Simple way to highly transparent and omniphobic coatings

A recently conducted study focuses on a facile und cheap approach to fabricate omniphobic and robust polyurethane coatings for anti-smudge applications.

A new study reports a facile approach to fabricate highly transparent omniphobic coatings only by using poly (dimethyl siloxane) as a low-surface-tension reagent incorporated into the polyurethane matrix. The resultant smooth polymer-based coating not only exhibits significant repellency to various liquids, but also has a excellent self-cleaning performance, allowing cooking oil and pump oil to slide cleanly without leaving traces.

Mechanically durable and wear-resistant

It can be easily applied onto various substrates without affecting its remarkable ink repellency, especially to impart striking anti-smudge performance to fabric. It can also effectively protect the substrate from the corrosion of chemical reagents, and it is mechanically durable and wear-resistant, which greatly enhances its practicality. As the researchers point out, it may be highly desirable because it is cheap and fluorine-free.

The study has been published in Progress in Organic Coatings, Volume 179, June 2023.

How Drupal Multisite Works under the Hood

A Drupal multisite is an installation which allows us to use one codebase to serve multiple websites. In this post, I will explain in detail how Drupal multisite works, what approaches can be taken to set up a multisite installation. I will also explain some of the settings that may be important for a multisite which are not applicable when we build just one website on Drupal.

The basics of a default Drupal multisite

A Drupal website comprises a few major things:

  1. Drupal core
  2. Contrib and custom modules
  3. Theme
  4. Database
  5. Configuration

When a request from the browser is handled by Drupal, one of the first things Drupal does is bootstrapping the database and loading configuration. From the database and configuration the system knows:

  • which from the available modules and themes are enabled,
  • how everything is set up:
    • where are public and private files folders,
    • which blocks are where,
    • what content is available,
    • what is on the front page,
    • which menus are in which regions, what links are in which menus, 
    • pretty much everything else about how the website is configured. 

To connect to the database, Drupal reads the connection information which is held in the settings.php file (which typically sits in /sites/default folder).

Notice the default folder. It is called default because it is a fallback folder when no other folders are found. In a single Drupal install, typically no other folders are set up and most websites are run from the default folder.

In a multisite installation, however, we set up separate folders for separate websites.

For example:

  • /sites/example-one.com
  • /sites/example-two.com

If we create such folders, a new request will examine the base domain (base URL as Drupal calls it) and will try to match it to the correct folder. The order is as follows:

When a request with a base URL of www.example-one.com comes in, Drupal checks if there is:

  1. A folder named /sites/www.example-one.com and looks for settings.php there.
  2. If there is not, Drupal will check a higher-order domain folder – /sites/example-one.com in this case. 
  3. If it does not find settings.php there, it will move to the /sites/default.

We achieved a multisite – many websites on one codebase

If we have 2 folders for 2 different domains, we can have 2 separate settings.php files which connect Drupal to two separate databases, which load separate configurations and use various enabled modules and themes.

In essence, we end up with 2 different websites, which have their own databases, content, files and configurations, even though they sit on one Drupal code.

If we add additional folders, we get additional websites without the need to duplicate code.

Drupal can run hundreds of websites from one installation like this.

Sites.php file helps to map domains for folders

To help with the mappings of base URLs to folders, Drupal offers a sites.php file which can be used to assign base URLs to correct folders.

In the /sites/ folder we are offered a file which is called example.sites.php. Change its name to sites.php and Drupal will use it. The configuration of mappings is quite simple:

$sites['an-old-domain-to-map.coom'] = 'example-one.com;

This file allows us to map several domains to one website if we need to and helps a lot with development because development environments typically have different URLs than production ones.

$sites['localhost.example'] = 'example.com';

Some dev teams use this feature also to keep the sites folder clearer when there are hundreds of websites with various domains sometimes in foreign languages. The dev team can have short clear folder names.

$sites['nom-de-domaine-de-marque-tres-long.fr
'] = 'brand-x-fr;

This is also sometimes useful if the domain for one of the websites changes.

Which website can use which modules

Typically, we are used to a situation where

  • all modules are placed in the modules directory (or sites/all/modules in Drupal 7 and previous versions),
  • all themes are placed in the themes directory (or sites/all/themes in Drupal 7 and previous versions).

