custompowd2stg, Author at Custom Powder Systems

Accidental Invention: Potato Chips

February 21, 2023

by custompowd2stg with No Comment Art of Engineering Featured News Just For Fun Uncategorized

WARNING: Reading this article may incite a ravenous craving for potato chips. Viewer discretion is advised.

The crunchy, salty, irresistible snack that you know and love was first created nearly two centuries ago. Potato chips are said to have originated from an interaction between a picky restaurant patron and an irritated cook… But is that really where they came from?

The Legend of the Salty Chef

As the story goes, Native and African American chef George (Speck) Crum worked at Moon’s Lake House in Saratoga Springs, New York. One day in 1853, he encountered a particularly fussy eater. Cornelius Vanderbilt had ordered fried potatoes, which he then sent back because they were cut too thick. George, in the act of spiteful pettiness, proceeded to slice a potato as thinly as possible and fry it to a crisp… And Cornelius loved it.

As fun as this story is, historians have mostly debunked it. George Crum still, however, often receives credit for popularizing the snack, as he continued to serve them to enthusiastic patrons.

George’s “Saratoga Chips” quickly became a hit around town and then beyond Upstate New York. In 1860, the chef opened his restaurant, Crum’s House, where each table was served a delicious basket of his famous potato chips. The delicious crisps eventually became quite sought-after throughout the U.S., with the first “Saratoga Chips” being sold in grocery stores in 1895 by William Tappendonby in Cleveland, OH.

Other Cooks in the Kitchen

Over the years, other possible origin stories of the invention of the potato chip have surfaced.

George Crum’s coworker and sister, Catherine Adkins Wicks, also claimed that she was the true inventor of the potato chip. In some versions of the original story, she is said to have been the one who served the thin crips to Cornelius Vanderbilt. In another, Catherine was allegedly peeling potatoes when she accidentally dropped a slice in a pot of boiling fat.

Another Moon’s Lake House employee, “Eliza, the cook,” was claimed to have been making chips as early as 1849. A New York Herald article from the time said her “potato frying reputation is one of the prominent matters of remark at Saratoga.” Other restaurant individuals credited with the invention include the owners, restaurant manager Hiram Thomas, and several other cooks.

A different story from Smithsonian Magazine reports that “the earliest known recipe for chips dated to 1817 when an English doctor named William Kitchiner published The Cook’s Oracle, a cookbook that included a recipe for “potatoes fried in slices or shavings.” So, historians have largely agreed that we may, unfortunately, never know the true origin of the chip.

You Can’t Eat Just One

As you can probably guess, the popularity of potato chips grew exponentially, and recipes and production continued to evolve.

In the early 1920s, Herman Lay (name sound familiar?) began making his potato chips and selling them out of the trunk of his car. As he began commercializing the product, rumors spread that the chips had an aphrodisiac quality, which simply bolstered his sales even more.

Smithsonian Magazine also reports that “In 1926, Laura Scudder, a California businesswoman, began packaging chips in wax-paper bags that included not only a ‘freshness’ date but also a tempting boast – ’the Noisiest Chips in the World.’” The new packaging design helped the snack stay fresher and crispier for longer, making them even more popular and allowing them to be mass-marketed.

It wasn’t until the 1950s that potato chips started seeing flavoring, thanks to Irishman Joe “Spud” Murphy. With his founding of Tayto, he developed a manufacturing process that created some of the most popular flavors we still know and love: Sour Cream and Onion, Barbecue, and Salt and Vinegar.

Today, Americans consume about 1.85 billion pounds of potato chips each year, supporting an estimated $10.5 billion industry. Because, in the words of Lay’s 1961 spokesperson Bert Lahr, “You can’t eat just one!”

If you enjoyed this accidental invention story, you might also like the ones about silly putty and Corn Flakes.

Inventions Ahead of Their Time: NASA Tools

February 21, 2023

by custompowd2stg with No Comment Featured News NEWS

If you’ve got a memory foam mattress you love dearly, you’ve got NASA to thank for that. Temper foam, cochlear implants, and portable computers are just a few of NASA’s incredible inventions that were used for space exploration long before they became everyday items in society.

It’s no secret that space travel requires some pretty advanced technology. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is America’s civil space program whose mission is to “explore, discover, and expand knowledge for the benefit of humanity.”

Over the years, NASA has designed technology that has often been ahead of its time. Many of these tools that were created for space travel have evolved into essential technologies we use every day.

