Welcome back to another deep dive. Today we're tackling something that seems kind of out of place at first glance. The term side poles.
Yeah.
Now, you sent in some sources on both horses, Andy. Injection molding.
Right.
And honestly, I was a little confused at first.
It is a fascinating connection, though, isn't it?
Yeah.
The term side pole actually refers to very specific mechanisms in both fields.
So walk me through this. Where do we even start with something like that?
So let's begin with horses.
Okay.
Think about a traditional bridle with a bit. You know, that metal piece that sits in the horse's mouth.
Right.
So a side pull is a bit less. Alternative type of bridle.
Bit less. Okay. So we're already talking about, like, a gentler approach to horsemanship, I guess.
Yeah.
But how does it actually work?
Right.
How do you control the horse without the bit?
So instead of relying on that pressure from the bit, side pull bridles actually use pressure on the horse's nose and jaw.
So instead of me pulling on the reins and tugging on the bit in their mouth, I'm applying pressure somewhere else completely.
Exactly. And a side pole bridle has a nose band that fits around the horse's nose, and the reins attach to rings that are on the sides of this nose band.
Okay.
And when you pull on a rein, it applies pressure to the side of the horse's nose.
Interesting. Yeah. So it's not about, like, force, but applying pressure in a specific way to guide them.
That's a great way to put it. Yeah. Side pulls allow for, like, very nuanced communication with the horse.
Okay.
It's all about finesse and applying the right amount of pressure at the right time and understanding how that pressure translates to signals for the horse.
Okay. So we've got this idea of lateral pressure. Right. Applying force from the side.
Right.
Rather than directly from the front.
Right.
And that's how side pulls work with the horse bridles. But then we jump to injection molding.
Right.
How does that even relate?
Believe it or not, the principle is actually very similar.
Okay.
And injection molding side poles are mechanisms that we use to create complex shapes in plastic products.
Oh.
So imagine you're trying to mold a bottle with a very narrow neck.
Okay. So I'm picturing the molten plastic being injected into a mold.
Yeah.
But how do you get the plastic out once it hardens?
Right.
Like, the neck is too narrow.
You got it. That's exactly where side poles come in. They're essentially these moving parts within the mold that help create those intricate Shapes.
Okay.
Think of them like little robotic arms that slide in from the side to kind of shape the molten plastic.
So as the plastic cools and hardens, the side poles retract, and that's what allows the part to be ejected from the mold.
Right.
It seems like magic, but there's really precise engineering happening behind the scenes.
Exactly. It's all about creating those features. You know, we call them undercuts that would otherwise trap the part in the mold.
Interesting.
Yeah.
So in both cases, side pulls are all about applying that force laterally.
Yeah.
To achieve a specific outcome.
Right.
Guiding a horse or shaping molten plastic.
Exactly.
Is that the key takeaway here?
You're absolutely right. Okay.
And what's really fascinating is that both applications highlight the importance of precision and control.
Right.
With horses, it's all about using the right amount of pressure to communicate effectively. And in injection molding, it's about ensuring that those side poles move with, like, absolute accuracy to create the shape that you want.
Makes sense. So we've established the basic principle of side poles in these two seemingly totally unrelated fields.
Right.
But there's clearly more to unpack here. Right. Especially when it comes to the injection molding.
Absolutely.
So we've only just scratched the surface. Yeah. In part two, we're going to delve deeper into the world of mold design and explore the fascinating techniques and challenges involved in using these side poles to create all those everyday objects that we take for granted.
Yeah, it's pretty cool.
All right, so we'll see you in part two. Welcome back to our deep dive into side poles. We just uncovered this wild connection between horse bridles and injection molding, and I'm really interested to explore those intricate molds a bit more. Yeah. It's pretty cool how they all come together.
So remind me, what are those undercuts we talked about?
Right, so undercuts are those features that would make it really hard to remove apart from a traditional mold.
Okay. Like the indentation that forms the handle on a coffee cup.
Exactly.
You couldn't get that shape out of a simple two part mold. Right.
You would need side poles to make that happen.
Okay.
They're basically separate pieces in the mold that can move independently to create these complex shapes.
So they're like tiny drawers that slide in from the side.
Yeah, you got it.
Shaping the plastic as it cools and hardens.
Exactly.
Then once the plastic is solid, they slide back out and the part can be ejected. It's like there's a hidden dance going on inside the mold.
That's a Great way to put it. And there's actually a whole bunch of different side pull mechanisms out there.
Oh, really?
Yeah. They are all designed for specific purposes.
Okay.
Some use cams, some use lifters, but they all have that same ability to create shapes that you just couldn't do with a simpler mold.
This all sounds so incredibly complex.
Yeah, it can be.
Are there any downsides to using these side pulls when you're designing a mold?
Well, the main one is cost.
Makes sense.
Side pulls just add a lot of complexity to the mold.
Okay.
They require more precise machining, additional components. So, yeah, up front, the mold itself is going to be more expensive.
But doesn't that complexity also mean that there are some pretty big advantages too?
Oh, absolutely. And while the initial mold cost might be higher.
Right.
Side poles can actually save you a ton of money in the long run.
How so?
Well, think about it.
Okay.
You don't need those extra steps to remove the undercuts after the part is molded.
Okay.
