For engineers who already know the math—but still lose projects. For the last few years, I’ve been sharing technical guides here on Mechanical Design Handbook —how to size a motor, how to calculate fits, and (as you recently read) how to choose between timing belts and ball screws. But after 25 years in industrial automation, I realized something uncomfortable: Projects rarely fail because the math was wrong. They fail because: The client changed the scope three times in one week. A critical vendor lied about a shipping date (and no one verified it). The installation technician couldn’t fit a wrench into the gap we designed. University taught us the physics. It didn’t teach us the reality. That gap is why I wrote my new book, The Sheet Mechanic . This is not a textbook. It is a field manual for the messy, political, and chaotic space between the CAD model and the factory floor. It captures the systems I’ve used to survive industrial projec...
When designing a machine for customers in the European Economic Area (EEA), mechanical designers must ensure the equipment has full CE compliance . It is not optional; it is a legal requirement. However, the landscape has changed significantly in recent years. With updated directives, the introduction of the UKCA mark post-Brexit, and the upcoming transition to the new Machinery Regulation , staying compliant is more complex than ever. Advertisement What is CE Marking? The CE marking stands for " Conformité Européenne " (European Conformity). By affixing this mark, the manufacturer asserts that the product meets all essential "Health and Safety" requirements of the relevant European legislation. Figure 1: The CE mark acts as a passport for the EU market, while the UKCA mark is now required for Great Britain. It acts as a "passport" for your product, allowing it to be sold freely within the EU Single Market...