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22 TH E MANY SHADES OF GREEN

[on the cover]

Now that ifs a matter of economics as well as political correctness, manufacturers are embracing environmentally friendly practices.

By Alan S. Brown

focus on manufacturing

fia

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36 A NEWKIND OFDESIGN ~

Can a company that bases ils busi- ness

model on 3-D printing livelong

and prosper? By Jean Thilmany

41 THERE'STHE RUa Some surprising

discoveries are made in the quest of practically friction- less mechanical operation.

By James G. Skakoon

46 ME INDEX

OF 2008 ARTICLES

64 INPUT/OUTPUT

Always Green. ByJean Thilmany

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6 Editorial

What's in it for us?

8 Letters

10 News & Notes

A milestone for Codes & Standards Gains for a hot semiconductor Backing for cellulosic ethanol

$2.5 million for Federal Fellows

14 Computing

Online preservation efforts Making maintenance models Small is good

Build a supercomputer Second-lime design

17 Software Exchange

18 Tech Focus: materials and assemb, Robot for low volume

Plastic and oit Workers as assets

More than nuls and bolts

48 ME Bookshelf 49 Codes & Standards 50 New Products 55 Consulting 56 Positions Open 63 Ad Index

GavER IMAGE BY PHILIPPE LECHIEN

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VOLUME 131/NO.1