Wireless Headphones

In 1961, following a space shuttle incident in which a pilot could not contact his recovery team after the cabin flooded and took out all radio connections, NASA started searching for a self-contained radio transceiver that could be integrated into a helmet. At the time, ITT Labs had recently developed their MS-50 Headset, which used an acoustic tube connected to tiny transducers as both a microphone and receiver. This headset was soon incorporated into a radio receiver called a Kellorad unit that also featured noise-canceling technology.

Eventually, the design found its way into home and office products, creating those Bluetooth headphones you use daily.

Computer Mouse

In the early 1960s, NASA scientist Bob Taylor was “on the lookout for new ways of using computers to make them more useful, more interactive in some sense.” At the time, computers were used simply as arithmetic machines, but Bob and NASA researcher Doug Englebart had more ideas. Together, a project began to develop a device that would help manipulate data and allow humans to be more involved with computing systems.

These ideas expanded past just a computer mouse, as Doug wanted to “develop a way for capturing and sharing wide ranges of information among a group of people who are working cooperatively toward some end.” Thus, the futuristic concept of computers being used with displays, keyboards, and mouses was developed, which eventually led to the types of machines we now use every day.

Memory Foam

In 1966, NASA’s Ames Research Center was working on developing a material that was both soft and super shock-absorbing to help protect pilots in the event of a crash. This polymeric temper foam not only helped cushion seats for impact but also made them more comfortable for the ride.

Once memory foam became available commercially, its uses became practically limitless. It has been used to cushion helmets, car seats, bike seats, military gear, and, of course, those oh-so-cushy mattresses.

Cochlear Implant

In the 1970s, NASA engineer Adam Kissiah Jr., inspired by his struggles with conventional hearing aids, began experimenting with new designs. Using his background knowledge in electronic sensing systems, telemetry, and sound and vibration sensors, Adam created a new type of hearing aid that would also clarify sounds and amplify them.

Adam’s cochlear implant uses digital pulses to stimulate auditory nerve endings and send signals to the brain. Today, over 219,000 patients have received these revolutionary devices, allowing many born deaf to hear for the first time.

R5

In 2013, the Johnson Space Center (JSC) Engineering Directorate built R5 (aka Valkyrie) to compete in the DARPA Robotics Challenge (DRC) Trials. This entirely electric bipedal humanoid robot was a first for NASA and was designed to be capable of operating in degraded or damaged human-engineered environments. Ideally, the robot could assist on missions by testing travel and performing human-like tasks where it could be potentially dangerous to send a real person.

With advanced sensors and a body full of maneuverable joints, Val is considered to be one of the most sophisticated robots in existence.

For more stories about influential designs and inspirational innovators, check out our podcast, The Art of Engineering.

Mothers of Invention: Hedy Lamarr

February 21, 2023

by custompowd2stg with No Comment NEWS

Did you know that “The Most Beautiful Woman in Film” was also responsible for the ideas behind what we now know as WiFi, GPS, and Bluetooth technology? Here are some insights into the incredible mind and talent of Hedy Lamarr.

It is hard to find a better example of “Beauty and Brains” than Hedy Lamarr. While she is best known for her iconic film roles in early Hollywood, Hedy was also an incredibly talented and intelligent inventor. The latter laid the foundation for several types of wireless communication we constantly utilize today.

A Creative and Intellectual Mind

Born in Vienna, Austria, on November 9th, 1914, Hedwig Eva Maria Kiesler was the only child of two affluent parents who cared deeply about developing her mind creatively and intellectually. Hedy’s father spent a great deal of time explaining the interworkings of various machines and encouraging her to look at the world with open eyes. At the same time, her mother nurtured her artistic side by facilitating ballet and piano lessons.

While she was known to be found tinkering with machines and had a significant intellectual promise from a young age, Heady’s acting career quickly took prominence after she starred in the 1932 German film Extase (“Extasy”). Soon after, she caught the attention of MGM executives, signed a lucrative film contract, and starred in the Oscar-nominated films Algiers, Sampson and Delilah.

A Talented Actress and Inventor

After moving to Hollywood and officially changing her name, Hedy Lamarr lived a dual lifestyle as a film star and inventor. While the media industry regarded her as the “Most Beautiful Woman in Film,” Hedy spent most of her downtime embracing her scientific side. She had an impressive inventing table at her house and was even gifted small equipment set to work within her trailer between filming scenes.

