My Tool Won't Fit! A Design Lesson From Life.

A typical aircraft brake disk.
There's not much room for a socket!

Hands on experience is often the greatest teacher. 

And, while helping work on a friend's change tires on a light aircraft. 

In looking at the brake disk, bolted to the tire rim, I saw that there was no way one could get a socket, the ideal tool for the job, onto the bolt. 

Fortunately, my friend, having run into this case many times before, had a wrench he'd cut to fit inside the disk. So in the end, it was job that was still very easily accomplished. 

But there lies a lesson for those of who sit behind a desk and design the machines we use every day. 

Just because the fastener fits, doesn't mean the tool will! So when designing, think of ease of maintenance. 

The maintainers, who are sometimes your customers, will thank you for it! 

About the Author:

Jonathan Landeros is a degreed Mechanical Engineer and certified Aircraft Maintenance Techncian. He designs in Autodesk Inventor at work, and Autodesk Fusion 360 for home projects. 

For fun he cycles, snowboards, and turns wrenches on aircraft.