Motovated > News > Newsletter February 2010

Hi everyone,

Welcome to our first newsletter of 2010. Following on from the press's commentaries on Toyota's woes, we share some insights on how manufacturers can avoid product recalls. We've also decided to add even more value to clients via our website, revealing the Engineering Reference Page we use internally. And we have permission to show some 3D animations we've created for clients. Enjoy the links below! We would like to show more of our client's cool animations, so if you want to give us permission to use yours, don't hesitate to let us know.

And there's lots more! We have details below of another Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) event coming up during the week. You can also find another engineering design tip, a good joke, a new puzzle and answers to last issue's question. We hope you had a good break over the holiday season, and are ready to get into another year of exciting projects and innovative design development. Please give us a call if you have any design or development needs...

Greg Morehouse
Managing Director
Engineering Analyst
greg@motovated.co.nz

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Manufacturers! Avoid crippling product recalls...

A lot's been written in the press about Toyota's recent product recalls, and some blame has been incorrectly attributed to CAD and PLM (review the Forbes article here.) Clearly the issue is in the fundamental understanding of the function and operating environments, as well as the testing involved, not the use of CAD. Read more about the best ways you can incorporate both virtual and physical testing in your product development here

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New Website Updates

Click on the links and images below to see the latest addtions to our website...

Engineering Reference Page	Container Bulk Loader Animation	Jetpsrint Boat Animations
This has some really useful links to sites specifically for designers, engineers and analysts.	Check out this cunning solution! You can also read the Case Study here.	See the Jetsprint Boat animations used in the worldwide coverage of the 2008 World Championships. Hull Animation Impeller Animation
Click on the images above to follow the links

Tips & Tricks - Rule of Thumb for Section Design

	This issue we look at a simple rule of thumb when strengthening thin sections while retaining the same outer dimensions. "Double the weight & double the strength" We have applied this rule to channel, pipe and square hollow sections for your reference. You can review the results and calculations here
Rule of Thumb for section design (click for more details)

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Events - SME Chapter Event

This month the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) is visiting Shamrock Industries for a factory tour. The details are:

Date:	Thursday 18th February 2010
Time:	6.00pm
Address:	51-53 Sandyford Street, Sydenham, Christchurch

SME are offering the first couple of events free for non-members, so anyone is welcome to come and check out the tour. For more information, see http://chapters.sme.org/415/events.htm

RSVP to Andrew Gallington at gallington@xtra.co.nz.

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JOKE: What is 2+2?

The accountant says, "What do you want it to be?" The mathematician says, "I believe it's 4, but I'll have to prove it." The statistician says, "The sample is too small to give a precise answer, but based on the data set, there is a high probability it is somewhere between 3 and 5." The engineer says, "The answer is 4, but I'll have to add a safety factor so we'll call it 5."

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Motovated's 2010 Desktop Calendars

Our desktop calendars have been posted out, if yours hasn't arrived yet please drop us an email and we will send one out to you!

Or, go to our website to download your free copy!

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Outsmart your colleagues...

Water in a Cup - A man in a restaurant asked a waiter for a juice glass, a dinner plate, water, a match, and a lemon wedge. The man poured enough water onto the plate to cover it. "If you can get the water on the plate into this glass without touching or moving this plate, I will give you $100," the man said. "You can use the match and lemon to do this." A few minutes later, the waiter walked away with $100 in his pocket. How did the waiter get the water into the glass?

Send your correct answer to competition@motovated.co.nz to be in with a chance of winning a $50 Mitre 10 voucher.

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Answers to last issue's puzzle

Check your answer to December issue's question here: If you knew the fake coin was heavier, then the solution would have an easy explanation. However, the fake coin could either be heavier or lighter, so the solution method is quite lengthy. In short, the correct answer to this problem is 3 measurements. Many of you gave the right number but didn't have the correct logic (but you still got put into the prize draw anyway...) Click here for the full explanation.

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Last issue's puzzle winner...

Congratulations to Sara Leadbetter (Bishop Collyer Leadbetter - Business Advisors), a $50 Mitre 10 voucher is on its way to you.

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Thanks for your time and support. We look forward to working with you and continuing to provide the best engineering services possible. Greg and the team at Motovated. "engineering your vision"