If we have one website on the system, there is no need for any other configuration. We add only the modules we need.

In a multisite installation, however, there might be a need to specify which websites can use which modules or themes. In a large system with hundreds of websites and administrators, such restrictions might be crucial to only allow such functionalities on each website which work well together.

We can control this in 2 ways:

1. Via installation profiles

Each website on Drupal is built on an installation profile. Typically this is the standard or minimal profile which is shipped by Drupal out of the box. You chose between these when you install Drupal and you can see them in the /core/profiles folder. None of these 2 profiles has any modules or themes but a profile can provide these.

Drupal for example ships with a demo_umami profile which is a demo profile and includes both: a demo_umami_content module and an umami theme. If you install a standard installation, you will not have access to the umami theme from the admin panel for example.

If you have to control which websites have access to which themes or modules you place these in your custom installation profiles. Only the websites installed on a particular installation profile will be able to access and use what it provides.

What is cool is that profiles allow for inheritance. You can, for example, create one profile with drupal commerce modules and then 2 additional child profiles which will then be able to access the Drupal commerce modules.

While performing Drupal services for our clients we have implemented various scenarios with different levels of granularity. You could even create a child profile for each website to be able to have very granular control. This might however be a bit of an overkill.

2. Per website modules via the website folder

Modules and themes can be also added to the website folder. In our example, we could put them into:

  • sites/example-one.com/modules
  • sites/example-one.com/themes

Modules and themes placed in these directories will only be available to website example-one.com.

As a rule of thumb, you should probably avoid having too many modules here since it probably goes against the concept of a multisite to have completely different code for each website, but sometimes there is a need to add a few per-website tweaks or create for each a subtheme for a website which overrides a few things in a shared base theme.

Updating code once, running update 100 times

One of the great things about a multisite is reduced maintenance. If you have 100 websites on one system and a new version of Drupal comes out, you only have to update the code once instead of 100 times.

That said, remember that settings and databases are separate for all 100 websites. You do have to run the update.php script for each one separately!

Summary

Above I explained in detail how Drupal multisite works under the hood. In essence, it is a very simple and yet a powerful feature of Drupal which allows companies to reduce maintenance and technical debt and keep maintainers sane if they have to maintain many websites.

What are the advantages of 99% alumina ceramic bulletproof plate

Alumina ceramic is a kind of high hardness, high wear resistant material, according to the different Al2O3 content, it can be divided into 99% alumina ceramic, 95% alumina ceramic, 96% alumina ceramic, 92% alumina ceramic and so on. The main characteristics are high temperature resistance, corrosion resistance, wear resistance and impact resistance, which are industrial grade special ceramics.

99% alumina ceramics can be used as bulletproof ceramics. Because of its high hardness and strength, when a bullet impact ceramic surface, it creates a powerful force of impact, the impact force extends to the ceramics and the bullet, and under the impact force, the ceramics break up slightly, resisting the penetration force of the bullet. Alumina bulletproof ceramics absorb the kinetic energy of bullet by micro-breaking, so as to achieve the function of bulletproof. Bulletproof ceramics are three to four times stronger than steel armor, providing much higher protection than steel armor.

Pool Equipment Enclosure Ideas

If you’ve ever wanted to hide your pool pump and filter, this post is for you! A pool equipment enclosure not only keeps your backyard looking tidy, but also protects your costly pool equipment from being damaged by the sun, rain, snow, or anything else Mother Nature has to offer.

While it’s not necessary to cover and enclose pool equipment, many pool owners want a way to keep their equipment safe and their backyard pretty. And thankfully, there are endless ways to create a pool equipment enclosure, no matter your taste or budget.

Should You Enclose Your Pool Equipment?

Pool equipment — pumps, filters, pipes, etc. — are designed to be outside and withstand the elements. It’s not mandatory to enclose them or cover them, as long as they are safe from severe storms or natural disasters. That being said, they are costly, vital pieces of equipment that last longer with proper care and maintenance.

There are three main types of pool equipment enclosures: walls, boxes, and sheds. Walls are the quickest and easiest way to enclose your pool equipment. While boxes and sheds offer more equipment protection, coverage, and storage space. Let’s discuss each option further…

Pool Equipment Enclosures — Walls

The simplest way to hide your pool pump and filter is to put up a small wall or screen to block the view, and the noise from the pump.

