Not "outside" at all. This is called collegiality. We are forming a
community of mutual consultation. Cool.
Mike

Quoting Andrew Laing <[log in to unmask]>:

> Hi EWB,
>
> Just to jump in from an outside perspective..
>
> AERO faced similar issues last Spring when we started tackling
> design and continue to as we refine our design.
>
>
> The race car's design/build cycle goes something like this:
>
> 1. Plan: Research rules of the race and establish action
> objectives that maximize performance within rules and
> available resources.
>
> 2. Do: Do the plan (analyze, model, source, fab, etc.).
>
> 3. Check: Compare results with objectives. Report back to Team.
>
> 4. Act: Based on results refactor process to improve before next
> cycle begins.
>
> The most important resource has been good information. Our
> collaboration mechanisms (a Wiki, version controlled repository,
> email lists) have proved central to our ability to make good
> decisions and thereby produce good results. Testing out our ideas
> would be worthless unless we incorporated results into an evolving
> (learned), always improving design.
>
> Participation is crucial. Our meetings follow an agenda and always
> include time at the end for every person to speak and report
> accomplishments from the last week and plans for the week
> coming. Meeting agenda is always posted to our Wiki allowing for
> any team member to add to it (very useful). The agenda maintains
> focus that yields shorter meetings and it has been our experience
> that the shorter meetings are usually our most productive.
>
> I had the opportunity to see Brett present your project this week
> to my Engineering Management class. He gave a really good
> introduction to the background of the effort, and then did a good
> dimensional analysis for the design. This seems like a perfect
> place to begin. The evaporator is a very interesting engineering
> problem, and one in which you could make a big, positive impact
> for all stakeholders involved.
>
> Be sure to bug us over at AERO if we can help or you have any
> specific questions for how we are organizing our problems or
> executing their solutions.
>
> Best of luck!
>
> Cheers, Andrew
>
>
> |--==> "EK" == Ezra Kahn <[log in to unmask]> writes:
>
> EK> Yes, it is definitely too soon to start designing sugar refiners. But
> EK> we still have some pretty basic "pre-design" questions. Like, who is
> EK> going to be involved in this project? How are we going to meet and
> EK> communicate with each other? Should we create a CEMS account? Use
> EK> google docs? What exactly do we cumulatively know? What on/off
> EK> campus resources are available to guide us?
>
> EK> I, for one, would VERY much like to be involved in this project.
> EK> However, I am still a fresh member to our club, and feel the need to
> EK> officially meet and talk with those I hope to work with.
>
> EK> My opinion is that established, regular design meetings, separate from
> EK> club business meetings, is necessary. I think it is also important
> EK> for us, as a group, to work out what our questions are.
>
> EK> Thanks,
>
> EK> Ezra
>
> EK> Quoting "Michael J. Rosen" <[log in to unmask]>:
>
> >>Where I can help on this is design process. I teach it. A lot.
> >>Can we schedule one of the upcoming EWB meetings to be a design
> >>session? Invite experts and consultants as needed (e.g. Peter).
> >>Mike
> >>
> >>Quoting Peter DeGraff <[log in to unmask]>:
> >>
> >>>I tend to agree. Before you get too far along, I'd like to sit down
> >>>with the group and Dan, discuss what's currently being done, materials
> >>>available, evaporator design, operational characteristics, fuel
> >>>available, etc. Just want to start out on the right foot.
> >>>
> >>>Peter DeGraff, P.E.
> >>>President
> >>>Otter Creek Engineering, Inc.
> >>>
> >>>P.O. Box 712, 404 East Main Street
> >>>East Middlebury, VT 05740
> >>>(802) 382-8522 (p) (802) 382-8640 (f)
> >>>[log in to unmask]
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>-----Original Message-----
> >>>>From: Engineers Without Borders [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
> >>>>Behalf Of Michael J. Rosen
> >>>>Sent: Thursday, November 08, 2007 9:05 AM
> >>>>To: [log in to unmask]
> >>>>Subject: Re: Engineering
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>OK, thanks. So "working on designs" means drawing them in
> >>>>SolidWorks? Have there been any group design sessions to
> >>>>actually do the thinking
> >>>>and conceptualizing and arguing and scholarship part of the design
> >>>>process? No criticisim implied; I'm just wondering where the process
> >>>>stands.
> >>>>Mike
> >>>>
> >>>>Quoting Brett Daniel Davis <[log in to unmask]>:
> >>>>
> >>>>>One of the second floor computer labs, if there is room. I'll be
> >>>>>there by 4 pm.
> >>>>>
> >>>>>Thanks,
> >>>>>
> >>>>>Brett
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>Quoting "Michael J. Rosen" <[log in to unmask]>:
> >>>>>
> >>>>>>Working where in Votey?
> >>>>>>Mike
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>Quoting Brett Daniel Davis <[log in to unmask]>:
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>Hey Everyone,
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>I mentioned that I would be working today in Votey on
> >>>>the designs
> >>>>>>>for the oven from 5-7 tonight. I won't be in there tonight.
> >>>>>>>However, tomorrow, I'll be working on it around 3 or 4.
> >>>>If you're
> >>>>>>>interested shoot me an email.
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>Thanks,
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>Brett
> >>>>
> >>>>__________ NOD32 2586 (20071011) Information __________
> >>>>
> >>>>This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system.
> >>>http://www.eset.com
> >>>
>
>
> --
> Andrew Laing <[log in to unmask]>
> Pandora's Rule:
> Never open a box you didn't close.
>