I think you guys missed the point.
Every technological product is designed around a specification. That specification is based on the intended use, which is fundamentally determined by the customer, broadly defined, not the designer. At the risk of pointing out the obvious, that use has to be in some sense reasonable. I said that in my post; I suggest you reread it.
Here's what irritates me about the statement by the guy from Campagnolo: I have never seen anything from Campagnolo that stated, "WARNING: These components are designed only for racing, have a limited lifetime, and can break for no reason." I think we all know how long their customers would hang around if they did that. We also know that they sell their stuff to any takers, and make no attempt to limit the sales to that one use--racing--that the guy says they are designed for. Of course, all this is coming from a marketing guy, and I suspect that the engineers would have a VERY different take on it all. I hope so.
All this is second nature to experienced engineers.
Regards, Steve
Herb Langston wrote:
>>>"The designer doesn't get to choose what that use is; the customer does."
>>>
>
> Gmason@swets-farrington.nl wrote:
>
>>Not exactly, he said with some temerity. As one example, look on Sheldon's
>>site for the story about the exploding track hubs. The designer DOES get to
>>say sometimes. In fact, I would suggest that it is his DUTY to say, so that
>>the bits are used within the limits for which they were designed.
>>Cheers...Gary
>>Haarlem, North Holland, NL
>>
>
> Absolutely not, he said with a great deal of temerity. The designer
> determines the use of the product. That use is designed INTO the product
> and determines the product's materials and manufacturing process. If you
> want to put Campy cranks on a BMX bike, don't be surprised if Campy refuses
> to cover any damage claims. Would you race a Ferrari in the Baja 100? Would
> you race a Yamaha motocross bike in a Formula 1 Gran Prix? Would you put
> your VW Beetle through the stress and abuse of NHRA drag racing?
>
> If you were an industrial designer at Ferrari, Yamaha, or VW, wouldn't you
> think customers like that had a vacancy in the brain motel?
>
> Gary is 100% correct. Customers often determine the STYLE or APPEARANCE,
> but never the product's USE. Read any product warranty for any product you
> can think of and you will find the obvious disclaimers under "intended use".
>
> Herb Langston
> Evanston, IL
>
>
> _______________________________________________
>
> .