You know...

You know, designing a laptop involves expertise in many fields. ID, connectivity, hardware, software, board, power, signal, mechanical, thermal, et cetera.

I am a thermal engineer, I am suppose to build my thermal model based on the 3D model generated by the mechanical engineer. The mechanical engineer is supposed to get the components layout on the printed circuit board from the board layout engineer. So on and so forth.

Of course it's not strictly linear, we have to work together to sort out the finer details. The process is iterative as there are interdependencies. It's team work.

That said, thermal simulation usually only starts when we already have the system dimensions, the board layout and the components power. Else it's just rubbish in rubbish out if everything is based on assumptions.

It's unfortunate way of life that those who make decision like to change the project direction on a whim, and not set a firm direction that they can stick to from the beginning till the end. I guess that's their job, or their way of showing they are doing something.

Whatever. It's always the working level that suffers, not the decision makers. Days or weeks of effort down the drain. And typically, supporting data for their current latest and greatest direction (which will change in two weeks time...) is needed the day after they announce the new direction. Okay, I exaggerate, not the day after, but in two days time.

Because everybody knows thermal model generation, solving and post-processing takes no time at all. The model generates itself with a click of a button, solves in ten minutes, and the results post-processed itself into management-understandable presentation with another click of button. Don't forget everything is always smooth, no hiccups, no debugging required.

So, late in last Friday evening, when most already done for the week, I got a message asking me to stay for a phone call, which came in the form of an online meeting after the normal working hours have ended. I was told the latest and greatest direction fresh out of oven, by the time that online meeting ended, my family has finished their dinner.

I was told to provide thermal simulation results as supporting data for that latest and greatest direction by Monday. Friday evening to Monday morning, see they gave me two full days plus Friday night, how generous! What weekend?

And remember that thermal model should based on mechanical 3D model with the up to date printed circuit board components layout and power? Ya, those. Well, since I am the only one gullible enough to get caught still working late on Friday evening, guess who is going to come out with those?

So ya, I just changed the chassis and component dimensions as I see fit, place them wherever I think is sensible. The mechanical parts are probably still okay, I am a mechanical engineer after all (who specialised in thermal), but since I am no board layout engineer, I am pretty sure whatever I did will need to redo when the real board layout finally comes out. I just don't have the luxury to wait since all the others won't even know about the latest and greatest direction until second half of Monday. The day I am supposed to give the results.

Sigh~

And no, thermal simulation is not just two clicks of button!

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