If you are handy with wood, you can saw-up your own pool filter screen to hide the pool pump, or you can buy vinyl privacy walls at most home stores and garden centers. As a third option, hire a carpenter to take care of it all for you!

Screens to Hide Pool Equipment

Most privacy screens that you can purchase from a home improvement store are made of vinyl resin. Using pre-fab vinyl fence panels has many advantages:

  • Affordability — Most privacy screens have connected stake-like legs on the bottom that secure the screen panels into the ground for stability. Sectional and modular panels are connected with steel bolts, and can be angled into many positions.
  • Durability — Vinyl doesn’t fade in the sun or rust in the rain. This durability will keep these enclosures looking new for years. When the panels get dirty, simply spray them with a garden hose.
  • Variety — There are many types of vinyl screen panels readily available almost everywhere. You can find traditional picket-fence, or prairie-style panels, or go for colors and textures molded to look like real wood panels or bamboo sheets.

Another way to enclose your pool equipment is to make an enclosure yourself! Depending on your abilities, time, and resources, this can be a fun and creative way to give your backyard a unique look and character.

Wood

Whether it’s natural wood, stained, painted, or repurposed from another project, wood is an elegant and timeless construction material. It is easy to handle and has great longevity, especially when sealed with a water-resistant sealant.

Concrete

Constructing concrete walls takes some real talent and special tools, but if you know how to create a concrete enclosure, you will have a unique and highly durable enclosure. If you choose concrete, which is porous, remember to use a sealant product.

Stone

This material has incredible variety, from small, round pebbles to long, flat blocks like flag stone, along with different colors, shapes and textures. Like concrete, creating stone walls or enclosures takes an advanced skill set, but results in a natural and classic finished product.

Glass

For ultra-modern homes, glass panels are the ideal material for pool-equipment-hiding enclosures. Depending on your budget, you could surround your entire pool with privacy glass.

Vinyl

Much like the ready-to-assemble vinyl panels you can buy at the big home improvement stores, vinyl is available in board-like planks. Many places also offer vinyl boards made from recycled materials, and with life-like wood grain color and texture.

Pool Equipment Enclosure — Boxes

A box offers more protection from the sun, rain, and other elements for your pool equipment than a walled enclosure. Boxes usually have hinged lids for easy access to your equipment. Obtaining proper equipment size measurements is key to building a quality box. If the box fits too snug around the perimeter of your equipment, there won’t be enough room to access the equipment for repairs or maintenance. Always add a few extra inches, or even a foot, to the width, height, and length measurements.

Pool Equipment Enclosures — Sheds

There’s one more option for the pool equipment enclosure possibilities — an equipment shed. Sheds fully protect your equipment, while also offering space to store pool toys, supplies, and chemicals.

Whether you build one from blueprints or get a DIY kit, a shed is a great way to conceal your equipment. You can store other items in the shed, including yard tools, pool toys, pool floats, and even smaller pieces of pool furniture.

Pool Equipment Enclosure — Design

  • Construct high ceilings and put in windows for proper ventilation.
  • Allow enough room for equipment repairs and services. In addition to room for pool supplies, furniture, and maintenance equipment storage.
  • Chlorine chemicals, even in tightly sealed buckets, will rust metal on pumps, filters and heaters.
  • Heaters or heat pumps cannot be enclosed. Pool heaters need proper air supply and exhaust venting. If enclosed around the sides, be sure the top is open to clear sky, or follow manufacturer instructions for proper venting.


Depending on your budget, the choices of ways to hide your pool equipment is endless. From simple and affordable, to lavish and costly, research and discover what works for you and your yard. Be sure to plant, build, or install something compatible with your regional climate, as well as your style and taste.

We hope you enjoyed this look at pool equipment enclosures. From a simple 2-wall wood enclosure to custom pool cabanas, there are plenty of ways to hide your pool pump!


Spark Ignition Pool Heater Troubleshooting Guide

Second in our Series of Gas Pool Heater Troubleshooting Guides, today we tackle the early electronic pool heaters from the mid-eighties to the late nineties.

