can facilitate future research and comparisons.

Wind power, as a renewable energy source, plays an important role for achieving goal of the transition to postefossil carbon societies. Despite significant environmental benefits associated with wind power, its social acceptance should not be overlooked. A case study approach was used for the research to investigate social acceptance of wind power in Shandong Province, China. A questionnaire survey was distributed to local residents, which was supplemented with a critical review of current policies. The results revealed that there are consistent concerns on environmental quality issues from local residents regardless of their age or educational level; they were generally supportive of developing wind power resources. However, their level of support dropped significantly for actions to be taken such as installing small-scale wind turbines in their own backyards or in accepting higher electricity prices. Similarly, local residents were generally aware of benefits and drawbacks of wind power. The data also revealed that local residents may accept renewable energy due to their concerns about environmental issues. The level of social acceptance by local residents for wind power was contingent upon their age, income, educational level, and location of residency. These findings provide useful inputs to both the industry and government in terms of improving social acceptance of wind power in future developments.

In order to increase the initial nucleation density for the growth of boron-doped diamond on platinum wires, we employed the novel nucleation process (NNP) originally developed by . This pretreatment method involves (i) the initial formation of a thin carbon layer over the substrate followed by (ii) ultrasonic seeding of this "soft" carbon layer with nanoscale particles of diamond. This two-step pretreatment is followed by the deposition of boron-doped diamond by microwave plasma-assisted CVD. Both the diamond seed particles and sites on the carbon layer itself function as the initial nucleation zones for diamond growth from an H 2 -rich source gas mixture. We report herein on the characterization of the pre-growth carbon layer formed on Pt as well as boron-doped films grown for 2, 4 and 6 h post NNP pretreatment. Results from scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and electrochemical studies are reported. The NNP method increases the initial nucleation density on Pt and leads to the formation of a continuous diamond film in a shorter deposition time than is typical for wires pretreated by conventional ultrasonic seeding. The results indicate that the pregrowth layer itself consists of nanoscopic domains of diamond and functions well to enhance the initial nucleation of diamond without any diamond powder seeding.

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This study builds on knowledge capability research and the natural resource-based view of the firm (NRBV) to examine the effect of absorptive capacity on green innovation adoption. It also investigates the mediating role of three sustainable capabilities, namely, sustainable orientation, sustainable human capital and sustainable collaboration. By means of partial least squares-based structural equation modelling method, the study validated and analysed the responses of 193 owners and managers of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in an emerging economy context. Data analysis has revealed that absorptive capacity is a strong predictor of sustainable capabilities and green innovation adoption. Moreover, sustainable orientation and collaboration capabilities have emerged as powerful determinants of green innovation adoption and mediators of the effect of absorptive capacity on green innovation adoption. Surprisingly, sustainable human capital shows no significant impact on green innovation adoption. This study offers a key departure from past studies through linking absorptive capacity to sustainable capabilities and green innovation adoption in the SMEs context. It also extends our knowledge concerning the role of NRBV and relational theory in green innovation adaption.

Hydrophobization of cotton fabrics was carried out with the use of bifunctional polysiloxanes with various contents of functional groups. Polysiloxanes contained in their structure groups capable of bonding to substrates (trialkoxysilyl or glycidyl ones) and fluoroalkyl groups showing surface activity. Two methods of surface modification were compared: (1) a one-step method via the chemical modification of fabrics with solutions of bifunctional polysiloxanes and (2) a two-step method-via preliminary modification of fabrics with silica sol followed by chemical modification with solutions of bifunctional polysiloxanes. The hydrophobicity was determined by measuring the water contact angle by drop profile tensiometry. Changes in the surface topography were examined by scanning electron microscopy. Superhydrophobic fabrics were obtained by a simple one-step method by the chemical modification in solutions of bifunctional polysiloxanes. The fabrics maintained their superhydrophobic properties even after multiple washings. The modification does not cause any changes visible to the naked eye, such as stiffening, color changes or a decrease in mechanical properties.

In the today‘s competitive era, it is very important to an edge over the others to survive and flourish. One of the easiest yet most complicated areas to expertise is ̳fast delivery‘ and to obtain that the cycle time has to be reduced. Keeping this in mind certain investigations are carried out to increase the material removal rate. This research work explains the effects of certain lathe parameters namely Speed, Feed and Depth of Cut on the output parameter Material Removal Rate. A mild steel test piece is taken and different experiments are conducted on it by a nine foot conventional lathe machine by changing the input parameters using Taguchi methodology. Taguchi method is used to formulate the experimental layout. A Taguchi L9 design of experiment (DOE) and the analysis of variance (ANOVA) is applied to analyze the effect of each parameter on the response. Mathematical formula is also developed among the Speed, Feed and Depth of Cut and MRR. It will be found that these parameter...

