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Interesting comment: "A proper microwave designer would know that the best position to get something out of the microwave is how it was put in, and take care t

Interesting comment: "A proper microwave designer would know that the best position to get something out of the microwave is how it was put in, and take care that regardless of microwaving time, the turntable would always stop in the position it started."

dsirijus 14y ago
At my ex-company, I've always commented how well designed was microwave because it always end up in the same orientation as the start. Turns out, it was just that it did a complete turnaround on a time segment (5 seconds) and it was easiest to input time in 5 second intervals. Still, good, if not great design.
- nadam 14y ago
  I would say it is great design. Why? Because there is an also very important requirement: when the user wants to get his stuff out let him do it immediately: do not waste his time. This way they did not compromise this important requirement while gave a solution to the other problem as well.
  - dsirijus 14y ago
    Agreed, just didn't want to edit the post.
  - drivingmenuts 14y ago
    But was that intentional design or just a happy accident and was that "feature" recoqnized as such and institutionalized?
- cema 14y ago
  Funny! I often enter the time not divisible by 5. Say, the package says 4-5 minutes, I can press 444 to get to 4:44, it's easier. (Well, maybe it is me who is funny, I don't know.)
ricardobeat 14y ago
That's exactly how our very old Sanyo microwave works. It turns off the power but keeps spinning until it reaches the initial position.
mmanfrin 14y ago
Jack Donaghy is commenting on tech blogs now.
jancborchardt 14y ago
Thanks! A later comment points out a microwave that does this (also the one ricardobeat mentioned): »My 1990’s Sanyo Microwave has a “boomerang turntable”, meaning the turntable always returns to its starting point. It turns for a few seconds after the oven stops, until a micro-switch, driven by a cam on the shaft, is tripped. The period or revolution happens to be exactly 12 seconds. (Has a synchronous motor?) I know this because any multiple of 12 seconds means the turntable stops immediately.«

dsirijus 14y ago

At my ex-company, I've always commented how well designed was microwave because it always end up in the same orientation as the start. Turns out, it was just that it did a complete turnaround on a time segment (5 seconds) and it was easiest to input time in 5 second intervals. Still, good, if not great design.

nadam 14y ago
I would say it is great design. Why? Because there is an also very important requirement: when the user wants to get his stuff out let him do it immediately: do not waste his time. This way they did not compromise this important requirement while gave a solution to the other problem as well.
- dsirijus 14y ago
  Agreed, just didn't want to edit the post.
- drivingmenuts 14y ago
  But was that intentional design or just a happy accident and was that "feature" recoqnized as such and institutionalized?
cema 14y ago
Funny! I often enter the time not divisible by 5. Say, the package says 4-5 minutes, I can press 444 to get to 4:44, it's easier. (Well, maybe it is me who is funny, I don't know.)

ricardobeat 14y ago

That's exactly how our very old Sanyo microwave works. It turns off the power but keeps spinning until it reaches the initial position.

mmanfrin 14y ago

Jack Donaghy is commenting on tech blogs now.

jancborchardt 14y ago

Thanks! A later comment points out a microwave that does this (also the one ricardobeat mentioned): »My 1990’s Sanyo Microwave has a “boomerang turntable”, meaning the turntable always returns to its starting point. It turns for a few seconds after the oven stops, until a micro-switch, driven by a cam on the shaft, is tripped. The period or revolution happens to be exactly 12 seconds. (Has a synchronous motor?) I know this because any multiple of 12 seconds means the turntable stops immediately.«