Free smartphone apps for engineers

July 7, 2011
These apps include a scientific calculator, Blender tutorial, and weld-design program.

Android app is a scientific calculator
The RealCalc Scientific Calculator for Android phones is a free, fully featured scientific calculator that looks and operates like the real thing. It includes a Result History that lists the answers to the last 10 problems you have calculated. A Convert section performs unit conversions between such things as distance, speed, pressure, and area. The calculator performs trig functions in degrees, radians, or grads. It features scientific, engineering, and fixed-point display modes. Also included is a Physical Constants table. Built-in Help answers questions like, “Why doesn’t the decimal point work?” (Answer: You are in binary, octal, or hexadecimal mode. Press DEC to return to decimal operation.)

Tutorials for 3D design
The Blender 3D Design app for the iPhone introduces users to 3D CAD modeling and animation. The app covers basic mesh modeling, applying textures and materials to 3D objects, lighting, and rendering. You need Blender 2.5X software installed on Windows, Mac, Linux, FreeBSD, Irix, or Solaris to follow this course. Blender is fully functional, open-source 3D software and is available as a free download from www.blender.org. The app includes video tutorials on everything from how to use features to split and join windows to how to use tools to scale, rotate, and move objects. More-advanced tutorials cover how to extrude or loft Bezier curves to create new objects and how to use one of the Modifiers to dynamically assign Boolean properties to mesh objects.

Weld design for novice fabricators
The Weld Design app for Android phones lets users calculate whether a weld is strong enough. The app lists welding symbols as well as includes information on stick, tungsten inert gas (TIG), and flux-cored arc (FCAW) welding. Fabricators can calculate metal inert gas (MIG) wire speed by typing-in the plate thicknesses and burn rate.

© 2011 Penton Media, Inc.

Continue Reading

Sponsored Recommendations

From concept to consumption: Optimizing success in food and beverage

April 9, 2024
Identifying opportunities and solutions for plant floor optimization has never been easier. Download our visual guide to quickly and efficiently pinpoint areas for operational...

A closer look at modern design considerations for food and beverage

April 9, 2024
With new and changing safety and hygiene regulations at top of mind, its easy to understand how other crucial aspects of machine design can get pushed aside. Our whitepaper explores...

Cybersecurity and the Medical Manufacturing Industry

April 9, 2024
Learn about medical manufacturing cybersecurity risks, costs, and threats as well as effective cybersecurity strategies and essential solutions.

Condition Monitoring for Energy and Utilities Assets

April 9, 2024
Condition monitoring is an essential element of asset management in the energy and utilities industry. The American oil and gas, water and wastewater, and electrical grid sectors...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Machine Design, create an account today!

New

Most Read

Sponsored