Optimization. Whether it is business process optimization, manufacturing optimization, weight optimization, cost, ...Engineered and built to last. That's what 'Made in USA' is supposed to mean. Organizational behavior has changed, and profits are the ultimate goal of modern capitalism. Adam Smith is rolling in his grave. Where has pride of workmanship gone?
The problem now is everything is designed to fail because selling parts and service ing things is where companies make all the money.Engineered and built to last. That's what 'Made in USA' is supposed to mean. Organizational behavior has changed, and profits are the ultimate goal of modern capitalism. Adam Smith is rolling in his grave. Where has pride of workmanship gone?
Bad USB yokes and socketsThe problem now is everything is designed to fail because selling parts and service ing things is where companies make all the money.
The majority of people wont spend the money to have a high quality well built device now but they are all too happy to spend way more over a longer period of time in operating costs with a cheap inferior design in operational costs over its lifetime than what the one well built unit would have cost.
I see that all the time with farming equipment now. Everything is junk on the actual build quality and durability aspects. Around here it's common to find tractors and other machinery from the 1960's and older that are still running on all major engine and driveline components with 10,000 - 20,000 hours of long hard used lives.
The newest stuff rarely hits 2000 - 3000 hours run time now without major breakdowns in those mechanisms.
One of our old tractors is a 1950's IH 560D diesel and back in its day it was well known for having a 'weak engine design' because it was only good for 6000 - 8000 running hours before needing major rebuild which kits for them today only run about $1500 -1800 for full overhaul.
Now the modern good tractor is good for 1/3 - 1/2 that and costs over 10x that on a similar rebuild. We have two 1980's tractors that both have just short of 3000 hours on them and both came with new low hour engines in them when we bought them and thats considered normal life expectancy now.
SEPTA still operating on 25 HzI remember reading in the "They Are Still Here" column of American Heritage of Invention and Technology magazine about a machine shop that still used motors that ran at something like 25 Hz. The power company was required to supply power to them as long as they stayed in use.
Interesting links.SEPTA still operating on 25 Hz
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SEPTA's_25_Hz_traction_power_system
Amtrak still operating on 25 Hz
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amtrak's_25_Hz_traction_power_system
Safe Harbor Dam - still generating 25 Hz for two railroads...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safe_Harbor_Dam
What were the advantages of switching to 60 Hz then?I remember reading in the "They Are Still Here" column of American Heritage of Invention and Technology magazine about a machine shop that still used motors that ran at something like 25 Hz. The power company was required to supply power to them as long as they stayed in use.
Electrical transmission, induction motor design, voltage conversion (transformer etc).What were the advantages of switching to 60 Hz then?
A transformer at 30Hz is about 2x bigger than a 60Hz transformer.What were the advantages of switching to 60 Hz then?
Which begs the question, why not a higher frequency than 60 Hz then?The caps in any DC power supply have to be much bigger for the same load regulation of the same load.
The aircraft industry uses 400Hz to save on weight and size, however the down side is it is less efficient than the 60Hz version.Which begs the question, why not a higher frequency than 60 Hz then?
So the 30Hz version of a motor would be even more efficient?The aircraft industry uses 400Hz to save on weight and size, however the down side is it is less efficient than the 60Hz version.
Max.
by Jeff Child
by Jake Hertz
by Jake Hertz
by Aaron Carman