Tag Archives: humor

Engineering Innovations: The Compass

Posted on May 31, 2022 by Mike Osborn CEng MIMechE AUH

A compass is defined as a device used to determine direction on the surface of the earth. The most familiar type of compass is the magnetic compass, which relies on the fact that a magnetic object tends to align itself … Continue reading →

Posted in design, Engineering, Exploration, history, humor, humour, innovation, invention, MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, Military, navigation, NAVY, pioneering, quotations, quotes, sailing, travel, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Engineering Innovations: Wind Turbines

Posted on March 31, 2022 by Mike Osborn CEng MIMechE AUH

Wind Turbines and Windmills are ingenious devices that are able to convert wind power into useful mechanical work. This is achieved by using turbine blades or ‘sails’, to impart a rotational force to a main shaft. This, in turn, is … Continue reading →

Posted in design, Energy, Engineering, engineering development, green power, humor, humour, innovation, invention, MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, power generation, quotations, quotes, renewable energy, technology, turbine, Uncategorized, Wind Turbine, Windmill | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Engineering Innovations: Steam Power

Posted on February 28, 2022 by Mike Osborn CEng MIMechE AUH

The Aeolipile was the world’s first rotating steam engine, or more technically correct, a steam reaction turbine. It was devised by the great Heron of Alexandria in the1st Century AD. A sphere mounted on a spindle with two opposing outlet pipes for … Continue reading →

Posted in design, engine, engineering development, history, humor, humour, innovation, invention, MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, pioneering, quotations, quotes, steam power, technology, train travel, transport, travel, Uncategorized, Vehicle, vision | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Leadership: valleys and wilderness years

Posted on August 31, 2021 by Mike Osborn CEng MIMechE AUH

Surprisingly when we delve into history and into the lives of influential leaders you start to discover that often, but not always, they have been through ‘hard times’ or ‘wilderness years’. I perceive that these can be formative times where … Continue reading →

Posted in business, Good Character, history, humor, humour, leader, leadership, Management, Politics, quotations, quotes, success, Uncategorized, vision, visionary | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Integrity in engineering & governance

Posted on May 31, 2020 by Mike Osborn CEng MIMechE AUH

   Jet Engine under test Recent events in the UK and US led me to think about integrity in our world today, especially in places of leadership and governance, and even within our own professions – mine being engineering. Their … Continue reading →

Posted in business, design, Engineering, failure, Gas Turbine, humour, Integrity, jet engine, manufacturing, material science, MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, Politics, quotations, quotes, turbine, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Business Venture – Laurel & Hardy style !

Posted on December 19, 2019 by Mike Osborn CEng MIMechE AUH

It’s that time of year for a little light hearted fun. Please find link below to one of my favourite Laurel & Hardy short films on one of their many business ventures – selling Christmas trees ! A perfect 18 … Continue reading →

Posted in business, Car, Comedy Sketch, humor, humour, Selling, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Metamaterials – world changer

Posted on November 29, 2019 by Mike Osborn CEng MIMechE AUH

In 2006 Sir John Pendry a physicist invented an ‘invisible cloak’, a nano-engineered material that could bend light waves. This heralded the the beginning of a new class of material that could manipulate the properties of light and do things … Continue reading →

Posted in Engineering, humor, humour, manufacturing, material science, Physics, quotations, quotes, research science, technology, Uncategorized, university | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

‘V’ Plane

Posted on August 30, 2019 by Mike Osborn CEng MIMechE AUH

The simple ‘V’ shape still has power to shock us as a plane design, but Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands has been developing the concept design recently, backed by Dutch Airline KLM. The design is partially based on … Continue reading →

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Renewable Energy Storage Options

Posted on April 30, 2019 by Mike Osborn CEng MIMechE AUH

   Renewable energy is growing but storage is one of it’s biggest problems. We need to be able to store turbine energy for windless days and solar energy for rainy days otherwise we can never discount dependency on fossil fuels. … Continue reading →

Posted in business, Carbon Dioxide, civil engineering, electrical engineering, Energy, Energy Storage, engineering development, environment, humor, humour, Hydro Electric, MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, power generation, project engineering, quotations, quotes, renewable energy, technology, turbine, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Reverse Engineering by 3D Scanning

Posted on March 29, 2019 by Mike Osborn CEng MIMechE AUH

  3D Scanning machines have been around for 10 years or so and were a niche market and cost around £30 to £40k. Today you can purchase a scanner for as little as £1500 which plugs into your laptop ! … Continue reading →

Posted in 3d, 3D CAD, 3D Scanning, additive manufacturing, business, cad, design, Engineering, engineering development, humor, humour, manufacturing, MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, project engineering, quotations, quotes, Reverse Engineering, technology, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment