A hybridized approach to optimal tolerance synthesis of clutch assembly

Specifying proper tolerances for manufactured goods results in greater savings and improved performance, which may ultimately determine whether a product succeeds or fails in the marketplace. In the past, tolerance specification has been more an art than a science, and is largely dependent upon experiences. A more scientific and reliable approach is presented in this paper. A hybrid of Nelder-Mead simplex method and particle swarm optimization (NM-PSO) is introduced for the design of tolerance of the machine elements of an overrunning clutch assembly. The objective is to obtain tolerances of the individual components so that the cost of manufacturing and quality loss is minimized. Experimental results demonstrate that hybrid NM-PSO is extremely effective and efficient in locating best-practice optimal solutions compared to geometric programming (GP), genetic algorithm (GA), and particle swarm optimization (PSO) methods.     

Detection of the interaction between SNAP25 and rabphilin in neuroendocrine PC12 cells using the FLIM/FRET technique

Exocytosis has been proposed to contain four sequential steps, namely docking, priming, fusion, and recycling, and to be regulated by various proteins-protein interactions. Synaptosomal-associated protein of 25 kDa (SNAP25) has recently been found to bind rabphilin, the Rab3A specific binding protein, in vitro. However, it is still unclear whether SNAP25 and rabphilin interact during exocytosis within cells in vivo. This problem was addressed by the integration of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) with high sensitivity fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) to observe this protein-protein interaction. Enhanced green fluorescence protein-labeled SNAP25 (donor) and red fluorescence protein-labeled rabphilin (acceptor) were expressed in neuroendocrine PC12 cells as a FRET pair and ATP stimulation was carried out for various durations. With 10 s stimulation, a 0.17-ns left shift of the lifetime peak was found when compared with donor only. Analysis of the lifetime image further suggested that the lifetime recovered to a similar level as the donor only in a time dependent manner. Four-dimensional (4D) images by FLIM provided useful information indicating that the interaction of SNAP25 and rabphilin occurred particularly within optical sections near cell membrane. Together the results suggest that SNAP25 bound rabphilin loosely at docking step before exocytosis and the binding became tighter at the very start of exocytosis. Finally, these two proteins dissociated after stimulation. To our knowledge, this is the first report to demonstrate the interaction of SNAP25 and rabphilin in situ using the FLIM-FRET technique within neuroendocrine cells.     

Study of the EDM performance to produce a stable process and surface modification

In this work, the effect of pulse current and pulse duration in die-sinking electrical discharge machining (EDM) on the machining characteristics of Ti-6Al-4V alloy is studied. The EDM characteristics, including the electrode wear ratio (EWR), the material removal rate (MRR), and the surface roughness (SR), are used to measure the effect of machining. An increase in the intensity of the pulse current from 2.5 to 5 A produces a slow increase in EWR, MRR, and SR. An increase in the intensity of the pulse current from 5 to 7 A produces a rapid increase in EWR, MRR, and SR. Control charts are basic and powerful tools for controlling statistical processes and are widely used to monitor manufacturing processes and ensure good EDM quality. EWR, MRR, and SR are normal distributions, and the regression curves for the data are straight lines. All of the data points vary randomly around the centerline, which follows the Shewhart criteria and shows that the EDM process and product performance are under control and stable over time. After EDM, the surface exhibits an irregular fused structure, with pinholes, micro voids, globule debris, and many damaged surfaces. Oxygen plasma etching and surface modification after EDM reduce these surface defects, so finer and flatter surfaces can be achieved. Moreover, fatigue life can be enhanced.     

超声抛光变幅杆动态分析及其优化

超声抛光方法是解决模具内腔抛光这一模具加工瓶颈的有效手段之一,而超声变幅杆的性能对于超声加工来讲至关重要。本文根据变幅杆理论设计方法设计了适用于自动超声抛光设备的变幅杆,并使用有限元技术对四种类型的变幅杆进行了模态分析和谐响应分析,然后以稳定性最好的圆锥形变幅杆为基础进行了优化设计,得到了稳定性较好且放大系数较大的综合性能优良的变幅杆。     

Synthesis and characterization of single-crystalline zinc tin oxide nanowires

Crystalline zinc tin oxide (ZTO; zinc oxide with heavy tin doping of 33 at.%) nanowires were first synthesized using the electrodeposition and heat treatment method based on an anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membrane, which has an average diameter of about 60 nm. According to the field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) results, the synthesized ZTO nanowires are highly ordered and have high wire packing densities. The length of ZTO nanowires is about 4 μm, and the aspect ratio is around 67. ZTO nanowires with a Zn/(Zn + Sn) atomic ratio of 0.67 (approximately 2/3) were observed from an energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). X-ray diffraction (XRD) and corresponding selected area electron diffraction (SAED) patterns demonstrated that the ZTO nanowire is hexagonal single-crystalline. The study of ultraviolet/visible/near-infrared (UV/Vis/NIR) absorption showed that the ZTO nanowire is a wide-band semiconductor with a band gap energy of 3.7 eV.     

