A couple years back Stihl power products (Chainsaws) decided that a simple threaded cap on both the fuel mix and bar oil reservoirs must not have been sophisticated enough for their products. The monkeys in charge at Stihl redesigned a simple proven technology (threaded cap) and replaced it with a mechanized, quarter-turn, latching cap. The caps themselves are not simple, and are made up of several moving parts.
I received one of the saws with the new caps as a gift three years ago and it has cursed me ever since. Often you latch the cap believing it is secure, only to find an oil or gas mess spilled out everywhere including down your leg when you go to start the saw! I have spent unnecessary time just simply trying to get the caps to seat and latch properly so they will stay in place. Add even more time cleaning up the messes. You have to ask yourself if a quarter turn cap saved you any time? It’s funny how something that should be so simple can make an otherwise good product so worthless, but that’s what monkeys do best!
From Dell / Intel® New Paradigms in Design Work Scott Hamilton, vertical market strategist for Dell Precision workstations, 5/2/2013 3
Early in my career, I worked as a draftsman and remember the days of drawing on vellum with numbered pencils and Mylar with plastic lead. This was a fun experience in the sense that I ...
I've been using workstations for more than 10 years and love finding ways to get more performance from my system. With demanding professional applications that require more power each ...
A lasting memory from my first job as an engineer in an auto assembly plant is standing on hard concrete at six in the morning, vending-machine coffee clutched in hand, listening to ...
A quick look into the merger of two powerhouse 3D printing OEMs and the new leader in rapid prototyping solutions, Stratasys. The industrial revolution is now led by 3D printing and engineers are given the opportunity to fully maximize their design capabilities, reduce their time-to-market and functionally test prototypes cheaper, faster and easier. Bruce Bradshaw, Director of Marketing in North America, will explore the large product offering and variety of materials that will help CAD designers articulate their product design with actual, physical prototypes. This broadcast will dive deep into technical information including application specific stories from real world customers and their experiences with 3D printing. 3D Printing is
To save this item to your list of favorite Design News content so you can find it later in your Profile page, click the "Save It" button next to the item.
If you found this interesting or useful, please use the links to the services below to share it with other readers. You will need a free account with each service to share an item via that service.
Tweet This
6 
