Category: News & Updates

To say that we are easily excited when we hear about any new engineering feat is an understatement, and one engineering project has been in the back of our mind for many months now; the Bloodhound SSC, an engineering masterpiece which is set to break the land speed record with speeds of up to 1,000 miles per hour in 2017.

This incredible project is headed by the same man who was behind the team who hold the current land speed record, Richard Nobel. However, 20 years since that record of reaching 763mph was set, the team are back and looking to quash the record by a huge 237mph by creating a supersonic car which is expected to cover a mile in just 3.6 seconds.

Exhilarating Engineering

Weighing in at 7.5 tonnes, you may not expect this ingenious hybrid vehicle to make much headway, but thanks to the design and ingenuity used by the team, the car is believed to be able to reach over supersonic speeds of up to 1,000 miles per hour.

The vehicle’s design takes inspiration from both a car and an aircraft; with a carbon fibre monocoque which is found in Formula 1 cars at the front of the machine and a network of carefully placed panels like an aircraft at the back.

Put it this way, the car is designed to be over six times the power of all the F1 cars on a starting grid!

EUROJET EJ200 Engine and Rocket Power

Usually found in the engine of a Eurofighter Typhoon, the EUROJET EJ200 engine is what gives around half of the Bloodhound’s thrust. Not only will this car incorporate the design of an aircraft, it will also incorporate its power too!

In addition to this extremely powerful engine, the Bloodhound SSC will also benefit from a further speed boost through the addition of a Nammo rocket.

Although the project aimed to be solely rocket powered in the beginning, the team behind this supersonic powerhouse realised that rockets aren’t easily controlled and that the addition of a jet engine would not only give a boost of extra power, but would also add a range of control to the vehicle, too.

Revealed to the world back in September ahead of its record attempt in South Africa in 2017, the eight years of research that has gone into this powerful land vehicle will have hopefully paid off. The team behind the vehicle is made up of various Formula 1 and aerospace technicians and engineers, so we’re excited to see where this next step in engineering takes us.

Although we can’t provide you with the means to build a machine that can reach speeds of up to 1,000mph, we can provide you with some of the best spring products available. From die springs to pressings and wireforms, we are sure to have a product or service to suit you.

For more information, get in touch with our expert team today by calling 028 9083 8605 and we will be more than happy to help you with your enquiries.

Technology is advancing at an alarming rate and with more people requiring prosthetic limbs to be able to get on with their daily lives, it’s crucial that every avenue is explored when it comes to creating artificial limbs which are durable and comfortable.

Now, thanks to a team of biomedical engineers at North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, prosthetic limbs may require less tuning during wear in order for them to remain working correctly.

Re-tuning Prosthesis

People who don’t need prosthesis may not understand how much work goes into maintaining the limb. Every so often, the wearer will be required to visit a prosthetist to “tune” the limb up to keep the patient walking and moving smoothly and comfortably.

This is an essential visit which can be quite time consuming and may even be quite costly as more often than not, adjustments will need to be made.

Due to the essential nature of a prosthetic limb, it isn’t a simple case of “one size fits all; much like a custom shoe, the limb must be modelled to the remaining portion of the limb and tuned up to the individual user. This usually takes into account the weight, strength and movement range of the wearer.

The Self-Tuning Algorithm

So how do these self-tuning prosthetic limbs work? It’s pretty simple in theory; a software algorithm is installed into a powered prosthesis and will be able to tune the power which moved the motors in the limb’s joints.

This allows for faster, real-time tuning, making it easier for the wearer to deal with activities which may have required extensive tuning, such as carrying heavy objects which would put more strain on the joints.

It also reduces the need to go and see a prosthetist as regularly, as the algorithm will be able to adapt the limb to any changes that may occur within the patient, such as weight loss or gain, and even adapt when the user becomes accustomed to the limb.

So will we be seeing these self-tuning limbs very soon? Associate professor of the biomedical engineering program at North Carolina State University and University of North Carolina says not just yet.

In a statement, she has reported that “We’re not yet able to replicate the prosthetist’s success in achieving those comfortable ‘trunk motions,’ but it’s something we’re working on.”

So, although it’s not happening just yet, it is something that we will hopefully be seeing implemented in the future of prosthetic limbs.

As leading spring manufacturers, we understand how much work and effort go into such life saving devices. That’s why we supply only the finest spring solutions for your needs, whatever they may be. For more information on our products, simply contact our expert team today by calling 028 9083 8605 and we will be more than happy to help you.

No, we aren’t predicting the next Terminator film, we’re commenting on the news that has been driving scientific media wild over the past few days; the world’s first 3D printed titanium sternum and rib cage operation has been performed!

Although we agree that it sounds like something straight out of Hollywood, we have been incredibly interested in the process behind creating such a vital structure, as well as the procedure itself.

As we engineer die springs which are designed to function well under environmental stress, we couldn’t help but be a little intrigued as to how this new rib and sternum system was designed to cope with the internal stresses of being inside a living, breathing human; one of the most complexly engineered things on the planet.

Why Use 3D Printing?

No two human bodies are the same. Not even identical twins will have the exact same bone structure and shape, so it can be extremely difficult to adapt such crucial medical implants which are designed to a generic style.

With 3D printing, a unique model can be created using a 3D digital CAD programme, giving engineers and surgeons a fully customisable platform to work with on a patient-to-patient basis.

Titanium Implants

3D printing is not a new concept, especially in prosthetics, with a titanium 3D printed jaw implant being successfully transplanted earlier this year.

Previously, titanium implants were created using plate components which have been known to come loose and cause complications for the person with the implant. The move to 3D printing eradicates this possibility by building the implant up layer by layer, rather than in separate components.

The Procedure

This impressive procedure was performed in Spain at Salamanca University Hospital on a 54 year old patient who had to have certain sections of his chest removed as a result of a tumor.

During the procedure, the 3D printed titanium sternum with specific rib placements was inserted and attached to the patients existing ribs and sternum to mimic the missing section of his chest.

We bet you’re wondering how long it took the patient to be discharged and begin his recovery after this very delicate operation.  Six months? A Year?

A fortnight. It took the man twelve days to be well enough to be discharged after such an intense surgery and the hospital has reported that he has been recovering well following his innovative operation.

This is just the beginning for the prosthetics industry. Working alongside medical professionals and engineers, who knows what else can be achieved using this ground breaking technique. It may seem very Terminator for the moment, but we’re willing to bet that more and more people will be able to live their lives to the fullest with the help of this new, innovative procedure.

Sadly, we don’t have any titanium jaws or rib cages in stock, but we do have a wide range of spring products that can aid the creation of these life-saving implants. For more information on how our springs can help you and your business, don’t hesitate to contact us on 028 9083 8605 and one of our friendly staff members will be happy to help you.