steely wrote on 03/06/08 at 19:55:08:We use nylock nuts at work a lot. I have been arguing for blue loc-tite on anything I design. Unfortunately, I am merely a junior engineer and the head engineer has a personal vendetta against loc-tite (as near as I can figure it). Nylock nuts are great though. I first used them back when I was a skate punk. They work a treat! I may have to put some on my license plate, thanks for the idea!
It sucks being an junior engineer with a better idea.... A few years ago, we designed and built a slim profile network switch that someone had the marvelous idea to use a passive heat sink on the processor and venturi cooling by drawing cold air through the front and exhausting it through the back with a set of 40mm brushless fans. A wonderful idea, very quiet. That is until the front panel openings clog with dirt and goo and the thing overheats and shuts down.
When they unveiled the prototype switch in a training class for technicians, I pointed out the potential problem. The lead engineer stated that would not be a problem because the customers would be made aware and would periodically clean the fronts. Besides, the switch was intended to be installed in a 'clean room' so my concerns were moot.
Fast forward 13 months. We had deployed about 600 to a major package delivery company. Within a span of 2 weeks, we had trouble calls on 400 of the 600 switches.
It turned out my prediction came true. Not only did the front clog with dust, but so did the heat sink, then the rear fans. Much to the engineers surprise, the customer installed the switch under desks, in closets, anywhere they could find room and had a free power plug.
On my own, I went out and purchased a bunch of 1U low profile cpu coolers and installed them on my switches. Immediately, the problem went away. Did I get any recognition for my efforts? Did I get a congratulations? Did I even get a hand shake from the engineering team? No... I got written up for putting non-approved hardware into customer machines that could have voided their warranty.
I hate engineers.....