Current practice adopted by highway agencies with regards to pavement management, has mostly consisted of employing life cycle costs analysis (LCCA) systems to evaluate the overall long-term economic efficiency of competing pavement design and maintenance and rehabilitation (M&R) activities alternatives. This way of supporting the decision-making process as it relates to pavement management, in which little or no importance is given to environmental considerations, suggests the need for pavement management decision-support systems (DSS), which, by integrating multi-disciplinary and complementary pavement life cycle modelling approaches, enable the decision makers (DMs) to properly account for, consider and assess the lifetime impacts of their decisions and practices regarding sustainability goals and targets. This only can be achieved by employing techniques and tools provided with a comprehensive and wide-scoped cradle-to-grave capacity of analysis. To address this multifaceted problem, this paper presents a comprehensive and modular multi-objective optimization (MOO)-based pavement management DSS which comprises three main components: (1) a MOO module; (2) a comprehensive and integrated pavement life cycle costs -life cycle assessment (LCC-LCA) module that covers the whole life cycle of the pavement; and (3) a decision-support module. The potential of the proposed DSS is illustrated with one case study consisting of determining the optimal M&R strategy for a one-way flexible pavement section of a typical Interstate highway in Virginia, USA, which yields the best trade-off between the following three often conflicting objectives: (1) minimization of the present value (PV) of the total life cycle highway agency costs (LCHAC); (2) minimization of the PV of the life cycle road user costs (LCRUC); and (3) minimization of the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions (LCGHG). In comparison to the traditional maintenance strategy, the proposed DSS suggest a maintenance plan that reduces LCHAC by 15%, LCRUC by 28% and LCGHG by 26%.

This study focuses on establishing a methodology for the surface roughness characterisation of uncoated and nano multilayer coated tools deposited by physical vapor deposition (PVD) managing an evaluation process after comparison of both experimental measurements utilising the stylus

In this paper, we develop a needle steering strategy designed to reduce the out-of-plane deflection of a flexible, bevel-tipped needle for clinical needle insertion applications. This is performed through an integrator-backstepping approach. Integrator-backstepping is a nonlinear feedback controller design that divides the entire system into a sequence of smaller design problems that are easier to manage. Simulations were performed to observe the effects of our controller design on the system's response, specifically the rate at which the outof-plane deflection converges. We tested our proposed method using a biological tissue phantom composed of two separate heterogeneous layers and using an 18 gauge brachytherapy needle. A paired-sample t-test was performed to compare outof-plane needle deflection results with and without the use of our needle steering algorithm under varying bevel-angle starting conditions. Results showed a significant decrease in the out-ofplane needle deflection with the use of our controller at the 1% significance level. The absolute-mean out-of-plane needle deflection at a depth of 140 mm changed from 7.1 mm to 0.7 mm with the implementation of our needle steering approach. Our proposed steering method does not require "drilling" motions often encountered in duty-cycling controllers, and has been shown to be effective for clinical needles travelling through multiple heterogeneous tissue layers.

Kinematic parameters of a robotic manipulator are hard to measure precisely and the varying size and shape of tools held by the robot end-effector introduce further kinematic uncertainties. Moreover, the exact knowledge of the robot nonlinear dynamics may be unavailable due to model uncertainties. While adaptive master-slave teleoperation control strategies in the literature consider the dynamic uncertainties in the master and the slave robots, they stop short of accounting for the robots' kinematic uncertainties, which can undermine the transparency of the teleoperation system. In this paper, for a teleoperation system that is both dynamically and kinematically uncertain, we propose novel nonlinear adaptive controllers that require neither the exact knowledge of the kinematics of the master and the slave nor the dynamics of the master, the slave, the human operator, and the environment. Therefore, the proposed controllers can provide the master and slave robots with a high degree of flexibility in dealing with unforeseen changes and uncertainties in their kinematics and dynamics. A Lyapunov function analysis is conducted to mathematically prove the stability and master-slave asymptotic position tracking. The validity of the theoretical results is verified through simulations as well as experiments on a bilateral teleoperation test-bed of rehabilitation robots.