Her most notable designs include a faster airplane wing, an improved stoplight, and a water-dissolvable tablet that would make a soda similar to a cola. However, during WWII, perhaps her greatest invention came: a secret communication system in which both transmitter and receiver radio waves would “hop” to new frequencies together. This concept would help guide torpedos to their intended targets without enemy interception of classified military strategies, signals, and messages.

A Feminist Bombshell

Though Hedy’s revolutionary idea received a patent, it expired before the concept was effectively put to use. Years later, “frequency hopping” became an essential tool in military operations and, subsequently, the telecommunications industry, paving the way for modern-day devices like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS. Though the U.S. military has since publicly acknowledged the significant impact of Hedy’s invention on technological advancements, her estate has never gotten compensation for her work on what started a now $30 billion industry.

Hedy Lamarr was a woman who was most revered for her beauty but personally found her brain to be her true calling. She was recognized with awards for her accomplishments later in her life. In 2014, she was posthumously inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame for the development of her frequency hopping technology. Her legacy of many talents was shared in the 2017 film, Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story, highlighting her acting credits and incredible inventor’s spirit.

“Hope and curiosity about the future seemed better than guarantees. That’s the way I was. The unknown was always so attractive to me and still is.” – Hedy Lamarr.

To hear more stories about professional women whose perseverance has made them inspirational figures in their fields, check out our podcast, The Art of Engineering.

Seven of the Most Fascinating Inventions from Leonardo da Vinci

February 21, 2023

by custompowd2stg with No Comment NEWS

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s… an ornithopter! Leonardo da Vinci was one of the world’s most imaginative inventors, and many of his most creative creations inspired some of the machines we use today. Here are seven of da Vinci’s most fascinating inventions.

Leonardo da Vinci was an artist, theorist, scientist, engineer, sculptor, and architect (to name a few of his hobbies). He’s the textbook example of a true “renaissance man.” Combining several of these skills, da Vinci was responsible for a number of innovative inventions that served as predecessors to the tools we use today.

Ornithopter

Looking at da Vinci’s inventions, it’s clear to see the man had a thing for aviation. He was intrigued with the concept of man traveling like birds through the sky. This fascination inspired one of his most famous inventions, the ornithopter.

This “flying machine” resembles a primitive airplane, featuring a space for the pilot to lay face-down while pedaling and hand-cranking a rod-and-pulley system to control the wings. In theory, it seemed like a sound method for humans to take flight. However, the proposed design did not generate enough power for the machine to even get off the ground.

Helical Aerial Screw

Another airborne invention, the helical aerial screw bears a close resemblance to today’s helicopters. To induce vertical flight, a spiral mechanism fashioned from linen, cords, and a wooden foundation was meant to compress air as it spun.

Triangle Parachute

Yet another flight-inspired design was the triangular parachute. Unlike modern parachutes, da Vinci’s design featured wooden poles for structure, draped with a piece of linen to form a pyramid shape. Several centuries after its conception, skydiver Adrian Nicholas created a replica of the triangle parachute. He claimed it provided a smoother descent than modern parachutes.

Barreled Cannon

In addition to being a flight fanatic, da Vinci also had a fascination with warfare. He believed that the tools and tactics of the time were inefficient and needed improvement. So he created the barreled cannon.

The contraption was designed to alleviate the inconveniently long lag time between rounds of cannon fire by adjusting the reloading process. With a rotating barrel, this automatic weapon would continue shooting while new cannons were being loaded. The barreled cannon was a precursor to the machine gun of today.

Water Diving Suits

Another war-related invention, da Vinci’s diving suit was designed so that Venetian soldiers could move underwater to sneak up on enemy ships. This apparatus was made from leather and featured goggles and a breathing tube connected to air tanks. It is one of the oldest renderings of the modern-day scuba suit.

Self-Supporting Bridge

Also inspired by the travails of warfare, da Vinci designed a mechanism to help troops cross bodies of water more easily. His collapsible bridge was transportable and could be set up in new locations. This self-supporting bridge did not require any fasteners and featured notches to strengthen the structure.

Robotic Knight

Perhaps one of the most interesting of da Vinci’s inventions was the robotic knight. While (obviously) not computerized, da Vinci’s robot operated via a system of pulleys and levers. Miraculously, the knight’s internal mechanisms allowed it to sit, stand, and move its head in a similar fashion to real human movements.

