[Tfug] Connectors

[johngalt1]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bexley Hall" <bexley401>
To: "Tucson Free Unix Group" <tfug at tfug.org>
Sent: Sunday, July 13, 2008 8:05 AM
Subject: Re: [Tfug] Connectors


> --- On Sat, 7/12/08, Jeremy D Rogers
> <jdrogers at optics.arizona.edu> wrote:
>
>> I'll add to this rant.. (sorry, no *good* experience
>> here to offer)
>>
>> WTF was up with the dell cases with the USB connectors in
>> the front of the case that pointed down at an angle and
>> hidden behind a plastic panel that only hinged out a
>> couple
>> inches?!
>
> What's more amusing are the Dell models with the same
> connector
> locations BUT NO HINGED PLASTIC PANEL!  (i.e., *no* way to
> access them!)
>
>> Seriously, I found it was easier to make a blind
>> connection
>> to the back of the case where the connection was at least
>> straight than to blindly (unless you got you cheek on the
>> floor) guess if your angle to the case needed to be 30
>> degrees or 45 degrees in addition to the axial
>> orientation
>> and x-y location all being hidden from view behind the
>> panel. What
>> a mess.
>
> <grin>  Well, I'll reserve my comments on "Mechanical
> Engineers"
> :-/

>Please elucidate us on the concept of Mechanical Engineers
>in a prototype/design/development or any other environment
>when combined with "sparkies" (Electrical Engineers). .

When it's an Electronic product / environment,
so much lead time is spent getting the thing working - 
AND/OR -
the packaging / thermal issues are discounted / deferred by 
some MBA type - AND/OR -
the sparkies (less experienced ones, moreso) would rather 
avoid involving the packing / thermal issues until it's too 
late because that could change some part of their design...

>In my experience, the engineering manager (an oxy-moron) or

Not an engineering manager, but a project manager who is 
beholden to the MBA types...

>some bean counter waits until the project is already
>developed before funding time for a packaging engineer, or
>thermal engineer. This is often after the problems have
>become so significant such that the technicians refuse to
>continue doing engineering work.

This is so true...

>As to the issue at hand, I have one of those blasted Dells
>with the angular USB ports. I think it sucks. If an ME
>created that, they did so without mocking up the result and
>trying it out..

It is not clear at what angle the plug should be inserted 
at....made more difficult because of that blasted hood 
thing... -

>But moreso, the USB port is lame because you can easily try
>to insert it 180 deg out and it will not give you an
>indication it is

That is true with any USB connector...

I too hate that dumb USB port on Dells.

IMO, industrial designers do that stuff, not engineers. At 
least that was the case when I worked in a consumer 
electronics company.

Engineers could design a functional (maybe) but probably 
ugly case. Therefore, the overall look and form is crafted 
by a art center design college type... who got training how 
plastic injection molding / sheet metal tooling works, 
perhaps if they're effective...

It would be uncommon for an engineer to come up with a 
pretty picture that business types could look at to make 
decisions on...

Think of the metaphor of Architects versus Structural, HVAC, 
Piping - Mechanical Engineers, etc for buildings.