Difference between revisions of "3239: Simple Machines"
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
{{incomplete|This page was recently purchased from DeWalt, and we're still reading the manual. Don't remove this notice too soon.}} | {{incomplete|This page was recently purchased from DeWalt, and we're still reading the manual. Don't remove this notice too soon.}} | ||
| − | There are a lot of simple tools used to give a mechanical advantage in various things. The 6 most common ones are called {{w|simple machines}}: a {{w|lever}}, {{w|wheel and axle}}, {{w|pulley}}, {{w|inclined plane}}, {{w|wedge}} and {{w|Screw (simple machine)|screw}}. Additionally, there are all-in-one tools that are made with multiple features, such as classic {{w|Swiss Army Knife}} that combines various different forms of blade (which in part act as levers) along with some non-bladed tools (such as the corkscrew, which naturally embodies the same forces as the 'simple screw' itself. This comic combines both ideas, suggesting the existence of an all-in-one instrument with all six simple tools. The tool shown merges them by mounting multiple components (no longer being quite so a 'simple' machine), some of them with multiple purposes depending upon application. For example the lever and the inclined plane are both present via the same core rod. | + | There are a lot of simple tools used to give a {{w|mechanical advantage}} in various things. The 6 most common ones are called {{w|simple machines}}: a {{w|lever}}, {{w|wheel and axle}}, {{w|pulley}}, {{w|inclined plane}}, {{w|wedge}} and {{w|Screw (simple machine)|screw}}. Additionally, there are all-in-one tools that are made with multiple features, such as classic {{w|Swiss Army Knife}} that combines various different forms of blade (which in part act as levers and/or wedges, depending upon use) along with some non-bladed tools (such as the corkscrew, which naturally embodies the same forces as the 'simple screw' itself). This comic combines both ideas, suggesting the existence of an all-in-one instrument with all six simple tools. The tool shown merges them by mounting multiple components (no longer being quite so a 'simple' machine), some of them with multiple purposes depending upon application. For example the lever and the inclined plane are both present via the same core rod. |
Having one of these "all-in-one" devices does not mean it does everything you can do with different combinations — the choice of components and how they interact (or don't get in each others' way) is important for the function of a particular device. | Having one of these "all-in-one" devices does not mean it does everything you can do with different combinations — the choice of components and how they interact (or don't get in each others' way) is important for the function of a particular device. | ||
Revision as of 22:07, 29 April 2026
| Simple Machines |
 Title text: It's hard to decide which simple machine system to invest in. DeWalt makes a great lever and inclined plane, but I hear Milwaukee's wheel-and-axles are really good. |
Explanation
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This is one of 68 incomplete explanations: This page was recently purchased from DeWalt, and we're still reading the manual. Don't remove this notice too soon. If you can fix this issue, edit the page! |
There are a lot of simple tools used to give a mechanical advantage in various things. The 6 most common ones are called simple machines: a lever, wheel and axle, pulley, inclined plane, wedge and screw. Additionally, there are all-in-one tools that are made with multiple features, such as classic Swiss Army Knife that combines various different forms of blade (which in part act as levers and/or wedges, depending upon use) along with some non-bladed tools (such as the corkscrew, which naturally embodies the same forces as the 'simple screw' itself). This comic combines both ideas, suggesting the existence of an all-in-one instrument with all six simple tools. The tool shown merges them by mounting multiple components (no longer being quite so a 'simple' machine), some of them with multiple purposes depending upon application. For example the lever and the inclined plane are both present via the same core rod.
Having one of these "all-in-one" devices does not mean it does everything you can do with different combinations — the choice of components and how they interact (or don't get in each others' way) is important for the function of a particular device.
There are obvious drawbacks to having this 'all-in-one' tool. The tools all have varying uses, some very different from one other, and you would find it unlikely to find many devices in need of all the tools together in a spot. So such a tool would be largely useless compared to its singular variants. As well as that, the tools come in many different sizes as well, meaning unless it has special adjustable sizes (which could well be impossible, to account for all the different sizes)[citation needed] the tool would be unlikely to be the right size to fit many features! As well as that, though Randall claims he can stop buying simple tools thanks to his all-in-one, in reality you often need more than one of the various tools for projects- particularily screws, of which there can be hundreds in a single project. So a thoroughly useless innovation.
The title text is a joke about what brands to choose. Milwaukee Tool and DeWalt are two common tool companies. The text points out that as both companies have advantages in certain simple tools, then deciding which to use for an all-in-one tool would be difficult. This is also likely a reference to the problem of choosing which tool company to use. As for battery powered tools, the batteries are not usually interchangeable, so once you buy a few tools from one company, you are stuck using only that company, as you already have "spare" batteries for all of the tools.
Transcript
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This is one of 43 incomplete transcripts: Don't remove this notice too soon. If you can fix this issue, edit the page! |
[Caption below comic:] I can finally stop buying simple machines now that I got an all-in-one tool with all six of them.
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Woah, I'm first! ---GSLikesCats307(talk). 17:43, 29th April 2026 (UTC)
Is Randall referring to any specific tools made by those companies when he says "lever and inclined plane" and "wheel-and-axles"? wheel-and-axles describes anything from a toy wagon to an automobile. Barmar (talk) 16:53, 29 April 2026 (UTC)
- Doubtful. More of an additional example of Pro-Skub vs Anti-Skub -- https://pbfcomics.com/comics/skub/ behavior. 130.76.187.47 17:31, 29 April 2026 (UTC)
- It's a joke about battery-operated tools. If you buy a battery-operated drill from Milwaukee, it probably does not come with a (removable) battery and charger. So you buy the battery and charger, which are probably comparable to the cost of the tool. Now, when you need a battery operated saw, you already have the battery and charger from Milwaukee (which will work with the saw), so you buy the Milwaukee saw. And the Milwaukee blower. And the Milwaukee weed-whacker. Etc, etc. Buying one brand of battery operated tools locks you into that ecosystem, to a certain extent. Which means you wind up agonizing over which brand has the better overall ecosystem, even though all you need right now is a drill. 163.116.145.55 18:21, 29 April 2026 (UTC)
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