Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!wuarchive!uunet!olivea!jerry
From: jerry@olivey.ATC.Olivetti.Com (Jerry Aguirre)
Newsgroups: comp.protocols.tcp-ip
Subject: Re: An informal survey
Message-ID: <50764@olivea.atc.olivetti.com>
Date: 6 May 91 20:13:41 GMT
References: <9104182050.AA07838@desktalk.com> <5634@eastapps.East.Sun.COM>
Sender: news@olivea.atc.olivetti.com
Organization: Olivetti ATC; Cupertino, CA
Lines: 31

In article <5634@eastapps.East.Sun.COM> ckollars@east.sun.com (Chuck Kollars - Sun Technical Marketing - Boston) writes:
>The Ethernet spec was apparently written by someone who either was not
>a mechanical engineer, or did not have any experience with automated
>manufaturing.  The reputation of the slide lock will probably never
>recover from that oversight.

The use of the slide lock also predates the "pizza box" and personal
computer designs.  All the old systems that I have seen use an internal
cable to go from the board to the chassis and the connector is mounted
on the outside of the mounting plate.  Under those conditions it is OK
though I always try to strain relief it where I can.

Even the case where the connector is soldered to the board it would be
easy to correct the problem.  Just mount the connector to (the outside
of) a small metal plate before soldering it to the board.  That metal
plate can then be screwed to the chassis where the connector would have
been.  The DB15 and slide lock assembly can then protrude tru a larger
hole in the chasis.  A 10 cent fix.  A smart connector manufacturer
would start selling the PC mount versions with a mounting bracket
already attached.  Having the slide lock come pre-assembled would
please those "automated manufacturing" types.

Are those "mechanical engineer"s deliberately violating the design spec
to cut costs or are they just ignorant of it?  That should be the real
question being asked here!

Screws are not perfect either.  When was the last time you removed a
cable and had the barrel nut come out with it?  Maybe we need a new
spec.  Anyone for a modular transceiver cable?

				Jerry Aguirre