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.
>