Electrospun keratin nanofiber fabricated with non-toxic solvents and crosslinking reagents are promising scaffolds for tissue engineering applications. Keratin from chicken feathers was solubilized in aqueous alkaline conditions and electrospun using aqueous poly(vinyl alcohol)(PVA)/citric acid solution as electrospinning polymer aid. Keratin/PVA nanofibers were successfully prepared containing 10, 20 and 30% keratin to PVA mass ratio. The increase in keratin concentration from 0 to 20% resulted in decreased viscosity of keratin/PVA solutions leading to a reduction in the fiber diameter from 565 nm in to 274 nm. Further decrease in viscosity with 30% keratin resulted in beads-on-fiber type of morphology. Nanofibers were thermally cross-linked through esterification reaction between carbonyl groups in citric acid and hydroxyl groups in PVA. Cross-linked nanofibers maintained their morphology and pore structure after soaking in water. The incorporation of keratin in PVA nanofiber was confirmed by FTIR and XPS results. Proliferation of fibroblasts after 14 days was higher in scaffolds containing 20% keratin which was attributed to the superior biological properties of keratin and higher surface area to volume ratio compared to 30% keratin/PVA scaffolds. Safer extraction, electrospinning and crosslinking conditions of keratin/PVA nanofiber are important for potential uses in tissue engineering.

Measurement devices such as sweating manikins, cylinders or hotplates are used for testing thermal and moisture transfer properties of clothing or textiles. A critical feature of these measurement devices is the design of the outer covering fabric that tightly enfolds the device like a skin. The artificial skin principally has to match individual requirements because the different sweating devices have different sweating systems and surface compositions. In this study knitted fabrics with different fiber and yarn types are proposed to be used as an artificial skin. Thermal and moisture properties of the fabrics were measured to obtain skin-like characteristics and a mathematical model for the quantification of thermal and moisture-management properties based on geometrical characteristics was developed. The results show that the thermal and moisture-management properties of the fabrics do not only depend on the fiber properties but also relevantly on their geometrical properties such as thickness, diameter and number of stitch pores. For example, thermal resistance is significantly affected by the stitch pore diameter, and evaporative resistance by the fabric thickness. Furthermore, water content and drying speed are determined by the capillary structure, and therefore, are more influenced by yarn and fabric structure parameters, whereas contact angle and wettability are more influenced by the fiber type. In conclusion, the tested fabrics satisfy all the requirements to match the anatomical properties of the human skin; however, two fabric types, PES_19f30_SET and PES_28f48_GL, exhibited superior characteristics suitable for application as artificial skin on measurement devices.

The textile-knitting industry has always been in connection and dialogue with a constellation of manufacturing realities that contribute season after season to the success of the fashion system but are little considered when young talents with design backgrounds enter the marketplace. The research project reported in this article combines the expertise in the textile-knitwear area of the research group knitdesign.polimi of Politecnico di Milano with the one in the communication field of Imagis Lab, aiming at investigating the mismatch between education and manufacturing companies and laying valid foundations for the creation of an effective ecosystem that can make them converge towards a common meeting point. The goal is to update the educational methods, tools and practices with a twofold aim: on the one hand, to introduce young talents to the manufacturing reality; on the other hand, to facilitate the inclusion in the company of the same talents and create space for them to grow as high-potential profiles. In the first part of the paper, we will present the research background and the methodology applied. In contrast, in the second part, the main evidences that emerged are highlighted and discussed, presented together with the research actions taken and the space opened for further investigations.

Knitwear is a consolidated industry in Italy and, at the same time, a typical expression of the Made in Italy paradigm linked to the ideas of craftsmanship. While, on the one hand, knitwear is associated with the idea of craft and manufacturing traditions, on the other hand, it is nowadays produced by numerical control machines (CNC) where the technological contribution and the level of automation are very relevant. The convergence of physical and digital environments, at the heart of the Fashion Industry 4.0 debate, is an established feature of knitwear design practice. In the contemporary industrial scenario, knitted items are produced on digitally programmed machines through sophisticated software, and the manual contribution of the individual operator during the knitting phase is reduced to a minimum. In the light of these premises, this contribution questions the opportunity and value of the integration of digital technologies in the storytelling of traditional manufacturing without losing the power to evoke Made in Italy's values such as quality, aesthetic refinement, and exclusivity. To analyze these issues, the authors report the case study of SMT -Società Manifattura Tessile, a leading knitting company where the technological presence equals that of traditional manufacturing craftmanship, keeping both elements at balance. The case study suggests the importance of the contemporary knitting craftsman to increasingly develop communication skills to make the relationship between technology and manufacturing explicit and possibly smoothly blend it with the Made in Italy archetypes.

