Engineering

High-Precision Systems Run the World – Here’s How

Gadgets Desk

High-precision systems. For the average person, this phrase may sound so futuristic (or so outlandish). But in fact, this technology is everywhere; without it, the world as we know it wouldn’t be possible.

Hence, let’s look at the many different applications—or products—of this technology that we interact with or utilize in our everyday lives.

The Everyday Gifts of High-Precision Manufacturing

For most people, their first interaction for the day with products made using high-precision systems is right after they wake up. That’s because the first thing we do in the day is to check our smartphones. Our entire phones, from the IC chip inside it to the integrated battery, can be only made using these processes. That’s because today’s IC chip is so small that you’ll definitely need a stable linear stage and magnifying equipment to assemble one.

This includes almost all our everyday gadgets, including laptops, tablets, fitness trackers, smart watches, even “smart” home appliances such as refrigerators and washing machines.

But it doesn’t end at home—it extends to your daily commute. Many of today’s automobiles and trains contain parts that are manufactured using high-precision systems. After all, the engine parts of your car or of a train should be built as exact as possible. Any small defect—such as a hairline crack—can worsen in the long run, resulting in a major accident.

The same rings true for airplanes big and small. After all, commercial jets are each composed of thousands of parts sourced from hundreds of suppliers. Smaller aircraft may have fewer pieces, but that only means it’s more important to ensure each part fits. That’s because there have been cases of faulty parts causing plane crashes. One such example is the faulty rudders of the Boeing 737 Classic, which have since been replaced.

And of course, the products of high-precision systems can be also found in offices. That elevator you rode up to your floor? They may have parts that were manufactured using these processes. The same goes for your office’s printer, the vending machine in the lobby, and maybe even your water cooler.

From Manufacturing to Diagnostics

Of course, it’s not just manufacturing that benefits from high-precision systems. The food industry needs these sort of equipment, especially when packing items such as snacks, ready-to-eat meals, and even condiments. High-precision systems not only helps in minimizing wastage during production. They also help ensure that these food items remain free from microbes or molds, as human handling during the entire process is kept to a minimum.

The field of healthcare also utilizes many of these types of systems, especially in diagnostic machines. From the linear stages that carry payloads to automated imaging solutions, these all help in making a machine detect an ailment and help medical professionals make the right decisions.

With all these applications in disparate industries, high-precision systems truly are an indispensable part of modern living. So if you do need to upgrade your processes, especially in manufacturing, this kind of system may be your best solution.

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Paul Tomaszewski is a science & tech writer as well as a programmer and entrepreneur. He is the founder and editor-in-chief of CosmoBC. He has a degree in computer science from John Abbott College, a bachelor's degree in technology from the Memorial University of Newfoundland, and completed some business and economics classes at Concordia University in Montreal. While in college he was the vice-president of the Astronomy Club. In his spare time he is an amateur astronomer and enjoys reading or watching science-fiction. You can follow him on LinkedIn and Twitter.

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