A Spark Ignition is akin to an electronic gas stove top. When your turn on a gas burner on a stove, you don’t have a pilot burning, you have a sparker (tick-tick-tick) that lights one side of the burner, and then the burner orifices quickly ignites, all around the burner. Gas hot water heaters work the same way.

This new generation of gas pool heaters is a whole new ball game. Gone is the pilot generator and mechanical thermostat. Electronic heaters are wired up with 110V or 220V power directly into a transformer, which steps down the power to 24V. From the transformer, 24 volts powers the entire ignition and safety circuitry, and everything is controlled electronically with the Ignition Control (PCB, printed circuit board), the brains of the operation.

But, aside from the IID controller, transformer, a redesigned electronic thermostat, gas valve and pilot, electronic heaters still function in the same way as millivolt heaters. Once the safety circuitry checks out, the gas valve opens and releases gas to the burners. The pilot light ignites the first burner (on the far right), and the others follow – whoosh!

After a heater ignites, it continues to fire or burn until the set thermostat temperature is reached, or another switch breaks the circuit (pressure switch, high limit switch, on/off switch).

You’ll need a multi-meter, one that can check low voltage 24 Volts. You can find these everywhere – Walmart, Home Depot, Radio Shack, and it should cost under $20. You don’t need a fancy test meter to troubleshoot a pool heater.

ELECTRONIC POOL HEATER TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDES

For our example heater, we will be using the Old Teledyne Laars Series I & Series II Spark Ignition heaters, made from 1986-1997; but the concepts apply to electronic heaters made by Raypak, Hayward or Purex – RP2100, H-Series or Minimax Plus heaters.

The diagram below is from the Teledyne Laars Series One heater, Model EPS/EPC, and Laars Series 2 ESC. The Dual thermostats (shown above) is something of a gimmick, it just allows you to keep two preset temperatures, and use the 3-position Spa-Off-Pool switch to select Spa or Pool, it’s nothing more than that. If fact, if your Pool Thermostat (potentiometer) wears out, you can use the Spa thermostat to heat the pool.

What we have here is a schematic diagram of the safety circuit in an electronic gas pool heater. The Transformer (1) steps down the incoming power to 24 volts, and the power does a circuit, or a loop, from one side of the gas valve to the other.

When the power successfully passes through all of the components (fuse, fusible link, high limits, pressure switch, thermistor) and again returns to the Ignition Controller (6), the gas valve (8) should open and allow gas to flow into the pilot, which is lit by a small spark (7A), created by the spark ignition wire. The pilot (7B) is lit temporarily, which lights up the burners. Whooosh!

Let’s take it step by step…

STEP 1: TRANSFORMER CHECK

If your heater has no power at all, check the circuit breaker or look for a popped GFCI outlet. Next, verify that you have 24 volts coming in and out of the transformer. Place your test meter on VAC (AC Volts), on a low scale 100 or 200 volts. Then place each probe onto the metal spade connectors of the transformer to verify 22-26 volts, no more – no less.

Inspect the wires too, looking for any obvious signs of damage from heat or rodents. If you don’t get 24 volts on the transformer, Replace the transformer (pn R0061100), they go bad every once in a while.

STEP 2 & 3: FUSIBLE LINK CHECKS

With the Black, or Common lead from your multimeter remaining on the Yellow Wire side of the Transformer, you will move the other Red lead around to different heater components, starting with the Fusible link, a small white part that sits down near the burners, to sense flame rollout. Move your Red meter lead to both sides of the Fusible Link. If you find power coming in (2), but not coming out (3), you either have a bad In-line Fuse (pn 10480000) or a bad Fusible Link (pn R0012200).

The cause of a failed Fusible Link should be investigated. It could be material laying on the burners, or leaves or nests on top of the heat exchanger, or high winds downdrafting, or soot or lime deposits between the copper heat exchanger fins.

STEP 4 & 5: PRESSURE SWITCH / HIGH LIMIT CHECKS

Keeping the black wire on the transformer (an alligator clip adapter for a test probe is useful), move to the probe to the pressure switch (R0011300) and check for 24 volts on each pressure switch spade terminal. Be sure you are contacting the brass metal of the terminal. If no power is found coming into the pressure switch, back-up and test each Hi-Limit (4B  4C) and the Fireman’s Switch terminal (which shuts the heater off 15 minutes before the pump timer is going to shut off, for a cool down period). Remember – the problem lies where the power dies! 