So many of Leonardo da Vinci’s iconic designs began as simple drawings in a notebook. Whether you have an artist-level rendering or a simple napkin sketch, we can help turn your revolutionary ideas into a reality. Just let us know how we can help!

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The Power of Solid-State Batteries

February 21, 2023

by custompowd2stg with No Comment Uncategorized

Today, lithium-ion batteries are one of the most common sources of power for everyday devices from cell phones to cars. As these products continue to improve, so does the need for a more efficient energy source. The up-and-coming technology of Solid-State Batteries may just be the solution.

As technology develops by the day, more efficient energy sources are necessary for proper and effective functioning. Product improvements are accompanied by a demand for power that keeps up with them. Solid-State Batteries may be the solution that provides greater stability, safety, and energy density.

What are Solid-State Batteries?

In many of the devices we use today, lithium-ion batteries are a standard source of power. They utilize a flammable liquid electrolyte that balances the energy distribution between the cathode and anode, which is seen as more efficient than the lead-acid and nickel-metal hydride batteries used in the past. While we currently rely on lithium-ion batteries to power devices anywhere from our phones to our cars, they tend to be heavy and unstable in extreme temperatures.

Enter: Solid-State Batteries (SSB). As the name suggests, these batteries are composed of a solid electrolyte (typically ceramic, polymer, or glass) making them generally more stable and compact. With the material change, SSB are much lighter and have an energy capacity more than two times greater than lithium-ion batteries. They are also able to recharge significantly faster.

Additionally, with the removal of the flammable liquid electrolyte, SSB are safer in a wider range of temperatures and are less likely to overheat, meaning they are much less likely to catch on fire. The solid electrolyte also makes the batteries denser, allowing them to have a greater range of operation and be overall more efficient.

Currently, SSB are most commonly used in devices such as pacemakers, RFID, and wearable devices. And one of the biggest potential applications for SSB is in electric vehicles. According to Forbes, “Solid-state batteries promise fast, ubiquitous charging, and enough power to outrun ICE cars not just in the city, but on the fast lane of highways too on the long-distance race to the summer sun.”

What are Some of the Barriers to Success in this Industry?

Unfortunately, as promising as SSB are, they still have years of work to go before they are ready to be widely adopted. As research and experimentation goes, scientists have encountered issues with a variety of features, such as longevity. A significant flaw with SSB is the rapid degradation over charging cycles, causing an accumulation of lithium dendrites which can pierce the battery and lead to short-circuiting.

Other issues include conductivity and instability where the materials join. With a solid electrolyte, there is less particle mobility, preventing electrons from moving as freely as they otherwise would. This can also have a negative impact on the construction of the batteries, as it is more difficult to connect solid materials together as opposed to working with a liquid that has no fixed shape.

Also, in theory, SSB are believed to be able to be significantly less expensive than the current lithium-ion options. However, it has become a challenge to scale SSB, which are currently used in small devices, to larger applications. As of yet, no company has successfully been able to mass-manufacture SSB so that they are cost-effective enough to benefit the general public.

While there are some current barriers to widely-adopting Solid-State Battery technology, all good engineering takes time and experimentation. Looking toward the future, there is still extreme potential in this revolutionary power source and its potential applications.

What Can CPS Do?

The world of batteries is rapidly evolving, with new changes and developments each day. At CPS, we pride ourselves on our ability to take on challenges and learn new things every day. While we don’t make SSBs ourselves, we are great at supporting the people that do.

Many companies currently working with SSB technology are in the research and development phase, experimenting with small batches and basic processes. This means that they typically don’t have the proper equipment to be able to scale their projects as demand increases. Our job is to provide these companies with new solutions for containment, blending, transport, and handling to progress from grams at a time to hundreds of kilograms at a time. And, we are able to completely custom build the base equipment so they seamlessly integrate with the systems these companies already have in place.

The other main concern we address is safety, as oxidized lithium can release extremely combustible gasses. By upgrading a company’s current storage method to efficient Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBC), we can significantly decrease the risk of both explosions and human inhalation of toxic gasses. Depending on the customer’s needs, we can also utilize various tools such as contained transfer devices, accurate dosing scales, clean docking Jet-Wash transfers, and blending systems.

At Custom Powder Systems, we love staying up-to-date with the most current engineering trends. If there are new technologies you’d like to explore, let us know how we can help!

