With 2011 “knocking on the door” it is probably a good time to look over all that has been accomplished in 2010 and to look ahead and decide what we want to have happen in the New Year. But before we do, I have a question for which I would like your thoughts and opinions. […]
Returning now back to those things engineering, the question for today is, “Is there ever a time when incomplete information, on a drawing for instance, communicates the design intent better than a fully completed and dimensioned drawing?” Surprisingly, the short answer is, “yes.” Now, I am sure that many will emphatically point out that omitting […]
For this newsletter, I am changing my “normal” procedure of discussing various aspects of engineering design and how things like a product’s appearance, cost and robustness can be affected. Let me start off by first giving you a disclaimer, stating that I am neither a lawyer nor a financial advisor and do not give legal […]
Continuing in this ongoing series of communications about the field of engineering design and how you can be more effective in it, let’s talk a bit about quantifying your requirements. You will never get what you want if you don’t spell out your needs and wants, exactly. It reminds me of a story I read […]
Being six weeks into the New Year (2010), I notice a definite change in outlook of the people I contact, both clients and potential clients. There is a definite sense of optimism toward the year ahead. Not that it is going to be easy, where you can sit back and expect to have business just […]
Strictly speaking, if you hire us to do a design project for you, whether for a single part or a complete product, you expect to receive a workable design, and rightly so. And that is what you will get. However, in addition you will receive an evaluation of how the part should be manufactured or […]
Simply put, we can design and/or redesign your product from the component level on up. If the issue is with a particular subassembly or even a single part, no problem, as we do all jobs, large and small. If there is an assembly issue we will give you an honest opinion of what is your […]
Small companies (and especially individual inventors) do not have enough work to justify hiring a full-time engineer. Even medium and larger sized companies are hesitant to hire additional engineering staff, with all of the overhead costs that come with that, if for example there is a surge in work that needs to be gotten out […]
Virtually all of our clients are always looking to save money. Due to the ever-present inflation (the rate may vary but it is always there), the prices of raw materials and commercial components are always inching up, cutting the profitability of their products. Often, it is not possible for them to raise their prices. The […]
Sometimes a seemingly simple redesign task can open the door to a simpler, less costly and more robust product. The key is to be willing to ask a “stupid question.” (Stupid Question: def; a question you have that you fail to ask.) No one knows everything about everything. Ignorance is easily cured by asking questions, […]