Awesome electronics machine

1.ScanArm Coordinate Measuring Machines Help Pratt & Miller Deliver Millimeter Perfect Race Cars

Once upon a time, engineers like those at Pratt & Miller were forced to do their measurements with hand tools like gauges, calipers and micrometers. Not only was this difficult and time consuming, it could more easily lead to errors due to human error.

Now Pratt & Miller, builders of the Corvette C7.R (among other Corvette Racing machines) and Cadillac ATS-V.R, has access to electronic measuring machines, like the ScanArm, a handheld laser scanner with both hard and laser-line measuring probes. The machine allows engineers to measure prismatic parts with the hard probe and also scan larger sections with the laser as opposed to measuring by hand, lightening the work load and delivering a better end product.

“Once you get something like this, you can’t see how you did without it,” said Gary Pratt, co-founder of Pratt & Miller. “We use it to design, construct and analyze virtual components, computational fluid dynamics systems and complete cars. [It helps] every facet of a project, from initial conception to the finished product.”

Gary Latham, a lead engineer at Pratt & Miller, noted the ScanArm helps the team save time when working with deadlines.

“[ScanArm] is incredibly useful with our tight timeframes,” Latham said. “About 30 to 40 percent of our parts are manufactured in the workshop, and they need to be entered into CAD. Now we do that easily with faster data capture.”

The ScanArm is mainly used by Pratt & Miller to reverse engineer especially complex parts. The scanner traces the part and turns it into a digital computer model, allowing for “rapid prototyping and 3D modeling,” ScanArm creator Faro Technologies says.

2.Escalator tries to eat shoppers at Bangkok mall
A trip to the mall nearly turned into a scene out of a horror movie for a few unlucky people when an escalator fell apart yesterday.
The unfortunate few were forced to run up the escalator to avoid getting grinded by the metal or stabbed in the shin at Wongsawang Town Center in Bangsue district.
Photos showing torn metal pieces and collapsed steps were shared by Thai PBS host Chonlanat Koaykul yesterday.

"The escalator collapsed and caused a loud bang. People ran into different directions because they thought it was a bomb attack," Chonlanat said.

3.Ridiculously long bike lane set to be built

Thailand is full of people who love to cycle. And any self-respecting country that loves to cycle must have a huge cycle track, which is why a bike lane stretching almost 200 kilometers is in the pipeline.
If built, it will be the biggest of its kind in Asia.
The asphalt covered 184km lane will pass through Pathumthani, Ayutthya, Ang Thong, Singburi and Chainat and cost THB1.5 billion.
The proposed design specifies a total lane width of 3 meters which is divided into two 1.5 meter opposing lanes.
Periodic rest-stops will also be along the route and engineers involved are confident that it will be a safe bicycle lane that is comparable to international standards, reported Thai PBS.
The project is expected to start later this year and be completed by 2017.

Until then, cyclists will have to make do with navigating the streets of Bangkok.

4.Lame lakorn shoot doesn’t give a damn by halting Asoke traffic (PHOTOS)

Television sweetheart Urassaya ‘Yaya’ Sperbund may have lost a few hundred fans yesterday by halting traffic at Asoke so she could film a scene for her show.The lakorn shoot featuring superstars Urassaya Sperbund and Prin Suparat enraged hundreds of motorists and non-soap fans yesterday for having the nerve to block the hectic Asoke intersection for two hours.The shoot for channel 3 soap "Life Wave" ้ halted traffic at noon yesterday without official permission so the producers could film the leading lady (Yaya) crash into her future husband’s car.The “crash” was followed by a dramatic scene of the actors arguing and then no doubt following deeply in love.That is some real romantic shit.The snapshots of heavy traffic with the two little actors who caused it went viral last night and all concerned with the shoot were heavily criticized on social media for being irresponsible.

5.Woman killed by lightning strike on motorbike

A 24-year-old woman was killed after she was struck by lightning while riding on the back of her brother's motorcycle outside of Bangkok.
Lightning killed Issaraporn Lertking instantly and her 4-year-old son, who was sitting in the middle, and her 17-year-old brother were injured when the bike crashed as they rode through Soi Khlong 5 in Pathumthani province in the pouring rain on Sunday.
The brother, Pongpat Lertking, said they were on their way home.
Issaraporn’s body will be submitted to Thammasat University Hospital for an autopsy, Daily News reported.

6.Flyers to face B35 fee for airport background check

Starting on Dec. 1, air passengers for international flights will have to pay an extra fee of THB35 to cover the cost of the new passenger background check system.
The shiny, new Advance Passenger Processing System (APPS) is expected to launch at six international airports in Thailand to maximize airport security.
The new system will screen each passenger to check if they are blacklisted from Thailand or banned from flying.
The APPS will allow Thai officials to perform background checks from the passengers’ country of origin.
The six international airports are Suvarnabhumi, Don Muang, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Hat Yai, Songkhla, and Mae Fa Luang in Chiang Rai.
The THB35 fee will be included in the price of the airline ticket.
Airport Security of Thailand plans to hold talks with airlines to find a solution for people who have already bought a ticket but not paid the THB35, according to Airport Security of Thailand chairman Nitinai Sirismatthakarn.
Meanwhile, the Airline Operations Committee said it would be impossible to collect the fee from passengers who have already purchased their tickets as collecting THB35 from each person when they check-in would lead to other difficulties..
Airlines are looking to postpone the fee collection until March, Bangkok Post reported.