If the Hi-Limits (R0023200 and R0022700) are tripping, or the cause of the problem, check the Internal Bypass assembly (pn R0054900), in the front header, for broken, missing or misaligned parts. A temperature rise can be done with a special thermometer inserted into the drain plug hole (pn R0336000), to see how high the temperature is rising inside of the header.

If you find no voltage or less than 24 volts on the black wire (outgoing) of the pressure switch, check for a dirty filter, dirty pump or skimmer baskets or closed or partially closed valves or broken check valves. Also check for an external bypass, a valve outside of the heater, which can allow too much water to bypass the heater.

STEP 6: THERMOSTAT CHECKS

On this step just move your Red lead over to the black/yellow striped wire on the Ignition Control box, to the terminal labeled 24V. Again be sure to contact the metal spade connector on the Controller, without removing the wire, although you can loosen the wire if needed. Turn the thermostat up, and the On/Off switch towards the correct dial.

If there is not 24V at this terminal, replace the Temperature Board (pn R0011700) and if there is 24V but no heat, it’s most likely the Thermistor (pn R0011800).

STEP 7: SPARK CHECK

For Step 7A, Check if there is a Spark at the Gap, by removing the Spark Ignition Wire, pulling back the rubber boot and holding it close to the connector. With thermostat turned up, the call for heat should be sending a small, visible electric spark, jumping the gap from the end of the rubber coated wire, to the connector. If no spark, check the stainless steel wire that runs from the Ceramic Insulator to the Pilot (R0099000), to be sure the power is not grounding out to the burner tray, or some other metal piece. Also check and clean where the SS wire connects at the bottom of the pilot. Make a Visual Check of the Position of the pilot and sparker, to be sure there aren’t nests or insects or debris, and it all appears intact. If you have followed the steps to this point and have 24V up to the Spark Ignition Wire, but no spark jumping the gap, the problem may be the Ignition Control Box or IID (Intermittent Ignition Device) (R0011900).

Step 7B, the pilot (7B) lights, but you have no ignition or firing of the heater burners; use your multi-meter in the same settings and position as used above, check for 24V at the Orange Wire on the Gas Valve. If Yes, check for clogs in the pilot or burner orifices, or in the gas supply. You may also suspect the volume and pressure of gas supply at this point, Propane tanks could be low, or other high demand natural gas appliances could be in use. First consider and check the wires, looking for sharp bends or nicks in the wire casing, and making sure wire nuts, screw or connectors are clean (not rusted) and tight. If damage is found, replace Wire Harness (pn R0058100), and possibly the Ignition Controller still could be the problem. Circuit boards in the good old outdoors tend to fail in 8-10 yrs.

STEP 8: GAS VALVE CHECK

If you have come this far, with a pilot burning and 24V at the Orange wire on the Gas Valve, now check for 24V on the Brown wire on the gas valve. If no, your brown wire is highly suspect, or the circuit board (Ignition Control) is shot. If you do have power, at 24V (or at least 22V) at the Brown wire and the heater won’t fire – give the gas valve a little tap with a hammer (really!). If it still won’t fire off, the electronics inside the valve have failed, replace the gas valve, (R0095900 and Nat pn R0099400). Check for a clogged intake screen as you remove it.

Before you go and throw down several hundred dollars on a new Gas Valve or Ignition Control – go through the steps another time to be sure – I’d hate to waste your time and money, buying pool heater parts that don’t fix the problem!

And…These part numbers I’m throwing around Fit only Jandy (Laars) Series 2 ESC heaters, be sure to check your model size, some don’t fit other models!

After running through all of the steps at least twice – if you want some confirmation of your Laars heater troubleshooting, you can call us at 877-766-5287 (1-877-POOLCTR), to speak with a pool tech, who can answer any questions on the process. Jandy Laars (Owned by Zodiac) also has homeowner technical support, and heater manuals online, or call them at 800-227-1442.

Oh, I almost forgot – here’s the link for over 150 gas pool heater parts schematicsSupport your local swimming pool blog!

Thanks for Reading!

