N E W S
NSK gyroscope
proves precision
hit
NSK Micro Precision developed
the gyro in cooperation with
former yo-yo world champion,
Takehiko Hasegawa, who also
worked with the company on the
wildly popular NSK fidget spinner
(Saturn Spinner) in 2017.
And the new gyro is proving to be
a popular hit featuring a unique
design, with a single bearing
located in the middle of the rotor
disk instead of at the top and
bottom of the spin shaft. This
reduces friction, and contributes
to longer idle spinning time.
In-house tests show that the
gyro can spin for more than four
minutes on top of its tiny stand,
and that the rotor disc can spin
for longer than fourteen minutes.
The toy makes use of the gyro
effect, which acts to maintain a
constant axis of rotation even
when external force is applied.
Gyroscopes with ball bearings
are widely used for navigation
purposes in ships and planes.
However, this is the first
commercial gyroscope toy in
Japan made with a ball bearing.
NSK Micro Precision hopes that
these toys will spark interest in
the mysteries of science and
technology, in both children and
adults alike.
www.engineeringnews.co.nz 13
The finalists in this year’s MM Best of Industry Award on the stage: A total of 31 companies from
various industries took part. BOGE was represented by ceo Thorsten Meier (rear, fifth from left).
BOGE CIP is right there at the top
Already a prizewinner and now one of
4.0’ category. Thanks to ongoing data
the best once again says compressed air
analysis, BOGE identifies energy saving
specialist BOGE; nominated for the “Best
potentials and continuously further
of Industry Award” of the German “MM
develops its compressed air systems
MaschinenMarkt” industry magazine for
in operation – a feature that is unique in
its BOGE CIP continuous improvement
the field of compressed air.
programme.
“Our BOGE CIP is already an award winner.
The revolutionary service concept
Even if it just missed being honoured this
achieved second place in the ‘Industry
time, we have implemented an unprece-
Otago
Polytechnic
student nabs
change of
lifetime
Hanri de Bruin has got what she described
as a “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity.
The second-year Otago Polytechnic
Bachelor of Engineering Technology
(Electrical) learner attended the International
Summer Academy in Engineering
for Women at the University of Applied
Science in Austria, July 10-25.
The Summer Academy’s intensive, two
and a-half week programme combined
sophisticated theory with hands-on
practical experience. In addition to the
general programme, each participant
chose a three-day specialised module
in natural sciences, engineering and
technology or computer science and
informatics.
“This is really exciting,” says Hanri, “It’s
pretty much all I have been thinking of
for the last few months.”
dented and unique concept”, says Thorsten
Meier. Based on data analyses, the
compressed air specialist from Bielefeld
is making its systems increasingly energy
efficient in operation with the continuous
improvement programme. In 2017,
BOGE won the Diamond Star prize from
the business magazine Handelsblatt for
the service solution.
Hanri, who is specialising in mechatronics
for her degree, was particularly interested
in natural sciences as well as computer
science and informatics.
“Natural sciences looks at a wide range
of things, including prosthetics and how
technology gets integrated within them.
But the options were all enticing, and at the
time of print was also contemplating the
computer science module as it involves a
lot of topics that I’m also very interested in.
“Augmented/virtual reality and automotive
computing are both big interests
of mine.”
Virtual reality offers a vast number of
outcomes, from gaming to medical
intervention, Hanri says.
“I think VR will be a massive development
in all engineering departments. I would
like to get into robotics/mechatronics
and the options for VR in this area is
huge. We could develop VR programmes
that we can use to hone how we build
machines/robots."
Review: CodeMark
flawed
The government's gold-standard
scheme to approve building
products, CodeMark, is seriously
flawed according to a review.
The quality of CodeMark certificates
is already in question after
an audit criticised how they had
been used to approve types of
aluminium composite panel
similar to those used on London's
Grenfell Tower - which proved
highly, and fatally flammable.
The review questions the
competence and technical
expertise of companies that issue
CodeMark certificates.
It faults the scheme's owner, the
Ministry of Business, Innovation
and Employment (MBIE), and the
manager it uses, JAS-ANZ.
There are 135 CodeMark certificates
in total, often used to help
innovative or complex products
win over designers.
The certificates are meant to be
so foolproof that councils must
accept them as part of a building
consent.
/www.engineeringnews.co.nz