Is this model engineering

[Eric CoxParticipant @ericcox50497]

This was shown on local BBC news. Is it model engineering

**LINK**

[Eric CoxParticipant @ericcox50497]

[Stewart HartParticipant @stewarthart90345]

I read that:- looks great fun to me and a great advert for Engineering if it gets kids interested, who cares what it is

Stew

[David Clark 13Participant @davidclark13]

"I hope our Lego engine will show others how exciting a career in engineering can be."

But what happens when the kids start their engineering career and find out they can't play with Lego?

Only joking.

regards David

[Eric CoxParticipant @ericcox50497]

The apprentices have to start with Duplo

[David Clark 13Participant @davidclark13]

Hi Eric

In my day we started with Bayko and Meccano.

regards david

[KWILParticipant @kwil]

It certainly impressed my 14 year old Grandson when he went to the Farnborough Airshow on a school visit lasr Friday.

[NJHParticipant @njh]

Some project.

Both my youngest Son and now my Grandson are Lego fanatics. Son is now computer whizzo/ graphic designer and Grandson's ambition veers between full time surfer and rock guitarist ( he's young yet!) . So much for engineering! Me I HATE Logo – have you ever been walking about without shoes and trodden on a Lego brick? ……..AAAAAAAHHHHHH !

N

Edited By NJH on 19/07/2012 10:33:04

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

Meccano seems to be making a return here in NZ, there's advertizing on TV.Ian S C

[David LittlewoodParticipant @davidlittlewood51847]

Meccano was never the same after the French acquired it. Not a xenophobic comment, just that the owners seemed to forget the engineering side and go for one-off model sets for dinosaurs and space ships. Don't know if it has improved since.

David

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Answer to original question. It is modelling but not model engineering just as is assembling an Airfix kit of a car / plane / engine shed.

Assembling a Meccano kit or to plans with nuts and bolts is also just modelling. Designing your own crane and making it in meccano is borderline Model Engineering. Doing same (kit or own design) but making some of your own special parts, even if in plastic, is model engineering.

"Lego is an introduction to architecture or building trades. Meccano is an introduction to engineering".

Discuss.

[Steve GarnettParticipant @stevegarnett62550]

Hmm… this may be considered to be contentious – I don't know…

I think that Lego is best considered as a crude introduction to quantum mechanics, perhaps. Meccano in its present form is going to give you a good background in being a production line fitter, or car mechanic. Come to that, it probably always was. But because it made you think, if you wanted a working result, it was and is better than Lego as a mechanical introduction from that POV.

But I don't think that either of them is truly an introduction to what I think of as 'enineering', as such. The model that the 5-yr old and his father made that 'inspired' that pile of foot-mangling plastic (been there too, NJH – ouch indeed!) looked more like a sensible introduction to modelling to me, though.

So you might wonder what I think that engineering is in this context, and why the neither of these products really make it as a complete introduction. Or perhaps you don't, because you already know from what I've just said. Engineering, and by extension model engineering is, for me, really about the sensible manipulation of raw materials into a usable product or end result, without any particular limitations on the shapes you can utilise, within structural constraints. Yes, you often end up using pre-existing fittings in what you build, but you have to consider their application carefully in terms of what you are building in a way that Meccano doesn't let you (unless you modify it) – the holes are all pre-positioned, and the slots are never quite where you want them…

So are either of these products 'inspirational' as such? No, I don't really think so. What both of them will do is reveal an aptitude towards particular sorts of activitiy. Looking at a giant Lego model inspires you to make one if you don't have the aptitude already? I don't think so.

On the other hand, if you find that you want to start modifying Meccano as a youngster, then perhaps this shows an engineering aptitude, yes! I certainly did, but was heavily discouraged from doing so by the owner of the kit we had to play with. My brother and I started to collect our own, and I still have it all. And a lot of it is bent considerably out of shape, obviously. The slightly perverse thing about this was that it did confirm my bro's desire and ability to become a mechanical engineer – but he ended up machining plastic for a living, which he was consumately good at. But that all came to an untimely end nearly 40 years ago, unfortunately.

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

I know of one or two structural engineers who, on occasions, when a problem arises, build a Meccano model of it , and work out the problem, now days I suppose they could go to their computor and do the same thing there, but with the model, a hands on demonstration can take place, ie., a complex crane lift, or I seem to remember , a demonstration of how the crane on top of Auckland's Sky Tower was disassembled, and lowered its self to the ground.