Mark Garcia


How Hilary Duff Went from Blue Hair to Platinum Blonde

If you've ever dyed your hair any color on the ROYGBIV spectrum, you already know how hard it is to get that stuff out when you're ready for a change again. But Hilary Duff just made it look easy. On April 8, the actor revealed her new white-blonde hair, which now extends all the way down to her waist. It's an impressive feat, considering she had a pastel blue shade less than a month ago. 

"Have you noticed that I’m blonde…. and Rapunzeled???" Duff wrote in an Instagram post. "@nikkilee901 you are hair fairy goddess and I thank you for going down all my hair-ventures with me. Especially for all the tender loving care you treat my hair with when you have to undo what I make you do."

Duff's colorist, Nikki Lee from Los Angeles's Nine Zero One salon, broke down via a press release how she took the actor "from sky blue to springtime sunshine." According to Lee, it took eight hours and two rounds of a color-removing solution just to get all of the blue pigment out of Duff's hair. Then, to lighten the hair to that platinum blonde hue, she used a few different professional-grade Redken formulas. 

Instagram content

This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.

To add length to Duff's hair, extensions were a must. "Lisa Satron and I used a Great Lengths combination of tape-in and individual keratin-bonded extensions in 18-inch and 20-inch for the perfect look," Lee explains. "We mixed rooted and bronde tape-ins in the back of the head and individual keratin-tip extensions in front and sides for the most moveable effortless look."

Sadly, this isn't a transformation you could pull off easily at home or without a licensed professional — but if you're in the market for a hair-repairing product to soothe heat-damaged or color-treated hair like Duff's, there's always the In Common Common Crystal Cashmere Treatment system, the bond-repairing treatment Lee used to keep Duff's hair as healthy as possible during their lightening session. [Lee co-created the brand.]

We don't know about you, but this new look has us itching even more for a drastic springtime hair transformation ourselves. Be right back, we're off to call our colorists. 

All products featured on Allure are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.


More on celebrity hair:

  • Chrissy Teigen Now Has Pink Hair, and No, It's Not a Wig
  • Everyone, Please Look at Megan Thee Stallion's Platinum Hair
  • Salma Hayek Lets Her Curls Down In Latest Makeup-Free Selfie

Now, see Martha Stewart's morning beauty routine:

Don't forget to follow Allure on Instagram and Twitter.

How Olympic Medals Are Made

Time to read: 5 min

Image Source: Forbes. Paris Olympics medals.

Since 1904, top Olympians in the Olympic Games have been awarded gold, silver, and bronze medals. As in previous years, the Paris Olympic Games will award medals to Olympic and Paralympic competitors who reach the pinnacle of athletic achievement.

Behind this inspiring vision lies the hard work and complexity involved in creating the medals themselves. At Fictiv, our mission is to simplify sourcing for custom manufacturing projects like this, so we tapped our manufacturing experts to weigh in on the intricate process that would be involved in concepting, designing, sourcing, and manufacturing this year’s Olympic medals—all in service to the incredible heritage of the Games. 

The final results: Over 5,000 medals were produced, each 9.2mm thick, and weighing between 450 and 500 grams.

Designing the Olympic Medals

Image Source: Forbes. Close-up of the complex design of this year’s Olympic medals.

Each host city is responsible for the design and manufacture of Olympic medals. This year, the process began when the Olympics Organizing Committee collaborated with artists and designers to brainstorm motifs and themes that embody the Paris Olympics. This culminated in a design competition where artists and designers submitted their proposals and were judged by a panel that included the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The design must adhere to specific guidelines set by the IOC, that required the inclusion of the Olympic motto and the year of the Games.

Assessing Medal Manufacturability

The design would then be shared with manufacturing engineers, who offer design for manufacturability guidance (DFM). Engineers examine the design to ensure it aligns with manufacturing best practices and principles and can be manufactured. Typically this involves an effort to simplify the manufacturing process, reduce production costs, and improve product quality and consistency. But, in the case of Olympic medals, tolerances, repeatability, and aesthetics are critical to the final product, so DFM would prioritize the relevant attributes.

Each medal for the 2024 Paris Olympics contains original iron from the Eiffel Tower. The iron was cut into a hexagon, with puddled iron left in its original color, then placed in the center and embossed with the emblem of the Paris 2024 Games. From a manufacturing standpoint, this precise process requires strict adherence to tight tolerances and aesthetic guidelines. 