Two creep resistant steels, P91 and X20, were tempered for 17520 h at 650 8C or 8760 h at 750 8C to study the growth and redistribution of carbide precipitates in martensite. On specimens annealed for a different time, yield stress at room temperature and accelerated creep rate at 580 8C were determined. With increasing yield stress in the range from 350 to 650 MPa the accelerated creep rate decreased continuously by about 2 orders of magnitude from 8Á10 À7 s À1 to 5Á10 À9 s À1 . For equal yield stress, the creep rate was slightly lower for the steel P91 than for the steel X20.

The preparation of composite self-lubricating high-alloyed Fe-based material suitable for different anti-wear applications was studied. As a base, two conventional high-speed steel (HSS) AISI M3/2 and M35 were selected. Dry powder mixtures were prepared from prealloyed water-atomised powders and 0.5-3 wt.% of solid lubricant. As solid lubricant, MoS 2 was chosen. Composite materials were prepared by uniaxial cold compaction of powder mixtures and vacuum sintering of compacts. The uniaxial compaction tests showed that the addition of MoS 2 enhances the compressibility of powder mixtures. The influence of MoS 2 on the densification of selected HSSs during heating was studied by thermo-gravimetry, differential thermal analysis and MS. These analyses showed that significant weight losses occur. They are a consequence of deoxidation reaction which occurs among surface oxides of powder particles and carbon from solid solution. Vacuum sintering of green compacts was performed in temperature range of 1160-1300 • C. Microstructural and mechanical characteristics of sintered composites were determined. Investigations showed that the addition of MoS 2 enhances the sinterability. Densification proceeds by the reactive supersolidus liquid-phase sintering process because of the reaction between MoS 2 and the steel matrix. A fine dispersion of (Cr, V, Fe)-based sulphide particles in steel matrix is formed. This has a beneficial influence on the tribological properties of synthesised composite materials.

The particle size distribution of woodworking residues influences the quality of the biofuels made of these materials. Hence, it is essential to investigate the fractional composition of raw materials for pellet production. Tested materials originated from ten parquet manufacturing facilities located in western Poland. The research material consisted of uncontaminated oak (Quercus spp.) wood particles. The tested material had a moisture content ranging from 8.8% to 11.4% and a density of 210.7 ± 1.79 kg/m 3 . A sieve analysis method segregated the tested material into four distinct size fractions (<1.0 mm, 1.0-2.5 mm, 2.5-5.0 mm, and >5 mm). The average mass shares in these fractions were 53.72 ±0.51%, 35.14 ±0.27%, 9.59 ±0.36%, and 1.55% ±0.11%, respectively. The particle size distributions of wood particles generated in all the facilities demonstrate remarkable similarity. No substantial differences were observed in terms of tilt angle and calorific value. Factors such as variations in raw material species, geographical origins, density, humidity, and technological processes appear to have minimal influence on the sieve-size distributions of the generated sawdust. All these solid wood processing residues can undergo processing into high-quality solid biofuel production.

Experiments were performed in a low-speed wind tunnel to study the effect of textile roughness on the aerodynamic flow around a circular cylinder. The circular cylinder is fitted with different fabric samples on the outer surface. For each of the fabric samples, the drag force and the mean pressure on the circular cylinder are measured. Based on the data obtained, the critical transition range with respect to the Reynolds number is identified for comparison. The surface roughness of each fabric sample is examined using a laser scanning microscope. The roughness is then represented by a quantity named S10z, which is defined according to ISO 25178. Consequently, based on the windtunnel data and the textile roughness information, further discussion is made with regard to the roughness of the textile material and the Nikuradse's sand-grain roughness, k s , which characterizes the aerodynamic roughness. Examining the empirical relationships that are proposed in the literature concerning variations of the critical Reynolds number and the minimum drag coefficient in the critical regime against the relative roughness, it is concluded that the roughness parameter S10z can be used to represent the aerodynamic roughness of the tested textile materials.

