Image

Fun With Fundamentals: Problem 252

Nov. 1, 2001
Don’t let this problem slow you down.

Problem 252: Snail tale

Emmanuel Sniff owns KisskissChow, a very exclusive French restaurant that serves the most irresistible dishes with the best wines in the world. Everything from the two-ton chandeliers to the butterpat plates are perfect.

Usually on weekends, the line of movie stars and world leaders waiting to get in wraps around the block. But lately business hasn’t been so good. Frankly, the clientele has been rather disappointed. It seems the escargot, served with several dishes, has not been up to par. The little guys taste tres magnifique as always, but their appearance is, shall we say, rather ungroomed. Their shells are painfully dull, and look shabby. And the word about Emmanuel’s escargot is spreading rapidly around town.

Desperate to amend this insult to civilization, Emmanuel constructs a device to buff his snails. Starting late on a Tuesday night and working into the wee hours of the morning all week, he completes his snail shiner by daybreak Friday. But now he is wondering — will the device traumatize the snails, making them tense and chewy before cooking? The number of teeth on each gear is indicated — if Emmanuel cranks 120 times per hour, what kind of g-force will the snails experience?

Solution to problem 251: In vino, veritas, October, 2001.

Winners circle

Fun problem 250: Duck bill September, 2001 Total entries: 104 Number correct: 72 (69%) Winner: Eric Blom, Milwaukee Eric’s prize: MechPack-2000 software from UNIK Associates, Milwaukee, Wis., www.engineering-unik.com Reduce hours spent calculating to minutes. MechPack- 2000 helps determine the capacity of flat belts, size pulleys, convert belt speed to rpm, and quickly calculate many other useful factors.

Puzzle us

Get your creative juices flowing and send us your original problems and solutions. If we publish yours, you’ll win a prize.

Related article

Fun With Fundamentals: Problem 250

Sponsored Recommendations

Sept. 16, 2025
From robotic arms to high-speed conveyors, accuracy matters. Discover how encoders transform motor control by turning motion into real-time datadelivering tighter speed control...
Sept. 16, 2025
Keep high-torque gearboxes running efficiently with external lubrication and cooling systems delivered fast. Flexible configurations, sensor-ready monitoring, and stocked options...
Sept. 16, 2025
Now assembled in the U.S., compact P2.e planetary gear units combine maximum torque, thermal efficiency, and flexible configurations for heavy-duty applicationsavailable faster...
Sept. 16, 2025
Safety in automation goes beyond fences and emergency stops. Learn how functional safety actively monitors and controls motiondelivering smarter protection, greater flexibility...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Machine Design, create an account today!