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I am so impressed by the mechanism used to hold and release the bottom piece -- it's an elegant, simple solution that fully demonstrates why I lack the talent t

by sramsay 14y ago

I am so impressed by the mechanism used to hold and release the bottom piece -- it's an elegant, simple solution that fully demonstrates why I lack the talent to be a practical engineer.

FrojoS 14y ago
This might motivate you to keep trying: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BI23U7U2aUY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BI23U7U2aUY What Ira Glass says is, that you get into something because you really like it and you have good taste. But for years, or decades, you're work will not be good enough to satisfy your good taste. Eventually though, this taste is what allows you to produce high quality work. But, you have to keep trying.
- sramsay 14y ago
  I've seen that. Isn't that marvelous? But in all honesty, I've experienced this in other areas of my life -- writing, programming, cooking, guitar playing -- and can attest to what he's saying.
jamesaguilar 14y ago
It's not about talent, it's about practice. This isn't genius level engineering, it's competence and experience.
- nhebb 14y ago
  Agreed. I used to run a test lab for a company that made electrical cables and interconnects. We'd create fixtures all the time for specialized mate / demate tests. Most of the fixtures were created by technicians who had built up experience over time and got good at rigging them up quickly. You do need to have a tinkerer / puzzle solver type of mentality, though.
  - hkmurakami 14y ago
    Had one of these guys at my previous employer. We called him the Jedi Master and regarded him with the utmost respect and awe. The guy could build anything from the scrappiest and unexpected of parts and appliances.
    - bigiain 14y ago
      I remember at Burningman in maybe '03 or '04, there was this roller coaster with flamethrowers called "The Roaster Roaster" - a friend of mine (who's girlfriend ran straight into the queue to ride it) was asking one of the operators about it: "So, who designed and built this?" "Dave did!" "So who's Dave? Is he an engineer or a roller coaster designer in real life? How did he know how to build it safely?" "It's _Dave_ man! Dave can build _anything!_"
      - hkmurakami 14y ago
        Hahaha, well we were a chip company so the potential disaster scenarios weren't as pronounced. (though of of the NPI guys crushed his finger in one of the testers :()
- pcantin 14y ago
  (I'm the guy that built it): Totally true, I build a lot of stuff and the goal of this build was to make it work fast. In doing so I realized that I underestimated the strength needed to assemble and disassemble LEGO bricks. I actually planed to build a much better one using linear motion instead of rotation motion.
  - jamesaguilar 14y ago
    And, just so it's completely clear, I'm also by no means claiming you aren't talented (although I think the greater compliment is to observe that you are a hard worker). I'm just trying to make sure this guy knows that what you've done is easily within his reach, if he wants it and works at it.
    - pcantin 14y ago
      No sweat. your comment was right. I'm no engineer but I build stuff all the time for the fun of it.

by sramsay 14y ago

I am so impressed by the mechanism used to hold and release the bottom piece -- it's an elegant, simple solution that fully demonstrates why I lack the talent to be a practical engineer.

FrojoS 14y ago

This might motivate you to keep trying: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BI23U7U2aUY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BI23U7U2aUY What Ira Glass says is, that you get into something because you really like it and you have good taste. But for years, or decades, you're work will not be good enough to satisfy your good taste. Eventually though, this taste is what allows you to produce high quality work. But, you have to keep trying.

sramsay 14y ago
I've seen that. Isn't that marvelous? But in all honesty, I've experienced this in other areas of my life -- writing, programming, cooking, guitar playing -- and can attest to what he's saying.

jamesaguilar 14y ago

It's not about talent, it's about practice. This isn't genius level engineering, it's competence and experience.

nhebb 14y ago
Agreed. I used to run a test lab for a company that made electrical cables and interconnects. We'd create fixtures all the time for specialized mate / demate tests. Most of the fixtures were created by technicians who had built up experience over time and got good at rigging them up quickly. You do need to have a tinkerer / puzzle solver type of mentality, though.
- hkmurakami 14y ago
  Had one of these guys at my previous employer. We called him the Jedi Master and regarded him with the utmost respect and awe. The guy could build anything from the scrappiest and unexpected of parts and appliances.
  - bigiain 14y ago
    I remember at Burningman in maybe '03 or '04, there was this roller coaster with flamethrowers called "The Roaster Roaster" - a friend of mine (who's girlfriend ran straight into the queue to ride it) was asking one of the operators about it: "So, who designed and built this?" "Dave did!" "So who's Dave? Is he an engineer or a roller coaster designer in real life? How did he know how to build it safely?" "It's _Dave_ man! Dave can build _anything!_"
    - hkmurakami 14y ago
      Hahaha, well we were a chip company so the potential disaster scenarios weren't as pronounced. (though of of the NPI guys crushed his finger in one of the testers :()
pcantin 14y ago
(I'm the guy that built it): Totally true, I build a lot of stuff and the goal of this build was to make it work fast. In doing so I realized that I underestimated the strength needed to assemble and disassemble LEGO bricks. I actually planed to build a much better one using linear motion instead of rotation motion.
- jamesaguilar 14y ago
  And, just so it's completely clear, I'm also by no means claiming you aren't talented (although I think the greater compliment is to observe that you are a hard worker). I'm just trying to make sure this guy knows that what you've done is easily within his reach, if he wants it and works at it.
  - pcantin 14y ago
    No sweat. your comment was right. I'm no engineer but I build stuff all the time for the fun of it.