Optimization of the EDM parameters on machining Ti–6Al–4V with multiple quality characteristics

In this paper, parameter optimization of the electrical discharge machining process to Ti–6Al–4V alloy considering multiple performance characteristics using the Taguchi method and grey relational analysis is reported. Performance characteristics including the electrode wear ratio, material removal rate and surface roughness are chosen to evaluate the machining effects. The process parameters selected in this study are discharge current, open voltage, pulse duration and duty factor. Experiments based on the appropriate orthogonal array are conducted first. The normalised experimental results of the performance characteristics are then introduced to calculate the coefficient and grades according to grey relational analysis. The optimised process parameters simultaneously leading to a lower electrode wear ratio, higher material removal rate and better surface roughness are then verified through a confirmation experiment. The validation experiments show an improved electrode wear ratio of 15%, material removal rate of 12% and surface roughness of 19% when the Taguchi method and grey relational analysis are used.     

Single HeLa and MCF-7 cell measurement using minimized impedance spectroscopy and microfluidic device

This study presents an impedance measurement system for single-cell capture and measurement. The microwell structure which utilizes nDEP force is used to single-cell capture and a minimized impedance spectroscopy which includes a power supply chip, an impedance measurement chip and a USB microcontroller chip is used to single-cell impedance measurement. To improve the measurement accuracy of the proposed system, Biquadratic fitting is used in this study. The measurement accuracy and reliability of the proposed system are compared to those of a conventional precision impedance analyzer. Moreover, a stable material, latex beads, is used to study the impedance measurement using the minimized impedance spectroscopy with cell-trapping device. Finally, the proposed system is used to measure the impedance of HeLa cells and MCF-7 cells. The impedance of single HeLa cells decreased from 9.55 × 10(3) to 3.36 × 10(3) Ω and the impedance of single MCF-7 cells decreased from 3.48 × 10(3) to 1.45 × 10(3) Ω at an operate voltage of 0.5 V when the excitation frequency was increased from 11 to 101 kHz. The results demonstrate that the proposed impedance measurement system successfully distinguishes HeLa cells and MCF-7 cells.     

Improving tribological properties and machining performance of a-C coatings by doping with titanium

In this study, a-C:Ti _x% coatings with various levels of Ti addition are deposited on cemented tungsten carbide (WC-Co) substrates using a medium-frequency twin magnetron sputtering and unbalanced magnetron sputtering system. This study investigates the tribological properties of the coatings by conducting wear tests against an AISI 1045 steel counterbody under a cylinder-on-disk line contact wear mode using an oscillating friction and wear tester. Additionally, turning tests and high-speed through-hole drilling tests are performed on AISI 1045 steel counterbodies and PCB workpieces, respectively, to investigate the machining performance of coated turning cutters and microdrills. The a-C:Ti _x% coatings not only have improved tribological properties but also demonstrate enhanced machining performance. For sliding against the AISI 1045 steel counterbody under loads of 10 and 100 N, the results show that the optimal friction and wear resistance properties are provided by the a-C:Ti_13% and a-C:Ti_3% coatings, respectively. Meanwhile, the a-C:Ti_20% and a-C:Ti_51% coatings yield the optimal turning and drilling performance, respectively.     

UVB-Protective Effects of Isoflavone Extracts from Soybean Cake in Human Keratinocytes

It has been shown by chromatography that aglycone, glucoside, acetylglucoside and malonylglucoside isoflavone extracts prepared from soybean cake showed better antioxidant activities than isoflavone standards. Consequently, the aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effects of these isoflavone extracts against ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced keratinocyte damage. Our results demonstrated that these soybean cake isoflavone extracts could inhibit UVB-induced keratinocyte death. Moreover, they could inhibit UVB-induced intracellular release of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) Furthermore, these isoflavone extracts differentially inhibited UVB-induced MAPK phosphorylation. The ERK1/2 and p38 phosphorylation was not inhibited by all tested isoflavone extracts, whereas JNK phosphorylation was inhibited by group I to group III isoflavone extracts. Since these isoflavone extracts are relative stable and easily obtained than the isoflavone standards, we suggest that soybean cake may be a useful potential source for developing effective skin care agents in against photoaging.     

Preparation of planar and oblate particles from emulsion polymerization using polymerizable comb-like branched emulsifiers

This paper presents a method for preparation of planar polymeric microstructures by emulsion polymerization using polymerizable branched emulsifier. Planar, oblate and spherical particles can be prepared by changing the volume and functionality of the hydrophobic tail of the comb-like polymerizable emulsifier, together with altering the monomers. Emulsifiers with bulky tails favored the formation of planar microstructure. The polymerizable emulsifiers were immobilized on the latex particles. Hindered desorption of the emulsifier from the latex improved the latexes' stability and facilitate the formation of planar and oblate particles. The polymerization conversion also depends on the molecular characteristics of the emulsifiers and monomers.