DFM, in this case, would ensure all of the requirements were included in the design and ready for manufacturing. Reliable, accurate DFM isn’t always easy to find, and finding the right manufacturing partner with in-depth knowledge and expertise in engineering and manufacturing of custom-made items like the medals can be extremely difficult. 

Material Sourcing & Sustainability for the Paris Olympic Medals

Increasingly, sustainability is a critical priority in manufacturing and sourcing Olympic medals. This year is no exception. The Paris Olympics medals were made with a strong focus on sustainability, ethical practices, and environmental responsibility. By using recycled materials, ensuring fair trade and conflict-free sourcing, and maintaining transparency in the supply chain, the organizing committee aimed to set a new standard for the responsible production of Olympic medals.

Sourcing complexity is intrinsic to manufacturing in a global economy. Finding responsibly sourced materials from reliable, high-quality manufacturing partners is one of the most significant challenges facing supply chain leaders today.

Prototyping the Olympic Medals

Medals are typically manufactured using casting, which often first requires a prototype with a sand cast or clay mold. This year, the medals are produced by the French National Mint. Likely  steps include selecting the appropriate molding material, applying mold release agents to the pattern to prevent sticking, and constructing the mold. The mold material would be packed around the pattern for a single-use mold, such as a sand mold. The curing/setting process would then allow the mold to set around the pattern. The time required for this process can vary depending on the material used. Demolding the final product would remove the cast or break the mold away. Post-cast processing involves finishing steps such as trimming excess material, CNC machining the strap hole, and electroplating or polishing. The Paris Olympic medals likely require all of these steps.

The quality control step is one of the most critical, as this is the process by which any defects or deviations from the design specifications are flagged. Then, continued testing is used to ensure the product meets the required standards and performance criteria. 

Olympic Medal Production Testing

Once the Olympic medal casts were ready for testing, test parts would likely have been created to test the validity of the design. A test part is often manufactured using a sand cast, 3D printed, or CNC machined format to test the fit and function of the parts. 3D printing is typically used for rapid prototyping for quick iterations and adjustments, whereas CNC machining is used for prototypes requiring high precision, like this year’s Olympic medals. 

Following a close inspection by quality engineers, the medal manufacturer would then provide the prototype to the Olympic Committee in charge of overseeing medal production. After a visual inspection of the medals and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) testing, where X-rays are utilized to confirm the composition meets the requirements using radiation, the Olympic Committee experts would offer final approval.

Olympic Medal Final Production

Once the manufacturer’s quality control team verifies the initial production, the project would then move to production, typically casting, stamping, and CNC machining. Additional advanced techniques for the medals would include engraving and embossing. Each medal would then be carefully crafted to meet high-quality durability and aesthetic standards. The final finishing steps often involve electroplating, polishing, cleaning, or a combination of these steps. 

Assembly & Shipping

After securing final inspection and quality control, including inspection to ensure the medals meet all the quality standards, the final assembly might involve further polishing. Next, ribbons are often produced using the colors and branding of the specific Olympic Games. 

Finally, the manufacturer would carefully package, label, and ship the final products to the Olympic Committee. This step involves everything from customs to documentation and logistics, to ensuring security clearance. 

Vision Meets Design & Manufacturing

The design and manufacture of the Paris Olympics medals blend artistic vision, technical expertise, and a deep respect for the Olympic Games’ tradition and values. The manufacturing process is incredibly complex, but the rewards are clear: Seeing the Olympians claim their place on the podium, medal in hand. 

Visit our website at www.fictiv.com to learn more about Fictiv and how we help companies simplify sourcing for custom manufacturing. 
Sources: Olympics.com, How It’s Made, Forbes

Keyword: ai retopology

How to Create TODO Lists in Drupal? The Checklist API Module Overview

A to-do list is the primary tool of a productive person. It helps in everyday work and allows you to carry out your duties better. As it turns out, some of its elements can also be entered into the administration panel of a Drupal website.

In this article I’ll take a closer look at the Checklist API module, which provides Drupal users with an interesting implementation of a TODO list.

Dates

The first alpha release of the module was introduced in 2012 for Drupal 7. The stable version 1.0 was released several months later. To date, 12 stable versions have been created – including the newest, marked as 2.0, for Drupal 8 and 9.