Wheeled mobile robots (WMR) have been deployed in Mars/Lunar exploration, military missions, and geological investigations, and they must handle rough and deformable terrains. The dynamics at the wheel-soil interface, including the wheel-terrain contact angle, wheel sinkage, and wheel-soil interaction forces and torque, are major factors in the entrapment of NASA SPIRIT MER and the subsequent mission failure. This paper presents an experimental apparatus that is developed to measure the wheel-terrain contact angle, wheel sinkage, and wheel-soil interaction forces and torque in real time to improve our understanding of the WMR mobility on soft and deformable terrains. A method for wheel sinkage evaluation is presented based on measuring the wheel-terrain contact angle. The wheel-soil interaction forces and torque are measured by installing a force/torque sensor along the axle of the apparatus. The proposed approach is implemented on a testbed, and the experimental results are used to evaluate it; they demonstrate the reliable detection of the wheel-terrain contact angle, wheel sinkage, and wheel-soil interaction forces and torque. Moreover, based on the measured wheel-terrain contact angle, the relative errors in the predicted wheel-soil interaction forces and torque are less than 8% compared with the experimental data.

Automated support of design teams, consisting of both human and automated systems, requires an understanding of the role of trust in distributed design processes. By explicating trust, an individual designer&#39;s decisions become better understood and may be better supported. Each individual designer has his or her private goals in a cooperative design setting, in which requirement conflicts and resource competitions abound. However, there are group goals that also need to be reached. This paper presents an overview of research related to trust in the context of agents and design, a computational knowledge-level model of trust based on the seven beliefs distinguished by Castelfranchi and Falcone, and an example of the use of the trust model in a specific design process, namely, Website design from the perspective of a single designer. The results are discussed in the context of distributed design in open systems.

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Background. The application of zero valent iron nanoparticles (nZVI) to remediate soil and groundwater has gained increased attention within the last decade, primarily due to its high reactivity, cost effectiveness and potential to treat a broad range of contaminants (e.g. chlorinated organic solvents, inorganic anions, or metals). Objective. In this paper, the state of the art of the applicability of nanomaterials especially the most frequently used nZVI in soil and groundwater is presented. The purpose of this article is to give an overview of the current knowledge pertaining to the synthesis, employment, limitations, and risk of iron nanoparticles. Methods. Therefore, the authors have reviewed and discussed the recent developments and approaches made on the synthesis of iron nanoparticles emphasizing the justification of green synthesis methods. The studies related to the effective use of nanoparticles in remediating organic and inorganic contaminants are addressed. The potential limitations, challenges, and risks of this innovative nanoremediation technology are also discussed. Studies suggest that nZVI have successfully been applied in nanoremediation, however little is known about the particles' fate and impacts. Additionally, it has already been proven that synthesis and modification can largely determine the physicochemical and biological properties of the particles. This review corroborates the suitability of nanoparticles in the remediation of contaminated media, simultaneously highlighting the work still needed to optimize the syntheses and careful use of such materials, concluding that comprehensive screenings should be performed prior nZVI applications to assess their behavior and impact on the environment and living systems.

Carbon nanotubes were produced in the pore system of MCM-41 type mesoporous silicates by heat treatment in the absence of metal catalysts. We have showed that multiwall nanotubes were produced both in regular and expanded MCM-41 pore systems. Contrary to this, in the pores of spherical MCM-41 samples, no nanotube formation was observed probably due to the less organized hexagonal silicate structure.

The widely used photocatalytic self-cleaning coating materials are often made of polymers and polymer based composites, where the photocatalyst immobilization occurs with macromolecules. However, these organic polymers are often unstable under exposure to UV irradiation and easily degraded by reactive radicals produced in the photocatalytic reaction. In order to solve this problem, in this paper, we present the facile preparation of a multifunctional coating with dual superhydrophobic and photocatalytic properties, where the fixation and the hydrophobization of the plasmonic Ag-TiO 2 photocatalyst particles with visible light activity was performed with non-water soluble sulfur, which is a cheap and easily available material. The resulted novel nanocomposite with rough and nano-tructured surface roughness (1.25-2.45 nm determined by small-angle X-ray scattering) has sufficient low surface energy (3.3 mJ/m 2 ) for superhydrophobic ( = 151.1 • ) properties. Moreover, in contrast of the organic and expensive fluoropolymer based composites, this non-wetting nature was durable, because the measured  was higher than 150 • during the long-term LED ( max = 405 nm) light irradiation.

Carbon nanotubes were produced in the pore system of MCM-41 type mesoporous silicates by heat treatment in the absence of metal catalysts. We have showed that multiwall nanotubes were produced both in regular and expanded MCM-41 pore systems. Contrary to this, in the pores of spherical MCM-41 samples, no nanotube formation was observed probably due to the less organized hexagonal silicate structure.

