K-factor
nounMetallurgy
The bending capacity of sheet metal, as calculated using a formula.
Entries starting with K
52 entries.
K-swap
nounAutomotive
A car where the engine has been replaced by a Honda K-series internal combustion gasoline engine.
KD
nounManufacturing
Initialism of knockdown (“collection of parts to assemble a product”).
keel
nounManufacturing
A broad, flat vessel used for cooling liquids; a brewer's cooling vat; a keelfat.
keelfat
nounManufacturing
A cooler; a vat in which liquor or wort is set for cooling.
keepalive
A short message sent by one device to another to check that the link between the two is operating, or to prevent this link from being broken due to inactivity.
keeve
A large vat used in dressing ores.
keikogi
nounManufacturing
A set of uniform worn while training in some Japanese martial arts
KERS
Acronym of kinetic energy recovery system, an electric generation, storage, and propulsion system used in Formula One, which generates electricity during slow down, stores energy in batteries, and boosts acceleration with electric drive motors assisting the gasoline engine.
kettle bottom
A smooth cylindrical piece of petrified wood in the ceiling of a mine which may drop down and injure or kill miners
key
nounConstruction
An object designed to fit between two other objects (such as a shaft and a wheel) in a mechanism and maintain their relative orientation.
keybounce
Multiple recorded keystrokes from a single press of a key on a computer keyboard due to poor electrical contact.
keyed
adjectiveMechanical engineering
Having a key, mated to a keyseat and/or keyway, to either control or prevent movement.
keyhole
nounCarpentry
A hole or excavation in beams intended to be joined together, to receive the key that fastens them.
keyway
The recessed part of a keyed joint, in which the key resides.
kick wheel
A wheel or disc used to throw pots, turned by kicking or pushing a heavy stone or concrete base with the foot.
kickdown
nounAutomotive
In a vehicle with automatic transmission, a downshift triggered by pressing down the throttle pedal.
kicker
A device that periodically displaces a newspaper from the print production line, to aid in gathering the newspapers into fixed-size bundles.
kidnapped robot problem
nounRobotics
The situation where an autonomous robot is carried somewhere and as a result has trouble determining its own location.
kilocandela
An SI unit of luminous intensity equal to 10³ candelas. Symbol: kcd
kilodegree
One thousand degrees of any kind, though usually not temperature.
kilogray
An SI unit of absorbed energy from ionizing radiation equal to 10³ grays. Symbol: k
kilojoule
An SI unit of energy equal to 10³ joules. Symbol: kJ
kilokatal
An SI unit of catalytic activity equal to 10³ katals. Symbol: k
kilokelvin
An SI unit of temperature equal to 10³ kelvins. Symbol: kK
kilometre
An SI unit of length equal to 10³ metres. Symbol: km
kilomole
An SI unit of amount of substance equal to 10³ moles. Symbol: kmol
kilosecond
An SI unit of time equal to 10³ seconds. Symbol: ks. (= 16.666̄̄ minutes)
kinematic envelope
nounRail equipment
The outline of the space occupied by a rail vehicle when in motion, including the effects of tilt, sway, track cant, etc.
kinetics
The branch of mechanics concerned with motion of objects, as well as the reason i.e. the forces acting on such bodies. This, along with kinematics constitute dynamics, which is concerned purely with the effects of forces on moving bodies.
kingpiece
nounMetallurgy
The last convex cake of congealed metal at the bottom of a furnace.
kippah
nounManufacturing
The cloth skullcap or yarmulke traditionally worn by male Jews.
Kirkendall effect
nounMetallurgy
The motion of the interface between two metals that occurs due to the difference in diffusion rates of the metal atoms.
Kitchener stitch
A common method for the grafting of two knitted fabrics using yarn and a needle in an end-to-end ("wale-to-wale") seam.
kitting
nounManufacturing
The process of assembling or bundling various related goods for sale to increase revenue.
kludge
An improvised device, typically crudely constructed to test the validity of a principle before implementing a finished design.
knee
nounManufacturing
A piece of timber or metal formed with an angle somewhat in the shape of the human knee when bent.
knee-high by the Fourth of July
proverbAgricultural equipment
If a corn (maize) crop planted in spring has grown knee-high by the Fourth of July (Independence Day of the United States), a bountiful harvest is expected.
kneecap
nounConstruction
A metal cover trim that fits over a panel rib after it has been cut and bent.
kneepiece
nounConstruction
An angular piece of timber strengthening a joint where two roof timbers meet.
knife pleat
A type of sharply pressed pleating, especially in a skirt or kilt, in which all of the folds are turned in one direction, with each pleat being three layers of fabric thick.
knife-edge
A small piece of metal, usually steel, sharpened to an acute edge or angle, and resting on a smooth surface, serving as the fulcrum of a pendulum, scalebeam, or other piece required to oscillate with minimal friction.
knit cap
A soft, head-hugging cap usually without a specified front or back, barring those with designs or logos
knitting
overhead electrification wires, OHLE
knobbing
The process of rough dressing stone; the act of cutting off projecting points from quarried stone.
knobble
verbMetallurgy
To produce wrought iron by treating (semirefined puddled iron) on a hearth before shingling.
knock down
To reduce the burning of (a fire), as by cooling it with water or dirt.
knockoff
A device in a knitting machine to remove loops from the needles.
knop
nounManufacturing
A tuft or overthickened bunch of looped or twisted yarn
knuckle
nounManufacturing
A convex portion of a vessel's figure where a sudden change of shape occurs, as in a canal boat, where a nearly vertical side joins a nearly flat bottom.
kruppize
verbMetallurgy
To treat by, or subject to, the Krupp process.
kräusen
verbManufacturing
To condition (beer) by adding fermenting wort, so as to restart fermentation and introduce fresh carbon dioxide.