Like, you know, machining or sanding.
Right.
So you're creating more intricate designs right from the start.
Yeah.
So that means fewer parts, less assembly, and way less material waste overall.
So it's kind of like investing in a really nice power tool.
Yeah.
It might cost more up front.
Right.
But it ends up saving you time and effort in the long run.
Exactly. And you're also getting better quality. And don't forget about consistency. You know, we can automate those side pull actions, and that helps us reduce human error and get much more uniform parts every time.
Speaking of automation, it makes me think about those incredible videos you see of, like, robotic arms just assembling products super fast. Are robots involved in this too?
Oh, yeah, for sure. With the side pull stuff, automation is totally changing the world of injection molding.
Okay.
It helps us get those faster cycle times, fewer defects, and just boosts our overall production efficiency.
Got it.
But there are always challenges, you know, like with anything, you have to think about the initial investment and the specialized maintenance that's involved.
So it's a balancing act. Right. Weighing the cost against those potential benefits.
Exactly. There's never a one size fits all solution makes. But it's so exciting to see how this technology is changing and really pushing the boundaries of what we can do with these side poles. We are constantly coming up with new ways to create even more complex and intricate products.
It's wild to think that we started with horse bridles and ended up in this high tech world of manufacturing.
It is.
It shows how taking a simple concept and applying it in totally different ways. Can lead to some pretty amazing results.
Yeah, it really speaks to just how clever people can be.
And speaking of clever.
Yeah.
You mentioned that this whole side pole idea actually pops up in another completely different field construction.
Yeah.
Wait, you're saying there are side poles involved in building, like skyscrapers and bridges?
Well, it's not exactly the same as what we've been talking about in construction. The term side pole refers to the forces that are involved when lifting super heavy objects.
Okay, I'm intrigued.
Like, imagine a crane hoisting a massive steel beam.
All right. I'm picturing it. But where does the side pull come in?
If the points where the beam is attached to the crane, if those aren't perfectly balanced, the load is going to swing. And that swinging creates a side pull force.
This deep dive is full of surprises.
Yeah.
But before we get into the world of cranes in construction, let's recap what we've learned about side pulls and injection molding.
Yeah. Good idea.
So what's the key takeaway?
I think the main thing to remember is that side pulls are really changing how we create complex products.
Okay.
They let us design those really intricate features. Right. Without having to sacrifice efficiency or quality.
Yeah.
So we're really pushing the boundaries of what's possible with molded plastics.
It's a beautiful blend of art and engineering.
Yeah, it is.
And now I'm ready to hear how this whole side pole thing works with those huge construction projects.
Let's do it.
Welcome back to our deep dive. We've gone from horse bridles to injection molding, and now we're tackling those massive construction projects.
Yeah. It's pretty amazing how one simple idea can have so many applications.
So remind me again what exactly this a side pull in the context of construction. We're not talking about physical mechanisms here.
Right, Right. In construction, side pull refers to the forces that are acting on a load when it's lifted by a crane.
Okay.
And those forces aren't perfectly balanced.
Got it. And if the attachment points aren't balanced, the load is going to start to swing.
Exactly. And that's where that side pull force comes in.
Okay.
Ideally, you want the load to be perfectly centered, you know, right below the crane's hook.
Right.
But that's not always the case. You know, in real world situations.
Yeah.
The shape of the load, the placement of the rigging, even the wind, you know, all these things can create those off center forces.
So it's all about managing those forces to stop the load from swinging out of control.
Exactly. And that's where things can get a little tricky.
Okay.
When a load starts swinging, it's a lot harder to control.
Right.
And that's a huge safety risk.
Yeah, definitely.
And it can also put a lot of strain on the crane itself.
Okay.
You know, leading to wear and tear or even damage.
So pretty dangerous.
Yeah.
What are some of the ways that crane operators deal with those side poles?
Well, experience is a big one. A skilled operator can kind of anticipate those forces.
Okay.
And adjust their movements accordingly.
Interesting.
They might even use a technique called counter swing.
What's that?
It's where they actually swing the load on purpose.
Oh, wow.
But in a very controlled way to get it positioned correctly.
So they're using that side pull force to their advantage.
Yeah, exactly. It's like a delicate dance.
Wow.
And it's not just about the operator's skill either.
Okay.
Communication is crucial. They need to be in constant contact with the ground crew to make sure everybody's aware of, you know, the loads, movement, and any potential hazards.
This is making me think back to the horse bridles again.
Yeah.
It's not about brute force. It's about understanding those subtle forces.
Right.
And using them to get the result that you want.
You got it.
Whether we're talking about horses or molds or cranes, it's all about finesse and control.
Exactly.
And as we wrap up this deep dive, I think that's a great takeaway for our listeners.
I agree.
It's a good reminder that even in fields that seem completely different.
Right.
There are often these underlying principles that connect them.
It's all about looking beyond the surface, seeking out those connections and seeing how they can inspire new ideas and problem solving in all parts of life.
Well said. We started with a simple term, side poles.
Right.
And we ended up exploring horses and machines and massive construction projects.
It was a fun one.
This deep dive has been a wild ride, and I'm sure our listeners will agree.
I hope so.
Thanks for joining us. And keep those minds open to those unexpected connections.
Yeah.
You never know where they might