Hollowing, Cutting and Breaking paper is an activity that is closely related to the world of Printing. In the world of printing that has been modern today the printing tools continue to evolve to follow the modern era. The products that are designed in this research are 3 hole punching and cutting tools. The method used in this planning uses the measurement of EFD method technique parameters, the application of ergonomics, anthropometry processing, validity and reability test. The results obtained by the designer from the design The 3 in 1 piercing, cutting and paper-splitting device is on the product using materials in the form of Iron and plastic. In the design can be folded and arranged according to our wishes. Tool height 41.5 cm, Tool length 58 cm and has a width of 33 cm. In addition to this table has more than one function that is in addition to melaukuan process perforation on paper, this tool can da da cutting process and also the process of folding the paper fold.

A Product-Service System (PSS) is an integrated combination of products and services. This Western concept embraces a service-led competitive strategy, environmental sustainability, and the basis to differentiate from competitors who simply offer lower priced products. This paper aims to report the state-of-the-art of PSS research by presenting a clinical review of literature currently available on this topic. The literature is classified and the major outcomes of each study are addressed and analysed. On this basis, this paper defines the PSS concept, reports on its origin and features, gives examples of applications along with potential benefits and barriers to adoption, summarizes available tools and methodologies, and identifies future research challenges.

- Producers of machined components are continually
challenged to improve quality, reduce cost and minimize setup
time in order to remain competitive. For hard material,
grinding is the traditional operation, involving expensive
machinery and long manufacturing cycles, costly support
equipment, and lengthy setup time. The new solution is a hard
turning process, which is defined as the process of single point
cutting of part pieces that has hardness values over 45 HRC.
Based on the literature survey it is identified that the chatter is
one of the major problems in hard turning. Machine tool
chatter must be avoided to for better machine life, improve
surface finish, and increase tool life. The chatter in hard
turning is reduced by introducing the damper in the cutting
tool system.
Hard turning creates high pulsating pressures on the
insert seat and shim. The shim acts as a shock absorber for the
insert and work piece. The shim protects both insert and tool
holder from damage due to high cutting forces. In the present
work, the carbide shim is replaced with Aluminum and Brass
shim, cutting tests are conducted to find out there effect on
reduction in vibration and improvement in surface finish.
The dynamic characteristic of the damped tool is
studied using Finite Element Analysis (FEA). Damping ratio is
one of the dynamic characteristic of system. Damping ratio of
cutting tools with three different shims is predicted by using
frequency response function and half band width method.

The one-piece flow (OPF) system represents a fundamental shift from batch production to continuous single-item movement through manufacturing processes, promising benefits such as reduced waste, improved quality, and shorter lead times. Despite its advantages, many production companies struggle to implement OPF successfully due to technical, logistical, and cultural challenges. This paper investigates these challenges by analyzing inefficiencies within OPF systems, supply chain coordination difficulties, and organizational resistance. Through case studies, literature review, and practical examples, the study identifies bottlenecks, equipment reliability issues, and quality control weaknesses as primary sources of inefficiency. Additionally, it highlights the crucial role of supplier alignment and employee engagement in facilitating successful OPF adoption. Practical solutions such as takt time analysis, predictive maintenance, digital supply chain tools, and comprehensive employee training are proposed to overcome these barriers. The findings aim to support manufacturing firms in strategically planning and executing OPF implementations to realize its full potential.

This research is based on the total loss of X company in April 2022 which exceeds the speci ied standard. The extrusion lamination process is a part that produces many defective products. Therefore, this study is aimed at inding the dominant problem that occurs in the extrusion lamination process and reducing defective products in the extrusion lamination process according to the cause. This study was structured using quantitative methods with a causal research design that states a cause-and-effect relationship. The analysis technique in this study uses Pareto diagrams, FMEA and causal diagram as problem solving tools. The results of the study show that the cause of uneven lamination in the extrusion lamination process at PT X is caused by the lack of human resource capabilities, poor quality control systems, and poorly maintained machines. This research produces suggestions for improvements that can be used by the company to make preventive steps in the next extrusion lamination process.

The most usual challenge in educational practice is to decide between two options: those that refer to the method -how to teach, and those that refer to the content -what to teach. This paper presents an activity developed by a student, guided by two professors, in order to link the physical, chemical and metallurgical properties, specially the pellets reducibility used in direct reduction process. Thus, it is intended to relate these properties to the reaction of degradation caused by raw material transportation. Students have the opportunity to apply different characterisation techniques used in the steel industry to determine pellet behaviour. This type of activity brings them closer them to their prospective professional job.