Source: Raju Dandu, 785-826-2629, rdandu@k-state.edu
Photo available. Download at http://www.k-state.edu/media/newsreleases/mar11/equipment1.JPG
News release prepared by: Natalie Blair, 785-826-2642, nblair@k-state.edu

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

ELLSWORTH COMPANY DONATES EQUIPMENT TO K-STATE SALINA'S MECHANICAL ENGINEERING PROGRAM

SALINA -- Kansas State University Salina's mechanical engineering technology program has a new piece of equipment because of the generosity of Cashco and an alumnus of the program who works at the company.

Cashco -- a worldwide producer of control valves, regulators and tank blanketing equipment based in Ellsworth --  no longer had a need for its Reflection Polariscope Model LF/Z-2, which is used for full-field PhotoStress analysis and testing and is worth about $10,000. Jeremy Hlad, a research and development engineer at Cashco and a 2005 graduate of the K-State Salina mechanical engineering technology program, thought it might be of use to his alma mater.

PhotoStress is a system used widely in the industry for measuring surface strain.

"Students will get firsthand experience on how to apply PhotoStress technique to determine the stresses on simple to complex parts or structures during static or dynamic testing," said Raju Dandu, professor of mechanical engineering technology. "It also will enhance their understanding of PhotoStress theory and its application on a wide variety of mechanical components and materials.

"The equipment will primarily be used in laboratory instruction of mechanical engineering technology courses. It also gives capability for the engineering technology department to offer testing services to local industry in product design and testing in the field or in the laboratory," Dandu said.