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Considerations for Working with Metal Powder Additive Manufacturing

February 21, 2023

by custompowd2stg with No Comment Integrated Containment Systems

Utilizing the abilities of additive manufacturing (AKA 3D printing) with metal powders is unlocking the ability to build new parts and tools for aerospace, automotive, communications, and medicine that were previously not feasible. However, we must also consider and address the serious safety and handling implications.

Working with new technologies can be exciting, especially building more complex world exploration and communications tools.

Additive manufacturing (colloquially called 3D printing) is continuing to grow as a way to build more intricate and complex items that previously were not possible with traditional manufacturing methods.

Along with the potentially useful applications for this technology, it is also important to consider safety precautions and best practices to ensure the efficient handling of potentially dangerous materials.

What is Metal Powder Additive Manufacturing?

Additive Manufacturing is an incredible tool for building almost anything through a Computer-Aided Design (CAD) system. Traditional manufacturing can have limitations when working with metal to how existing sheets can be cut and molded. With additive manufacturing, designers can essentially start with a blank canvas and build whatever they like by adding one layer of material at a time. This allows for nearly unlimited ability to create completely customized pieces.

When working with metals, manufacturers utilize extremely fine powders of materials such as titanium, aluminum, nickel, and stainless steel. These powders are layered and joined together by fusing tools such as lasers, binders, and heated nozzles. Both the type of metals and methods used to build the final products depends on the manufacturer and what they are trying to create. Current uses for metal additive manufacturing include aerospace technology, car parts, medical devices, microwave communications, and satellite componentry.

What Does the Industry Currently Look Like?

Because the additive manufacturing industry is so new, many unknowns exist when predicting how the technology will develop in the coming years. Changes are occurring rapidly, sometimes making it challenging to keep up with new best practices. Unfortunately, this can also lead to some serious safety risks. Currently, there are no imposed regulations on the material handling.

Most companies utilizing additive manufacturing technologies are currently in the research and development phase, working mainly with homemade equipment and small batches. Because the materials are highly combustible, this can be dangerous if the powders are not handled properly. In general, current manufacturers in this space could benefit from improved containment solutions and a more in-depth understanding of what exactly they are dealing with.

What Can CPS Do?

At Custom Powder Systems, one of our greatest strengths is our ability to adapt to rapidly changing technologies. Our immense amount of combined knowledge on our teams allows us to embrace challenges, leading to incredible innovation. This can be especially valuable in a space with many manufacturers just starting in research and development phases of their endeavors. For those experiencing their first foray into commercial manufacturing with professional-grade machinery, we offer seamless integration of new components with already existing systems.

Due to the volatility of metal powders, they need to be handled safely. Many materials currently being used are pyrophoric powders, which will combust when exposed to oxygen at the submicron size. To prevent explosions, we offer inerting systems and O2 monitoring equipment. Additionally, the powders and gasses from the production process can be extremely harmful to the workers handling them. Our systems contain the materials in a way that isolates the products to prevent human exposure during powder handling and transferring.

One of the best parts about developing new technologies is expanding our knowledge base and developing new skills. At CPS, we take pride in our abilities to constantly learn and grow, no matter what we are dealing with. If you have a new area you’d like to explore, let us know how we can help!

To learn more about Custom Powder Systems and the art of engineering, sign up for our newsletter.

Accidental Invention: Silly Putty

February 21, 2023

by custompowd2stg with No Comment Just For Fun NEWS Uncategorized

Simple. Squishable. Moldable. Silly Putty has been a popular children’s toy for over 80 years. But did you know it wasn’t created for kids? Silly Putty’s origin story begins with an accidental discovery during the rubber shortage during World War II.

During WWII, many of the countries that produced rubber were being invaded at the time. Because of this, Allies faced an extreme rubber shortage. In an effort to combat the lack of this essential manufacturing item, the U.S. government contracted companies to create a synthetic rubber substitute that could be made from readily-available materials.

It was during this experimental process that one of the world’s most popular toys was inadvertently created.

A Goo With Interesting Properties

It all started in General Electric’s New Haven, Connecticut Lab in 1943, where inventor James Wright was testing potential methods to create synthetic rubber. During one attempt, he mixed boric acid and silicone oil, creating a gooey, stretchy substance. While it proved to be a poor substitute for rubber, its unique properties turned some heads.

This “nutty putty” was stretchier and bouncier than rubber, and it adhered to ink to make a perfect copy of whatever newspaper or comic book it touched. James soon began sending samples to labs around the world to find a potential use for his discovery. Unfortunately, there was not much interest from other scientists or the U.S. government, so the mysterious goo fell to the wayside.

