View Poll Results: When having to find where a line crosses another on a paper blueprint, I like...
Getting out my calculator (or using my head) and working it out mathematically.
1
14.29%
Getting out my compass and set squares and working it out by drawing techniques.
6
85.71%
Voters: 7. This poll is closed
How do you like to solve problems?
Thread Starter
PPRuNe Engineering Dept Apprentice
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 295
Likes: 1
From: Deep in the boglands of Western Ireland
How do you like to solve problems?
Well, from what I've gathered from the Engineering/Technical profession is that there are two types of specialists....
So, which one are you?
hmmmm, it seems I should elaborate a bit more. This does not involve a design for a proper component or anything. Just think back, way beyond the mists of time (well for some of you anyways) to a time when you first learned the methods for, say, finding the third point on a triangle, or the midpoint on a simple line. You have enough information for both methods, but which would you use first? the trigonometric equations or slappin' out the compass, swinging the arcs and drawing the line(s) between.
So, which one are you?
hmmmm, it seems I should elaborate a bit more. This does not involve a design for a proper component or anything. Just think back, way beyond the mists of time (well for some of you anyways) to a time when you first learned the methods for, say, finding the third point on a triangle, or the midpoint on a simple line. You have enough information for both methods, but which would you use first? the trigonometric equations or slappin' out the compass, swinging the arcs and drawing the line(s) between.
Last edited by nosefirsteverytime; 13th September 2002 at 21:04.
Moderator
Joined: Feb 2000
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 14,480
Likes: 178
From: UK
Problem is, your question is too simplistic.
At the end of the day there are two ways to solve an engineering problem - by analysis or by test. The fact is, most of us will do analysis and when we're happy with that, carry out the test to prove the design (and the analysis) were correct.
Now there are people who will use ONLY test or ONLY analysis, but both are rarities and often regarded with suspicion (particularly those who think analysis can prove everything) by the rest of the profession.
G
"One test result is worth a thousand expert opinions" - Werner Von Braun.
At the end of the day there are two ways to solve an engineering problem - by analysis or by test. The fact is, most of us will do analysis and when we're happy with that, carry out the test to prove the design (and the analysis) were correct.
Now there are people who will use ONLY test or ONLY analysis, but both are rarities and often regarded with suspicion (particularly those who think analysis can prove everything) by the rest of the profession.
G
"One test result is worth a thousand expert opinions" - Werner Von Braun.
Last edited by Genghis the Engineer; 10th September 2002 at 12:18.
Cunning Artificer
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,125
Likes: 7
From: The spiritual home of DeHavilland
I'm in the airline engineering business and we're mostly involved in fixing defects as they arise, or else sorting out the results of errors in design or construction. So, our approach is - if it was working yesterday and it isn't working today - what happened in the meantime?
Q1 What isn't it doing that it should?
Q2 What is it doing that it shouldn't?
The answers to these two questions provide the lead and from there on its detective work, mixed with a bit of inspiration. More like art than science? Sure; so I suppose we must be a previously unrecorded third type of specialist then...
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Through difficulties to the cinema
Q1 What isn't it doing that it should?
Q2 What is it doing that it shouldn't?
The answers to these two questions provide the lead and from there on its detective work, mixed with a bit of inspiration. More like art than science? Sure; so I suppose we must be a previously unrecorded third type of specialist then...
**************************
Through difficulties to the cinema
