XPost: sci.space.policy, sci.physics, sci.electronics.design   
      
   In sci.physics David Mitchell  wrote:   
   > jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com wrote:   
   >> In sci.physics David Mitchell  wrote:   
   >>> jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com wrote:   
   >>>>   
   >>>> Does anyone care about a shape optimized 4 slice toaster or filing   
   cabinet?   
   >>>   
   >>> Yes.  I do.   
   >>>   
   >>> If any significant number of items in your house are fabricated, it makes   
   sense   
   >>> to use as few raw materials as possible, so, for example, it would make   
   sense to   
   >>> honeycomb the inside of a knife handle, since it would still be strong   
   enough,   
   >>> and would allow you to keep a gram or two of material "in the pot" for   
   other   
   >>> projects.   
   >>>   
   >>> Ditto everything you make.   
   >>   
   >> Nonsense; the items in one's house are based on price not how elegantly   
   >> it was produced.   
   >>   
   >> It makes no sense to honeycomb the inside of a knife handle as it would   
   >> add no functionality and just increase the price.   
   >>   
   >>   
   > What price?   
      
   The manufacturing cost which increases the retail sales price at the store.   
      
   > It would reduce both the time to fabricate and feedstock used, albeit at the   
   > cost of slightly more complex software.   
      
   Or you could injection mold it, as most knife handles are, for a fraction   
   of the manufacturing cost of the honyecomb nonsense.   
      
   Or you could stamp the whole thing out of metal for a fraction of the cost   
   of the honyecomb nonsense.   
      
   > They form the only metric which makes sense when talking about fabricating   
   objects.   
      
   The only metric which makes sense for fabricating objects is the loaded   
   manufacturing cost.   
      
   > So, by that metric, they're cheaper.   
      
   If an injection molded handle costs a fraction of a cent while the honeycomb   
   handle costs several cents, which is cheaper?   
      
      
   --   
   Jim Pennino   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
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