Passing Around the Party Putty

In spite of there being no obvious practical use for the putty, James continued making it. The goopy goo eventually started making appearances as a novelty passed around at parties. At one such party, the rubbery substance was discovered by Ruth Fallgatter, owner of the “Block Shop” toy store. She began selling it in her catalog at “bouncy putty.” It quickly became a bestseller.

Ruth’s marketing consultant, Peter Hodgson, was so interested in the goo that he purchased its production rights and changed the name to “Silly Putty.” The product’s next release coincided with the Easter holiday, inspiring its famous plastic egg-shaped package. Priced at $1 each, the company sold 250,000 units of Silly Putty in the first three days… and nearly six million units in the first year.

Second Only to Crayola Crayons

The new toy was an instant success, second only to Crayons. Crayola eventually purchased the exclusive manufacturing rights to Silly Putty in 1977. Today, the company reveals that “although the exact formulas Crayola uses to make Silly Putty are proprietary, we can share that it is made primarily from silicone and color pigments.”

While still commonly known as a toy, Silly Putty has also a few practical uses, such as picking up dirt and lint and stabilizing wobbly table legs. It was also used on the 1968 Apollo 8 mission where astronauts used Silly Putty to secure their tools to surfaces while orbiting the moon.

We love practical inventions, but we also love the impractical fun ones, too! If you need help figuring out an idea, we’re here for you… no matter how “silly” it seems.

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Mothers of Invention: Martha Coston

February 21, 2023

by custompowd2stg with No Comment NEWS Uncategorized

Inventor and businesswoman Martha Coston knew how to draw attention to herself… By using a Coston flare. This essential tool for signaling at sea can be credited to the hard work of one incredibly dedicated mother.

Martha Coston did not let being a young, widowed, single mother in the mid-nineteenth century stop her from being a successful inventor and businesswoman, providing for her family, and making a name for herself.

Drawing inspiration from her late husband’s designs, Martha created the Coston flare, a maritime signaling device that has been an incredibly useful life-saving tool for nearly two centuries.

Sparking an Idea

Born on December 12, 1826 in Baltimore, Maryland, Martha grew up with no formal education. She later moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where she met promising naval inventor Benjamin Franklin Coston, who she married and shared four children with. Due to his work experimenting with chemicals, Benjamin passed away when Martha was just 21 years old, leaving her a penniless single mother.

After several years of struggling to get by, Martha came across a design amongst her husband’s belongings that would spark many more years of inventing and success. Within one of the notebooks, she found rough sketches and notes about a potential signaling system that could be used by the U.S. Navy.

Fanning the Flames

While Benjamin’s ideas themselves were strong, Martha knew that they would need a lot of work before they could be turned into a usable product. The goal was to create a durable, long-lasting pyrotechnic flare and effective signaling system that could be used for ship-to-ship and ship-to-land communication.

Though her project took an immense amount of time and effort, Martha remained diligent over the years, saying: “The men I employed and dismissed, the experiments I made myself, the frauds that were practiced upon me, almost disheartened me; but … I treasured up each little step that was made in the right direction, the hints of naval officers, and the opinions of the different boards that gave the signals a trial.”

A Signal of Success

After a decade of experimentation, Martha finally received a patent (#23,536) for her “Pyrotechnic Night Signals” in 1859 and started the Coston Manufacturing Company. Using firework technology and a team of chemists, she was able to create bright red, white, and green flares that could be seen over long distances. The rights to the invention were quickly purchased by the U.S. Navy, and she was awarded a contract for her company to manufacture them.

The flares and communication system soon proved to be a valuable tool, helping the Union to win battles and save lives during the Civil War. As the years went on, Martha continued to improve upon her invention, developing a twist-ignition version patented in 1871. The flares were sold to navies around the world, commercial merchant vessels, and private yachting clubs, and have saved a countless number of lives.

To hear more stories about professional women whose perseverance has made them inspirational figures in their fields, check out our podcast, The Art of Engineering.

To hear more about the art of engineering, sign up for our newsletter.

Inventions Ahead of Their Time: The Electric Car

February 21, 2023

by custompowd2stg with No Comment NEWS Uncategorized

With gas prices soaring, many drivers are considering the transition to electric vehicles. While many consider electric cars to be technology from the future, we actually have over two centuries of research and development to thank for this incredible invention.

