User Panel
Posted: 4/4/2021 9:55:13 PM EDT
Discuss.
@DK-Prof |
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Bastards couldn't design a baseball bat without ball bearings.
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The German sensibility is toward massively complex workarounds to otherwise simple problems.
I've been around these types. Guys that want to design synchronized gearboxes to attach a shaft to another when a simple pin driven through them both will do. |
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Germans mastered dispersed industry, Albert Speer is interesting. He got out of prison frequently to give talks on industry.
Imagine building ME-262s out of Austrian caves. Some of their best production years were often 1944 or 1945 (if production that year continued on). |
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In the macro, increased complexity leads to higher efficiency.
Certainly true for biology. But the complexity has to be reliable, and not cost too much. |
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I have no idea what is going on inside my 911. Some dark and arcane magic that is not meant to be understood by mere mortals like myself.
I find it hilarious that when you open the “engine compartment” as the driver/owner of the vehicle, you basically get ZERO access to actual engine components. It’s like Porsche wants to emphasize that they believe you are too stupid to be allowed access, and don’t trust you. |
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Their belted ammo cans with the offset handles are simple and ergonomic genius
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It is the result of a hierarchical society - there must be order. If simple preserves order, so be it. If in doubt, the complexity perceived necessary to preserve order will be instituted.
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Quoted: The German sensibility is toward massively complex workarounds to otherwise simple problems. I've been around these types. Guys that want to design synchronized gearboxes to attach a shaft to another when a simple pin driven through them both will do. View Quote Ever worked on a Netzsch Nemo pump? Your description makes me think of them. The link between rotor and drive shaft has WAY too many parts on the newer ones (that use no packing and actually don't leak like their predecessors). |
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A german engineer will never use three bolts where four or five will do.
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Anyone dealt with French engineering? In one case it was if they laughed and said hold my wine cause we can make it more complex than the Germans.
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Quoted: It takes me 3 hours to change my spark plugs. View Quote My 2007 335i was a masterpiece of simplicity under the hood. Could replace all six spark plugs in 30 minutes. Could replace the air filter by popping two snaps. My 2010 E550 was a masterpiece of complexity under the hood. I never bothered to change the spark plugs. Just changing the engine air filters was a 30min ordeal. It was a very schizo experience that made me distrustful of the Germans. |
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Quoted: On the plus side, they would be the finest quality ball bearings to ever be utilized on a ball bat, but you would probably have to check their tolerances every 100 at bats. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Quoted: Bastards couldn't design a baseball bat without ball bearings. On the plus side, they would be the finest quality ball bearings to ever be utilized on a ball bat, but you would probably have to check their tolerances every 100 at bats. some Solomon in GD said "If the Germans built an anvil, it would have 17 parts and require monthly calibration" |
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A car magazine compared a car ashtray out of a german car to one from a american car.
The Ford(?) ashtray had 3-4 parts. The German one was something like 17 parts. |
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Quoted: I have no idea what is going on inside my 911. Some dark and arcane magic that is not meant to be understood by mere mortals like myself. I find it hilarious that when you open the “engine compartment” as the driver/owner of the vehicle, you basically get ZERO access to actual engine components. It’s like Porsche wants to emphasize that they believe you are too stupid to be allowed access, and don’t trust you. View Quote So Kraut space magic. |
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Germans have cup holders that push to open and have delicate fold down bases. Americans have molded plastic openings. Which one is gonna break or be easier to clean?
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Quoted: Anyone dealt with French engineering? In one case it was if they laughed and said hold my wine cause we can make it more complex than the Germans. View Quote The MAS-36 rifle is the epitome of the “we don’t trust Soldat Pierre” way of thinking. Want to adjust the rear sight? Take it to the armorer, only he has the rear sight inserts. Want to clean under the handguards? Take it to the armorer, only he has the special tool to remove the screws. Sheesh. |
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Quoted: The MAS-36 rifle is the epitome of the “we don’t trust Soldat Pierre” way of thinking. Want to adjust the rear sight? Take it to the armorer, only he has the rear sight inserts. Want to clean under the handguards? Take it to the armorer, only he has the special tool to remove the screws. Sheesh. View Quote Eh, for a Reservist rifle, that's pretty ideal. Just a pity they didn't take 9 months & form armor divisions. |
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Some German cars I've worked on were obviously designed by people who had not been told no often enough. Everyone's pet project is included.
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At least for guns, the MK23 speaks for itself.
SOCOM comes up with a feature wishlist for OHWS, some of which sound ridiculous and borderline physically impossible, and they don't really care about the cost. - Most manufacturers just go "nope" right off the bat - Colt makes a half-hearted attempt and ticks like half the boxes - Krauts at H&K say, "You don't care what it costs? Ausgezeichtnet, give us a few months" and produce the indestructible wish pistol with a price four times that of a normal pistol. |
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When it comes to mechanical engineering contrivances...I stick to the notion that those who truly understand it can make it simple.
If something lacks complexity and works really well, the designer understood the problem and solution really well. Complexity is not inherently a sign of superior design. |
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Germans over engineer everything
French over unionize everything English strike over everything |
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Failed To Load Title |
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Quoted: The MAS-36 rifle is the epitome of the “we don’t trust Soldat Pierre” way of thinking. Want to adjust the rear sight? Take it to the armorer, only he has the rear sight inserts. Want to clean under the handguards? Take it to the armorer, only he has the special tool to remove the screws. Sheesh. View Quote It's been said that designing war machines for ease of repair (and a willingness to tackle it among common soldiers and sailors) gave the US a decided edge in WWII. If a US truck broke down, some GI would grab a wrench and start working on it. If a French or German truck broke down, it sat there until a "specialist" could be dispatched to it. |
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The product design should be just complex enough that the layperson cannot attempt repairs/modification without significant risk to the product.
This requires the owner to seek out professional, educated assistance, ensuring product creators' longevity after the release of the product. This is peak efficiency. |
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Quoted: Quoted: Anyone dealt with French engineering? In one case it was if they laughed and said hold my wine cause we can make it more complex than the Germans. Citroen DS? |
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Quoted: When it comes to mechanical engineering contrivances...I stick to the notion that those who truly understand it can make it simple. If something lacks complexity and works really well, the designer understood the problem and solution really well. Complexity is not inherently a sign of superior design. View Quote What if i told you the complexity was mostly due to gaining as much function from a single process as possible, or utilizing space as efficently as possible. Everyone likes to post the Audi V8 timing chain picture, but doesnt know why that chain is designed the way it is. It was done to allow fitting a v8 in a vehicle.designed for a 4 cyl. Or the fold out cup holder, which allows increased leg room in a small vehicle. |
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I remember owning a 1974 Audi Fox in college. Delightful little car, but finding things like the fuse box or ignition coil took some imagination. To say the Germans do things differently is a vast understatement.
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