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By Design News Staff -- Design News, January 18, 1999
EV article enlightens
I congratulate you on your October 5, 1998 cover story on the electric vehicle issue.
I have grown accustomed to reading glowing articles on the advance of technology, but have always felt that a hard look at controversial issues was missing. Your coverage and editorial on electric vehicles is enlightening, hard hitting, and brings some real thought to the topic.
Kudos! Keep up the good work.
Steven Whitney
Whitney Products Inc.
Niles, IL
For mass transit
I read, with much interest, Paul Teague's editorial in Design News dated November 16, 1998, and felt I would like to make a comment about mass transit.
I agree that buses, trains, and subways can carry far more commuters than a car can. The biggest problem is getting those people that are so tied to their automobiles that they won't use the mass transit system, even if it is in place, especially here in the west. A good example is right here in Utah. A mass transit bill was placed before the public and rejected not only once but three times by a 70% majority. Why? Because the majority of people are afraid of losing their independence when it comes to traveling from place to place.
The ONLY reason that Salt Lake City is putting in a light rail system now is because the Feds are paying for 70% of it. However, engineers did decide to put this system right down the middle of town, therefore making the use of the main street useless as far as regular traffic is concerned, forcing people to use the system whether they want to or not.
Personally, if there were a mass transit system to where I work, I would use it. I have no problem with not having to fight the rush-hour traffic and I feel that a light rail system is the most convenient way to do it. But again, it is not the re-engineering of routes or schedules, it is selling the general public that they need to get out of their cars and use a better system.
It comes to mind that originally trolleys were installed in most cities and because of General Motors, Firestone Tire, and Standard Oil we now have bus systems. They cover the same routes the original trolley systems did, but made more money for big business. Now we are trying to go back to the old ways. Full circle?
I remember when I was stationed in Alexandria Virginia in 1963: In order to be at the Pentagon at 8:00 a.m. I would have to leave my house at 6:30 a.m. to travel 10 miles. Even 35 years ago, the traffic was bad there. Shirley Highway would be locked up every morning and every night for hours. That is the reason I returned to Utah, and it is getting just as bad here now. I am about to retire and I think I am going to move to the most remote place I can think of just to get away from the congestion of traffic.
Why do they call it "rush hour" when nothing is moving?
Just a few thoughts from an avid reader.
Thanks for the fine magazine.
Charles Simpson, Engineer
The Boeing Co.
Caution is the rule
Your editorial regarding traffic ills is well received here.
We have been working on Aerorail since 1989. For details, try www.aerorail.com .
Very recently we have become involved with a major corporation whose representative visited a prospect for an Aerorail line along with our representatives. The prospective customer was enthusiastic and the prospective partner is pursuing the business internally for action. Big corporations move cautiously, and their caution is only exceeded by the politicians who are the gate keepers on public transportation. Getting these two entities together and started in the same direction is a challenge.
Keep your faith in technology.
Pete Trenary
Aerorail Development Corporation
Gasket strategy
In the November 16 issue of Design News is an interesting article about EMI gaskets.
While working at another company, I was appalled at the cost of EMI gasket materials. They were typically $2.50 per foot in volume. After brainstorming about alternatives, I called a local window and door company and had their salesman bring a sample of stainless-steel weather stripping.
The product I selected was roll formed into a flat "S" shape and had a 90 degree bend formed into the bottom of the "S" as a retainer to keep the material attached by friction to a flange. It cost 50 cents per foot in volume. I removed all of the wire mesh material from the openings for two doors and two side panels and replaced it with the weather stripping. The company had a MIL Spec-certified in-house EMI testing facility, so I had the modified enclosure tested. Overall noise was within 1 dB across the entire spectrum of the original test results, and remained within spec. For that particular product, a networked computer, stainless-steel weather stripping worked as well as wire mesh at 20% of the cost.
For certain applications, generally lower frequency products, stainless-steel weather stripping may still be a cost effective alternative to typical EMI gasket materials. The wise engineer will always test the design before releasing the product for use. The material can be cut to length using ordinary sheet-metal hand shears and installed without tools. Training an operator to perform this task can be less intensive than for other EMI gasket materials.
Ward Chartier
Note: Opinions expressed are those of our readers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Design News.
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