Toasting Design

More words, more phrases, more ways in which you can get yourself lost in "am i doing a preliminary design" or "is this complex analysis." Brought to you by the 3rd year aero class of 2022. Not literally, we could try let them speak but it would either be the quietest episode yet or alternatively a s*%$%W#tshow of noise as everyone tries to talk to you at once. So instead Boer and Schekman will pa...

Load shedding (look it up) is becoming such a mainstay in the lives of South African's that the topic of how can we be better at shopping in the dark, makes more sense than installing a generator in the back. That's not quite what we are talking about here but at the very least its a significant part of the deal.  Hosted which a torch and quickly burning match by M.Boer and S. Schekman on 11...

Who would have thought that two aeronautical engineers would get into a conversation about airborne systems, airports, drones and/or Marakesh. Unfortunately the last topic was cut off due to sponsorship restrictions. The sponsor apparently was not happy that we had beards... It's all very complicated. Most complicated of which is we don't have a sponsor. Hosted in poor lighting but improved visibi...

I think it is natural for engineers to look at something and say "I can do that better." Statistically it will be an engineer that is right when it's said. With that in mind, we have a go at thinking of how (why?) we would be better at racing some pom's and baguette'ers across the channel.  Hosted with riding motorcycles off of V-22's and into a F35 exhaust by M. Boer and S. Schekman on 26 Ap...

Have you ever wondered what all conversations between two bearded men end up moving to? The number of podcasts where about 20 minutes or audio is removed simply because beards comes up and we lose focus. Well today we let it happen.  Hosted with beards tucked and mustaches combed by M.Boer and S.Schekman on 30 Mar 2022

The first semester is nearly up but it is worth giving thought to what is coming up. Design works best when there is time to think. This topic is targeted at those of you in 3rd year mech or aero design in 2022. There are still general lessons covered though for those of you not targeted. Hosted while hatching plans by M.Boer and S. Schekman on 30 Mar 2022

There is little worse in design that putting in a significant amount of time to a development only to realise that the intended solution to the problem (the design) can't work. In many ways it should have been caught earlier. Fear of this unknown path in design can lead to a paralysis in some, preventing progress. There are ways or methods in seeing what to do. Some of these may even be discussed...

Functional Analysis This is part 20 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 23 March 2022

Imagine a bubble. It is not a soap bubble but a design bubble (not suitable for bathtubs). Inside this bubble you could be said to be internal to the bubble. Outside the bubble is a whole world of issues and problems. Don't think about that world, stay within your bubble. But also grow your bubble so that more of that horrible outside world comes in... I may not be selling this as well. Try listen...

Iterating and reconsidering This is part 19 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 9 March 2022

Some of the more difficult problems to approach are those with clearly defined issues. A mass casualty event involves multiple persons in need of medical attention. This is not necessarily the direct problem that needs to be solved. Along with drones and swarms (why not, we are aeronautical engineers) we break down some of the more alternate approaches to this general problem. Hosted through waffl...

The monitors This is part 18 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 an undisclosed date and released on the first of Apr...

Teflon has in no way sponsored this episode nor are we under any duress to talk about teflon. But it is still worth a discussion in the context of using the "miracle" materials that become famous from time to time.  Hosted safe in corrosive world thanks to Teflon by M.Boer and S.Schekman on 2 Mar 2022

Our quiet hosting site is distrusted in this episode, apologies for the repetition or break in flow. It is obviously what happens when you disobey the universal law of first establihsing the problem before worrying about the solution. Although this is nothing compared to the consequences of choosing concept 2.  Hosted with toast on the brain, at hypersonic speeds with a hiccup or two by M.Boe...

Further Development This is part 17 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 9 February 2022

The 4th year capstone projects are the final assessment of the engineering curriculum for mechanical and aeronautical engineering at wits (ideally anyway). We aren't discussing design elements in this episode nor what problems to undertake or propose (it's too late for that). Instead we cover, in depth how the projects will run. For 4th year students, you likely would have heard this already (lite...

The time for talking about toast is coming to an end. We set our sights upon the horizon of other foods on which to set this podcast (and Jeremy's creations) upon. First up, marsh mellows.... mellowing in design? Designing Marsh? Maybe we should just stick to toast. Glass blown toast, made using remote surgery machines and a complete disregard for problems. Done. Hosted in anodised colours by &nbs...

Option Evaluation This is part 16 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 2 February 2022

This is the final episode in this series looking at potential design project topics and problems for the year ahead. While focused on final year projects, it can still be seen as applicable to all aspects of design.  Hosted using the unconventional approach of being in person by M. Boer and S. Schekman on 26th January 2022

Back at it to drive home some points based on queries and comments already coming in. While focused on final year (4th year) project topics, the topic still applies to other years of study and design in general.  Hosted while on a roll (bread roll of course) by M.Boer and S.Schekman on 26th Jan 2022

It's time for final year students to propose ideas for design projects in 2022. There are some hard learned lessons in the this process and while the topic in general has been covered in previous years we discuss updated points based on our lessons learned in 2021. Hosted without worry by M.Boer and S.Schekman on 19th Jan 2022

It's time for final year students to propose ideas for design projects in 2022. There are some hard learned lessons in the this process and while the topic in general has been covered in previous years we discuss updated points based on our lessons learned in 2021. Hosted bright eyed and bushy tailed by M. Boer and S. Schekman on 19 Jan 2022

Design is, in part, about thinking that you can do better. Whether it is that you can make a system more efficient, that you can make a system safer or that you can go faster. Defining the problem can be a bit tricky here. This is mostly because it is more about over coming a self set challenge than overcoming a problem (why do you need to be safer or faster). As a skill challenging exercise such...

To be clear this has nothing to do with product placement, subtle advertising or paid advertisement. This podcast was inspired by the video linked here: https://youtu.be/zFCFe38EIfE .  Hosted without ads by M. Boer and S. Schekman on 15 December 2021.

New, mod or convert. What do you do? When your current car isnt performing do you buy a new one or modify it? Do you convert the lawnmower in the back yard to tear your across the highway at 140km/hr, open cockpit style? When your office desk is running out of space do you modify it (clean up the damn papers and tidy up), buy a new desk, convert it into the trash heap it basically is already lock...