Toasting Design

Following on from an exercise for the 3rd year fluids exercise, we discuss what options are present for a wind surfing hydrofoil type design. We discuss what options we could foresee or at least expected and what the students themselves found. Hosted by M.Boer and S.Schekman on 11th May 2023

We look back at Boer's learning for the week and discuss. Unsurprisingly, its about aircraft for the most part. Hosted by M.Boer and S.Schekman on 4th May 2023

This topic was inspired by a book (fiction). It doesn't nevertheless make it any less of a possible problem (though certainly a fiction book does not make for a referencable source, no matter how well researched the author may be or say they are). In many ways some of the better problem ideas can come from fiction, especially science fiction. Hosted by M.Boer and S.Schekman on 4th May 2023 Lea...

We all have our hobbies. Online gaming, forging metals, failing student reports and one of my favourites is cooking. But there isn't always time for such matters. What to do... what to do... Make a podcast about it, is what we did. Hosted by M.Boer and S.Schekman on 20th April 2023

This may sound like a lesson in refining problems. It is instead an exacerbated complaint against the inability of persons to understand what I am saying. Did that come across? No? Well then Ill setup an episode about me complaining about this too. If that doesn't help I can repeat the process as necessary. Hosted by M.Boer and S.Schekman on 20th April 2023 Learnings video: https://www.reddit....

Rest assured we completely cover a new transport scheme that is sure to be something you think of as "different." More than that I cannot and will not say. Other than steam catapult launched buses will make me use public transport. Hosted by M.Boer and S.Schekman on 29th March 2023

Planning for a design is like planning for a holiday. Does that help? No? Well then let's tell you how we would plan for a holiday. If that doesn't help I recommend Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. Hosted by M.Boer and S.Schekman on 29th March 2023 Video: https://www.reddit.com/r/interestingasfuck/comments/11za7zr/this_specially_designed_cup_can_hold_coffee_in_it/?utm_source=share&utm_...

When a new material or mechanism is finally released or discovered there tends to be a lot of hype in it. Sometimes this hype is merited, sometimes it is premature and sometimes it's fantastical. Let's discuss one of these new ideas. Hosted by M.Boer and S.Schekman on 9 March 2023

Inspired by the video linked below, we discuss the design, what we would do, the good, bad and ugly. https://www.reddit.com/r/oddlysatisfying/comments/11g97u3/transforming_theater_in_sao_paulo/ Hosted by M.Boer and S.Schekman on 9 Mar 2023

We (Boer and I) see a lot of students who are not so much interested in the problem but just have an idea they want to design for. We get that to. Today it's a new form of robot wars (google it). Note even in jumping right into the design, we are aware of an approximate problem but because it is not well defined, our ideas jump around a lot. Hosted by M.Boer and S.Schekman on 23 Feb 2023 This...

Inspired by the video linked here: https://preview.redd.it/vylqpi1kb9ha1.gif?width=360&format=mp4&v=enabled&s=febf0e13558258b31d2916e1c07393aebdf62725 We discuss the design, the good, bad and ugly. Hosted by M.Boer and S.Schekman on 23 Feb 2023

The design projects in undergrad at Wits SoMIAE change every year. We do this to keep things fresh, to make our lives (as the lecturer) entertaining and also gives students something new each year. We introduce these here as they tend to come up in conversations later in the year. Some starting thoughts, things to think about and the like. Hosted by M.Boer and S.Schekman on 15th Feb 2023.

The design projects in undergrad at Wits SoMIAE change every year. We do this to keep things fresh, to make our lives (as the lecturer) entertaining and also gives students something new each year. We introduce these here as they tend to come up in conversations. Some starting thoughts, things to think about and the like. Hosted by M.Boer and S.Schekman on 15th Feb 2023.

As we tend to do every year, here we discuss the definition of a complex engineering problem, as is established by ECSA. We have done this before and so you can refer to the previous ones, just this one or both. In this episode we only discuss definition of the solution to such a problem. The definition of the problme was covered in a precious . Hosted by M.Boer and S.Schekman on 9th Feb 2023

As we tend to do every year, here we discuss the definition of a complex engineering problem, as is established by ECSA. We have done this before and so you can refer to the previous ones, just this one or both. In this episode we only discuss definition of the problem itself. The next episode will cover the definition of the solution to such a problem.  Hosted by M.Boer and S.Schekman on 9th...

The nature of problems, that while are problems either don't need any solution or not your sort of solution (assuming you are mechanically/aeronautically inclined). That's the topic by the way. If it doesn't make sense then that may change (may... I said may) if you listen to it. So listen to it.  Hosted by M.Boer and S. Schekman on the 18th January 2023.

The use of videos for explaining points to Boer has been somewhat effective. Its applicability to an audio only podcast is of course limited. There is no easy way to say this so I'll just come out with it: "The Last Jedi is not terrible." Before you prepare your response please first refer to an episode in the podcasts in the #50- #62 range where this topic was discussed in depth.  Hosted by...

Ahh, load shedding. Such a way of life for South Africans that it becomes depressing thinking about it. But on the other hand it gives us plenty to talk about from a design standpoint. New topic, traffic lights. Obviously my first solution would be having a vehicle that can just go through an intersection without damage from oncoming or bypassing other vehicles. Who needs traffic lights or 4 way c...

Every now and then it appears that the bad ideas, that we would say "no, that is a bad idea" seem to make it far enough that we see it outside of design reports in undergrad. There's a lot that can be said from this, from the fact that even bad ideas are taken to far to even bad design engineers manage to get out into industry. We discuss such an idea. Hosted by M.Boer and S.Schekman on the 18th J...

Do you hear yourself think? That inner monologue telling you that, no you cannot make that jump or yes you definitely got the wrong answer in that exam question. It might just be me but it got me thinking about when I couldn’t hear that voice because it was raining so damn hard while I was driving. The obvious follow up is not a trip to the psychologist but instead whether or not I could make thin...

Every year there are series of topics that are proposed by students as the best, most obvious, easiest, (etc.) problem to solve. These also inherently has some of the worst pitfalls and performance amongst the projects. We attempt to predict what we think might come up. These are not necessarily problems or topics to avoid but just be aware of some of the issues ahead of time. To know what you are...

This started off with the idea of how would you back up a really bad idea for a design problem. It turns out you can't. Not really anyway. That should not be a surprise. It was a bad idea in the first place. You are not making the bad idea good, you are just trying to substantiating its existence. I think that's philosophical in some way. Nice way to kick off the year. Hosted by M. Boer and S. Sch...

The mechanism This is part 28 of a large series of episodes where a design is developed from scratch and starting at the problem identification phase. Episodes will not be released consecutively as time is needed to do some work in the background. Input and suggestions are welcome (toastingdesign@gmail.com). Hosted by M. Boer and S. Schekman on 24 November 2022

The mechanism This is part 27 of a large series of episodes where a design is developed from scratch and starting at the problem identification phase. Episodes will not be released consecutively as time is needed to do some work in the background. Input and suggestions are welcome (toastingdesign@gmail.com). Hosted by M. Boer and S. Schekman on 24 November 2022

Hippos of course do not make good pets. There, finally got it out. Wasn't difficult was it? Tried to stop me from just being informative and look what it got them.  5 deferreds and an FNQL (evil laughter ensuing). Also this is a podcast. Topics are possibly