When people today think of electric cars, most envision sleek, futuristic, technologically-advanced machines. But, did you know the first electric cars were created nearly two hundred years ago? Studying at the origins of this incredible invention can help us understand how far we’ve come and guide us in making continuous improvements.

Batteries Start the Engines

Due to numerous technological advancements that lead to the advent of electric cars, it is difficult to pinpoint an exact time or location where it all began. Inventors in Hungary, the Netherlands, Great Britain, and the United States were experimenting with battery-powered vehicles in the early 1800’s, which led to the creation of the first small-scale electric cars and carriages.

Then, in 1890, chemist William Morrison of Des Moines, Iowa built the first successful electric car. Carrying six passengers, the vehicle’s top speed clocked in at a whopping 14 miles per hour. In the decade that followed, growing interest sparked rapid innovations. At one point, electric cars accounted for over one-third of all vehicles on the road. Charging stations could even be found around city shopping districts.

Combustion On the Move

In the early twentieth century, significant advancements were made to internal-combustion engines, posing a threat to battery-powered vehicles. At the time, however, internal-combustion engines required hand-cranking to start and a fair amount of manual power to drive. Drivers found the electric vehicle’s ease of use far more appealing.

But as the innovations evolved, the price of the gas-powered Ford Model T became less and less expensive. By 1923, vehicles with combustion engines were 10 times cheaper than the battery-powered alternative. Furthermore, the eventual creation of the electric starter eliminated the need for hand-cranking, making operation significantly easier. The combination of these two factors quickly steered shoppers towards more affordable options.

The Road Ahead

By WWII, gasoline-powered vehicles effectively won the technology war and phased out most electric car manufacturers. The discovery of crude oil in Texas and Henry Ford’s mass-production of internal-combustion engines led to lower costs too difficult to rival. But it wasn’t long before the U.S. began relying on foreign sources for imported crude oil. This, along with the call for reduced emissions, once again ignited an interest in electric vehicles in the late twentieth century.

Over the last fifty years, environmental concerns have led to major technological advancements in the electric car industry. Today, there are four main types of electric vehicles: Hybrid, Battery, Plug-In Hybrid, and Extended-Range. As these vehicles become more efficient and less expensive, it becomes increasingly more common to see them on the road.

At CPS, we’re excited to see not only the advancements in transportation technology but the challenges as well. Solving problems is what we do best, and many of life’s most valuable lessons are learned from past mistakes. If you’d like to see your idea come to life, let us know how we can help! Just imagine what your invention will look like two hundred years from now!

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A New Negative Pressure: Burnout

June 5, 2019

by custompowd2stg Featured News General NEWS

As we continue to develop our reputation for aseptic isolation, we’ve learned a thing or two about containing negative pressure… and its many forms. In our shop, we use this focus as a regular reminder to consider and address the other kind of negative pressure: Stress and frustration and, specifically today, burnout: the negative pressure most recently featured in the news.

The World Health Organization is updating its definition of burnout and adding it to the ICD-11, which classifies diseases. While the new definition of burnout will be known as a syndrome, it ties burnout to negative pressures such as “chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.”

If you’ve been feeling exhausted at work lately, or detached from your daily tasks, it’s time to look at burnout as the cause.

The subject of burnout gets discussed at length in certain fields – healthcare, teachers, and police officers all come to mind. But it should come as no surprise that engineers, workers, and even support staff run the risk of burnout as well.

CNBC points out that 67 percent of full-time employees felt at least some type of burnout. Those feelings come with real-world consequences as well. Burnout has been attributed to diabetes, heart disease, GI issues, and even early death.

There are symptoms that employers need to watch out for as well. Negativity, cynicism, and reduced efficacy can impact a company’s moral and its bottom line when there’s increased use of sick time.

The best time for a burnout intervention is before it happens. EngineeringJobs.com lays out seven acts that can keep you fresh and excited about your job. The article is interesting in that it points out wider options than the standard “take a break” or “use your vacation days” that we normally hear.

At Custom Powder, we’ve seen a direct correlation between our team’s wellness and our Experience Modification Rate (EMR): the number used by insurance companies to project future chances of risk based on past injuries. The lower the EMR, the lower premiums will be, and the lower the costs involved. We pass those (not insignificant) savings onto our customers.

The standard EMR for our industry is 1.00.

Our EMR is 0.82 — significantly below the industry standard.

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