The Language of Rugged Design
We often use short-hand terms around here to explain rugged design, expecting that everyone will know exactly what we mean. Stopping to think about it, the dictionary’s definition for rugged doesn’t really illustrate what we mean by rugged in the context of product design! So, we decided to outline the
7 Ways to Avoid Crap Traps
If you’ve ever cleaned dog poop out of the sole of a boot, you already know something about crap traps – in that case a literal crap trap. We really use crap trap as a metaphor, but they are areas of a rugged design that hold dirt or water
6 Things to Know When Choosing an ID Firm
With a new year come new projects, and good or bad, what happened last year is done. It’s time to look forward, learn from the past, and make good choices. There’s much to consider when assigning a project to an outside group or inviting in support for your internal team.
Playing Nice: The Power of an Integrated ID and Engineering Team
Fall is not pumpkin spice latte time, it’s college football season with its wonderful rivalries. As much as Buckeyes despise Wolverines, we have to admit the game would not be as rich without worthy adversaries. Great design teams have rivalries too, although they have a lot more mutual respect and
Connectors in Rugged Design
High-quality rugged connectors are complex and expensive. Connectors can be 1/3rd or more of the total BOM cost on some rugged products. Selecting a connector wisely is a crucial step in rugged design. Even when the connector type is predetermined by legacy or mating equipment, there are usually trade-offs.
Effective Use of Physical Models In Product Development
The surprise… It was about 10 minutes through a design review. All eyes were fixed on the projector screen evaluating the newly presented concepts. My voice was the only sound in the room and everyone was still. Going into the review I was excited to share these new concepts