A Case for Engineering
Alex is a retired gentleman and a real hands-on type of guy. All his life he's
been an outdoorsman enjoying sport fishing, snowmobiling, sailing and hunting.
A few years ago he came to our facility in Uxbridge to show off his newly acquired
Trillium trailer. The unit was some 25 years old but still in decent shape and
not smelling too bad inside.
This was to be his home away from home during the annual two-week moose hunt
in Northern Ontario. As anyone who's into hunting knows, one thing a hunter must
have is an ATV. The Trillium, or the Egg as we came to affectionately call it,
is nice to have but still, it's a luxury. The problem was how to
get both the Egg and the ATV to the bush with one Durango tow vehicle.
The solution was easy. First the Egg was lifted off its frame by undoing
a few bolts. Frame measurements were taken. Then it was to the drawing
board! A frame modification drawing was prepared lengthening the frame,
relocating the axle and adding space and runners for the ATV.
When Alex returned a few days later, he hitched up the frame and,
with the Transdynamics drawing in hand, went to see Joe at Ostec in Mississauga.
Joe can build anything, as he readily proclaims, as long as he has a drawing!
In no time flat, following the drawing, Joe had cut, modified, re-welded and re-painted
the Egg frame.
Alex returned to Transdynamics with new frame in tow, parking it under the Egg.
As the Egg was lowered, all bolt-holes neatly aligned and the Egg and frame
were united again. A quick trip to a nearby trailer supply shop for bigger tires
and Alex was ready for his big moose adventure. Alex was happy. More than happy,
he was delighted that the mods were done so quickly and easily all because of a
drawing. The Egg ATV is a popular conversation piece among young and old hunters at
gas stops.
In the glovebox of his Durango, Alex carries a folded print of the
drawing. This is handy when describing just how such a wonderful contraption came
to be.
We have all met decision-makers in industry who have yet to learn what Alex learned;
that Engineering has value. They don't want to "waste time and money" making
drawings. They just drop a load of miscellaneous steel at the back door, call in a
contractor and let him go to it; chopping, torching and hacking away. In the end
it the job looks like hell, doesn't meet code, costs twice as much and takes twice
as long to put up. It doesn't quite do whatever it was supposed to do. And, it's rusting!
Instead, why not hire an engineer to prepare the design and drawings; send the drawings
to a shop for fabrication, pre-assembly and painting and then hire a contractor for
installation? Job looks great, everything fits. Job meets code, has paint, and no
jagged edges cut with an axe! It may be true that finding just the right professional
might sometimes take time. In the end, with the job done right, the results will speak
for themselves.
BTW, Alex got a moose that year (and subsequent years). He still drops by now
and then for a chat and brings along some smoked moose sausage for us.
YK - March 24, 09
© Transdynamics Engineering Limited
March, 2009.
