Christmas cracker toys? Post sorting machines? Agricultural equipment? Carburettors? Manufacturing test jigs? Nuclear weapons? What wouldn't get you out of bed in the morning? This thread's the opposite of our old "The top 5 things I would like to design are..." thread. What would you least like to design and why? This is a difficult question. Personally I'd be interested in having a go at most things. Even projects that appear "boring" at first glance may actually involve engineering challenges, production processes and technology that would make it totally worthwhile. I'll say "weapons" myself. I wouldn't want to work on a project that would ultimately result in harm to others.
I’m one of those annoying types who can get into an genuinely find something interesting in everything… apart from toasters. So top (bottom) 5 list would go something like this: Jewellery Toasters Cracker Toys (the cheap plastic ones) Stoma Pouches Sex Toys … I think…
I wonder who designs them. Imaging having that on your CV I agree with you on the jewellery front - I woudn't like to design anything that's purely decorative without function. Toasters I also agree on. BORING! There's also lots of tat in the homewares sections of supermarkets and department stores that I wouldn't like to be involved with!
I knew someone who did a placement at a company who designed an adapter to put on the end of an electric toothbrush...
Just thought of some more: Fire extinguishers Screws Vacuum cleaners Lots of the things you see on Dragons' Den (shed security device springs to mind)
did u see that washing line rotator the other day on Dragon's Den. I would shoot myself if someone asked me to design that!!!! and there was the stupid outdoor fridge. Whaaaaat??? :lol: :?
You know those "crane" machines you see at arcades and some other places? The kind that have a glass tank filled with plush toys and such, you put your coins in and guide the crane jaws to [hopefully] pick up a toy and drop it in the collection chute. Of course the toy the kid wants is always wedged under several undesirable items. Well, the jaws don't work very well, they're not supposed to, and that would bother me... designing a machine deliberately not intended to work well! Regarding sex toys, I know another engineer who claims to have done just that. Large mechanical devices for the porn industry, think gearmotors and crank arms and linkages and linear motion components attached to... yeah, too much information...
On one of the freelance websites I use, there was a posting looking for an engineer to design some adult toys. I just couldn't bring myself to bid on that job. 1) I have no idea what materials to start with or what "industry" specifications I have to follow. FDA? 2) I freelance from home (obviously). Can you imagine what my kids would ask if they saw me reverse engineering one of those?