Popularity

Even though the Checklist API module isn’t very popular, it has become quite recognisable over the years. Currently, according to the official statistics, it’s used by over 30 thousand Drupal-based websites, 63% of which are the 7.x-1.x branch.

Module’s creators

The module is maintained by Travis Carden from Acquia, a very active member of the Drupal community. Besides him, 11 other people have also participated in the project so far. About 170 commits were created in total.

Purpose of the module

The Checklist API module is used to create lists with checkboxes. The status of the task execution is saved to the configuration or to the State API, and it can be modified using the code. Checklist API can be employed to build a to-do list, but that is only one way to use it.

In the case of the Droopler distribution, the Checklist API module was used as a mechanism supporting the update process. When automatic processes fail, we advise the user to perform the operations that aren’t checked on the list manually. There are detailed instructions and links available for them:

Checklist API is used by many tools for checking websites in terms of SEO and quality, including SEO Checklist and QA Checklist.

Unboxing

The module is available on the Drupal.org website. You can install it both via Composer (using the composer require drupal/linkit command) and from the .zip file available on Drupal.org.

Module’s use

After running the Checklist API module, you’ll probably be surprised by the fact that it doesn’t have any administration panel. New lists can only be created via the API. This is done using a hook – hook_checklistapi_checklist_info().

Here is an example of a hook that adds a simple to-do checklist when publishing a new website:

/**
* Implements hook_checklistapi_checklist_info().
*
* Defines an example deploy checklist.
* .
*/
function mylist_checklistapi_checklist_info() {
 $definitions = [];
 $definitions['mylist'] = [
   '#title' => t('Website deploy checklist'),
   '#path' => '/admin/config/development/website-checklist',
   '#callback' => 'mylist_checklistapi_checklist_items',
   '#description' => t('An example deploy checklist for the website.'),
   '#help' => t('<p>This is an example deploy checklist for your website, provided by the hook_checklistapi_checklist_items().</p>'),
   '#storage' => 'state',
 ];
 return $definitions;
}

This hook references the mylist_checklistapi_checklist_items function, which returns a multidimensional array. You divide the checklist into tabs with tasks. Each defined task can have a description and a list of links to help the user perform it:

/**
* Implements callback_checklistapi_checklist_items() for mylist.
*/
function mylist_checklistapi_checklist_items() {
 return [
   'tab1' => [
     '#title' => t('Drupal admin panel'),
     '#description' => t('<p>Set up the Drupal installation for PROD environment.</p>'),
     'aggregate_css_js' => [
       '#title' => t('Enable JS/CSS aggregation'),
       '#description' => t('Enable optimization of the site assets, it is crucial for page speed.'),
       'handbook_page' => [
         '#text' => t('Performance options'),
         '#url' => Url::fromUri('base://admin/config/development/performance'),
       ],
     ],
     'disable_devel' => [
       '#title' => t('Disable "devel" module'),
       'handbook_page' => [
         '#text' => t('Module list'),
         '#url' => Url::fromUri('base://admin/modules'),
       ],
     ],
   ],
   'tab2' => [
     // ...
   ],
 ];
}

After calling the above code, every authorised user of the website will get access to the new checklist. When they uncheck subsequent items, they’ll obtain clear information about the level of completion of tasks:

Defining the content via code has one major advantage – the ability to manipulate tasks, including automatically marking them as completed. Looking at the example above, you could write a module that will check by itself whether the CSS/JS aggregation is enabled and if the “devel” module has been uninstalled. This way, the potential user will save a lot of time.

Here’s an example of a piece of code that loads the checklist and enforces its initial state. If the “devel” module is active, the relevant checkbox will be checked automatically.

$handler = Drupal::service('module_handler');
$checklist = checklistapi_checklist_load('mylist');
$progress = [
 'tab1' => [
   'disable_devel' => $handler->moduleExists('devel'),
 ],
];
$checklist->saveProgress($progress);

Summary

Checklist API is very useful for carrying out repetitive tasks, such as those you perform when publishing a new website. The module can also be used as a tool supporting security monitoring and website optimisation, performed as part of Drupal support.

With little effort, Checklist API provides plenty of possibilities and a convenient interface for non-technical users. I definitely recommend getting better acquainted with its functionalities.

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