Are you reading this issue of LubesnGreases at the World Tribology Congress in Washington, D.C.? Or do you have a visit planned to the U.S. capital? If so, youve in luck. The monumental 76-foot-long mobile designed by Alexander Calder is ?nally back on view in the grand atrium of the East Building of the National Gallery of Art.
The 920-pound mobile, designed to move in the slightest air current, was slowly grinding to a stop because of wear. Conservators and engineers disassembled it more than a year ago to repair the worn metal surfaces. The metal parts – thirteen panels and thirteen arms constructed of aluminum honeycomb and aluminum and steel bars – have been repaired by welding and the addition of a hard facing coating of tungsten carbide with cobalt. In addition, steel liners have been attached to a few of the contact points with the most wear.
Dont miss the Calder mobile when youre in D.C. Its moving freely again, powered by the faintest breath of air – a poetic, playful example of how tribology makes life better.
This month we extend our best wishes to STLE, ASME and the World Tribology Council for a successful Third World Tribology Congress in Washington, and to Fuels & Lubes Asia for the successful launch of its First Asia Paci?c Base Oil Conference in Bangkok. LubesnGreases magazine is covering both conferences, and we look forward to reporting from them in future issues.