The latest edition of the Mechanical newsletter brings you a collection of breakthroughs and innovative designs shaping the future of technology and engineering.

In this issue, we spotlight the significant benefits and processes of black oxide coating. Read on for the latest industry updates featuring novel applications and advancements, from student-designed military camouflages to sustainable plastics.

Stay informed and inspired as we explore these exciting developments together.

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INDUSTRY UPDATES

🫀 Junk genius: Students build humanoid robot with a ‘beating heart’ from scrap 
Uniquely intelligent humanoid Robot inspired by Vedic principles supports 61 languages and offers 50 hand gestures

🧋 Los Angeles gets first taste of autonomous robot delivery with Shake Shack, Serve
Serve Robotics plans to deploy about 2,000 AI-Driven delivery robots on the Uber platform to facilitate automated food delivery by 2025.

💧 Water drop-inspired wheel changes shape in real time to conquer any terrain
A new adjustable wheel adapts to uneven terrain, improving robots and off-road vehicles that struggle to navigate through staircases and rocky landscapes.

🦠 Bacterial Additive Makes Plastic More Sustainable
Engineers find a hybrid living plastic material infused with bacteria that can break down in a compost environment.

✈️ On the Brink of Revolution: NASA’s Quiet Supersonic X-59 Moves Toward Maiden Flight
With extensive testing for safety and performance, the X-59 supersonic aircraft is closer to taking flight.

SPOTLIGHT

Enhancing Metal with Black Oxide Coating

Black oxide coating stands as a crucial finishing method that is used in various industries to enhance both the aesthetic appeal and functionality of metal components. The process primarily serves industries requiring precision and durability. Black oxide is a chemical conversion process that enhances ferrous metals, stainless steel, copper, aluminum, and zinc without altering the physical dimensions of the base material.

This process is also known as blackening, gun bluing, or black passivating. It transforms the metal's surface into a black, durable layer only one to two micrometers thick—magnetite (Fe3O4). Black oxide is widely used in automotive parts, hand tools, and aerospace components due to its numerous advantages. Some of the benefits are corrosion resistance, minimized light reflection, and improved aesthetic quality.

By ensuring minimal dimensional change, the process supports parts with tight tolerances and complex shapes, which are crucial in high-precision sectors. The layer formed is robust enough to withstand harsh environments while maintaining the functionality and appearance of the component.

The process of black oxide coating involves several stages, beginning with thorough surface cleaning followed by rinsing and acid pickling to eliminate any contaminants and prepare the metal for treatment. The core of the process is the black oxide bath, which uses chemicals like sodium hydroxide and nitrates at high temperatures to convert the surface into magnetite. After achieving the desired shade, parts are rinsed and sealed with oil or wax to enhance corrosion resistance and provide either a glossy or matte finish.

Despite its many benefits, black oxide has limitations. It offers only moderate corrosion resistance and requires additional sealing to fully protect the underlying metal. Furthermore, the black oxide coating can wear off under extreme conditions, potentially exposing the metal to environmental threats.

Yet, the process remains a favored option for many applications due to its cost-effectiveness and high-quality finish. Black oxide is also valued for its ability to produce a visually appealing and protective surface, minus the complications and costs of more intensive treatments like electroplating.

Black oxide processes are still evolving into more efficient coating methods. However, they remain an essential technique in metal finishing, creating a balance between performance, aesthetics, and cost.

MechTech Innovations

Student Engineers Transform Military Camo

Engineering students at the University of Florida have developed a novel camouflage deployment system that is set to transform military protocol for camouflaging vehicles.

The project was executed with the Georgia Institute of Technology and the Civil-Military Innovation Institute. It was part of a capstone initiative to reduce the deployment time of camouflage netting used by Army troops, which usually takes about an hour and puts soldiers at risk in combat scenarios.

The design features a hand-cranked spooling mechanism, similar to a firetruck’s hose reel. This allows for quick deployment and retraction of the netting. This manual system is reliable even under combat conditions where electrical systems fail.

The netting’s hefty weight (over 100 pounds) posed considerable challenges for the students as they had to design the mechanism to be both strong and efficient. After multiple iterations and repetitive testing, the device was refined to manage the netting’s deployment with utmost efficiency, even after repeated use.

The prototype is now complete, and testing is scheduled for simulated warfare conditions at an Army proving ground.

MOVIE RECOMMENDATIONS

👦🏽 The City of Lost Children (1995) 
This French film features a mad scientist kidnapping children to steal their dreams. It showcases a steampunk aesthetic that creatively merges machinery and fantasy.

⚙️ Delicatessen (1991) 
From the creators of "The City of Lost Children," this film presents a post-apocalyptic society with bizarre contraptions and quirky mechanical devices, reflecting a darkly comedic side of engineering.

🤖 Tetsuo: The Iron Man (1989)
A Japanese cyberpunk horror film about a man transforming into a hybrid of flesh and metal, which might appeal to engineers interested in the fusion of body and machine.

🗻 The Holy Mountain (1973) 
Alejandro Jodorowsky’s visually striking film includes surreal imagery and alchemical transformations, offering a bizarre, mind-bending tale that pushes the boundaries of conventional storytelling.

🌃 Dark City (1998) 
This neo-noir science fiction film involves a perpetually dark, constructed world manipulated by mysterious beings. It features retro-futuristic technology and existential themes that could captivate an engineering mind.