Designing for tomorrow

Even though Tony Blair is expected to ride into the sunset next year, his famous mantra of ‘education, education, education’ will live on. The phrase could also be applied to a new series of Eureka-organised events, which kick off next year. Design Days use technical presentations and hands-on training seminars to help design engineers understand key emerging technologies or techniques. Areas such as emerging safety legislation, cutting-edge software and lean design are complex subjects, but need to be grasped and understood by design engineers. This series of events will try to help designers appreciate and master these subjects in the space of a single day. All events are scheduled to run at the Kaetsu Centre in Cambridge. A key feature of each event is participation by sponsors. But they are not just there to splash their logos across the conference. They are deeply involved in the afternoon workshop sessions – which are ‘previewed’ in a short presentation slot in the morning. Each workshop is interactive, allowing delegates to ask questions on specific design problems. It lasts for around 30 minutes. After this, delegates transfer to a different session. The first two events happen in quick succession in March. On March 1, the Linear Motion Masterclass will help designers through the latest techniques in designing linear systems. Two top-class speakers are lined up: Dr Jiabin Wang, from Sheffield University, will give an overview of the state-of-the-art in linear motors, as well as taking look at their future; and Dr Will Eve, head of technology at Inca Digital Printers, will explain how linear motion is used to create very accurate printing heads – and some of the hurdles to maintaining accuracy. In the afternoon, the event’s four sponsors will guide delegates through some of the finer points of linear design. Aerotech, for example, will guide users through the potential benefits of using linear motors. THK, which supplies more ‘traditional’ linear components, will focus on designing linear systems for extreme conditions – such as the oil and gas industry. Encoder supplier Renishaw will highlight the importance of feedback, while Igus will explore where to use – and where to avoid – linear plain bearings. Plastic future Later in March, Designing in Plastics will aim to help designers take the difficult step of considering how they might replace traditional materials – usually metals – with plastics. There is a general lack of understanding about which materials are available, what they can do, and how best to take advantage of their properties. The day will also be useful for designers who are looking to expand and improve their use of plastics. The keynote speaker for the event is John Hockey, a design engineer by training, whose past employers include resin supplier DuPont and plastics moulding company Hi-Tec. He is now an independent consultant. His paper will address, in overview, the steps that a design engineer needs to take to incorporate plastics into the design process. Later presentations, some of them from sponsors, will address some of these key issues, such as metal replacement, aesthetics and materials selection. Three sponsors are currently confirmed: DuPont, which offers a wide range of products and design expertise; Distrupol, which distributes a number of polymers and also offers design assistance; and Victrex, a UK company whose Peek material is used in high temperature applications across industry. For later in the year, Eureka has already identified four subject for Design Days: simulation software – such as FEA and CFD; Lean Design, a key concept; Safety, particularly in the context of legislation; and Drives and Controls, with a focus on automation. For more details on any of these events, click through from Eureka’s website, or visit www.designdays.co.uk