The thing I liked designing and building was cranes, then seeing how much it would lift, so at 8yrs I was learning mechanics in a practical way. Ian S C

[jason udallParticipant @jasonudall57142]

I am sure I have seen a 3d object printer made from lego plus accuators.. printing as its party piece lego bricks..( abs string used in printer) with even had the lego logo etc. reproduced..naughty I know but impressive…

Engineering is engineering . What ever the media. mecanno/lego are just building blocks( sorry) what is made and how it solves the need are the only real measure.

Not entirely sure at the model / otherwise division .

BTW long ago there was a simular system to meccano where you were supplied with metal strip that was croped and punched / formed as required ..aimed at the same market…

Personaly I prefeer dexion.

[_Paul_Participant @_paul_]

If I remember correctly did'nt Professor Eric Laithwaite build a model of his precession "engine" using Meccano?

Thats a little more than simple engineering I would say.

Paul

[David Clark 13Participant @davidclark13]

Hi Jason

I expect that would have been Juneero (not sure of correct spelling).

A little before my time.

regards David

[Clive HartlandParticipant @clivehartland94829]

Trix, also did metal assembly kits which were silver finish. They had an electric motor kit as well.

Meccano was the favourite in my day ,early fifties. Progressing through the different number kits every Xmas. I was always losing nuts and bolts into the hoover and had to dig them out.

Clive

[jason udallParticipant @jasonudall57142]

David..guess so..only saw boxed "kit" briefly …. offered at auction …lusted for it but wouldn't pay collectors prices..

[V8EngParticipant @v8eng]

I think there was an American equivalent to Meccano, possibly called Erector.

Seem to remember it had a shiny silver finish and a motor option as well.

 

On the subject of Lego, looking up the names Hilary Page and Kiddicraft makes interesting reading.

Edited By V8Eng on 19/07/2012 18:50:17

[SpringbokParticipant @springbok]

OK try this one

**LINK**

Bob

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

I used to have aJuneero punc/cut/bend tool – it was the only 'machine tool' in my workshop as a boy.

I would say Meccanio (and technics) are an introduction to mechanical engineering – it's not just about machining and modifying parts, its about learning how materials work – for example why one design of 'crane' folds in half and another is rigid, how to set up a gear train, make a space frame or make fixed and mocing joints. These are skills I first developed with meccano, but didn't use them in model engineering for another 30 years. Lego taught me some things about visualising a 3D shape in my mind – something I think is essential to engineering design.

Neil

[Steve GarnettParticipant @stevegarnett62550]

Posted by Stub Mandrel on 19/07/2012 21:07:10:

I would say Meccanio (and technics) are an introduction to mechanical engineering – it's not just about machining and modifying parts, its about learning how materials work – for example why one design of 'crane' folds in half and another is rigid, how to set up a gear train, make a space frame or make fixed and mocing joints.

I'd agree that Meccano is an introduction, but I'd still say that it was only a partial one. It certainly taught me about boxed sections, and how triangular structures are inherently rigid. Personally I found the gears a bit frustrating, but bro managed to construct quite an elaborate gearbox where you could actually change the gears. But there again, he spent rather longer on this than I was prepared to. Out of what was available at the time, I'm sure that it was the best there was, but it was only when I started working with the raw materials that I ever got any real 'feel' for this.

[Trev TParticipant @trevt]

I started 'modelling' using my father's Meccano set around 1942, at the age of 7. Grand piece of kit, heavy nickel-plated strips, brass-plated fastenings, brass gears, etc. As a young guy, I really felt as though I was 'engineering' like my father. I later aquired a Juneero tool set, which I still have in my workshop cupboard, and from then on I considered Meccano to be for the 'easy-route' modeller. However, models, as such, were dropped in favour of more 'engineered' objects for practical purposes. I think this illustrates how young minds can be influenced by what are basically toys, the sort that provide the 'spark' in an engineer's life, whether it be heavy engineering, clock-making, or model engineering.

[Donhe7Participant @donhe7]

Here in South Australia, we had a "Meccano" like series called "Ezi-Bilt", from a local(?) firm called Colton, Palmer and Preston, the components consisted of green perforated strips, red panels with perforations along the edges, shafts, several sizes of wheels, etc, in sets numbered from one to eight, with the amount and complexity becoming more so as the kit number increased.

Whatever happened to the brand (or in fact, the Compay), I don't know, I guess that some readers of this forum may remember the product, or perhaps it (They) have vanished into history ………

donhe7

[SpringbokParticipant @springbok]

There are loads of meccano clubs around in the UK come to our exhibition the BSMEE 3 halls and and if you are a meccano fan you will drool over them.

Look at our web site for details
Aug 17th to 19th
The Leasure Centre
Thornbury
Just off the Motorway
BS35 3JB

If you are into meccano come along also zillions of other interests you name it it will be there.

enjoy
Bob

[Author]

Posts