Engineers often need to make design changes when an assembly is close to production. These changes require thorough consideration.
This statement is a call for help, but it also suggests a difficult situation. Changing a design always involves adjustments. “I need to change something, but who will I upset?” Another way is to make small changes that only impact a specific part of the assembly. This can help avoid broader changes—keeping Pandora’s Box shut.
Thanks to microprocessors, changes can often be a small programming tweak. Recently, I helped with a robotic vehicle project. I saw that the structural loads were too high for our analysis. Then, we made a small programming change, and it fixed the issue. We did make a change, but it involved no mechanical hardware.
Yes, we made changes, but they did not impact any other part of the design.
Norman T. Neher, P.E.
Analytical Engineering Services, Inc.
Elko New Market, MN
www.aesmn.org