Carl Denk wrote:
> As a registered Structural Engineer, I can say that the requirements are 
> you follow the recognized (legal) building codes, or else you are on 
> your own. There is the out of "Good Engineering Practice" but when 
> venturing into that area one treads very carefully.  85% of the 
> structural failures are due to  details, it's almost rare that a main 
> member like a column buckling or beam failing in bending happens. Many 
> times it's lack (or mis) communication between the designer and the 
> fabricator/contractor.  Most structural engineers require, as part of 
> the design package, the be paid for inspection to ensure their original 
> concept is followed through, and a final check on the design i.e. does 
> that beam or number of bolts look appropriate compared to the rest of 
> the pieces.
>
> When visiting a medical doctor, I ask why his rates are so high, his 
> answer is usually "I save lives", my answer is "I prevent the loss of 
> life". :)
>
>
> John Ferrell wrote:
>   
>> Building equipment that has components operating outside of specs is not 
>> engineering, it is hacking.
>> If you intentionally choose to ignore specs your product will become an easy 
>> target for those who do follow specs.
>> BTW, I am not an Engineer.
>>   
>>     
Very good comments all.

Good engineering practice has never failed me. As a consequence:

-I have never had to testify in court as to why my product blew up in
the plaintiff's face.

-I never have to explain why it takes me a little bit longer while I VERIFY
things.

-I sleep well at night knowing that all those products actually WORK.


Just to mention a few good practices:

1. I never run a processor faster than its published rating, even though I
know the device will actually do so.

2. I actually test the product at 0C and at 80C to see if it actually works.

3. I stopped making my own PCBs many years ago, using one of several
proto shops.

4. I make sure that my product will pass UL tests even if my client doesn't
care (some of my  clients are specifically exempt).  Conversely, I will NOT
take on a project that I know could harm someone if the client will NOT
obtain UL testing; to do so puts me personally at risk.

5. I will not reverse-engineer or duplicate anybody else's design unless the
original manufacturer has been proven to be unreachable through an extensive
search. I HAVE reverse-engineered projects done by the company itself when
it lost its own documents through neglect or hard disk failure.

there are more, might be a good topic.

--Bob


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