[TCML] Teaching Coiling

["Dr. John W. Gudenas" <comsciprof@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Bart, here is the new thread you suggested. I will start it off and  
hopefully it will maintain some sense of continuity and stay on coil  
building.
It would be useful to have some sort of consensus about what it  
actually means to "teach coiling," albeit, I suspect that will not  
happen.

Is "teaching coiling" simply providing an algorithm that anyone who  
has a basic knowledge of electrical wiring can follow? If so, then the  
TCML has done an
amazing job. With the Tesla model building programs developed by Paul  
and others this has been accomplished.

However, I prefer to think that there is more to it than that.  
Consider advancing old technology to new technology. I have been on  
this list for quite a while and
read, watched and experimented with spark gap coils, VTTC 's SSTC's   
to DRSSTC (  solid state coiling still amazes me, even though I  
finally understand how the process works ).
Our list members developed and published new technology about coil  
building and created the "state of the art".

Should history be neglected? Every primary science course investigates  
the historical events in its discipline. The TCML has members  
dedicated to rebuilding and preserving historical devices.
Jeff Behary has accumulated an astounding collection of devices and  
literature. There is always something to learn from history.

How about the conceptual foundation of resonant circuits? How can any  
individual say they "understand" how a coil works without the  
conceptual foundation? The TCML has always had members more than
willing to share their academic knowledge. My good friend Bert Hickman  
always comes through as well as other list members. Obviously this  
knowledge level developed the modeling programs.

Our coils are indeed, complex objects, and their level of complexity  
will depend on the user requirements and desires. Some will learn just  
how to make big sparks and others will dig
deep into electromagnetic fields, solid state electronics. streamer  
and plasma development, commercial applications and many other  
directions.

Sometimes I have a transfer student from a community college who  
doesn't, for example, want to take a course in Operating Systems. The  
student will indicate that he knows all about
Unix, Linux, Mac/Os, Solaris , etc. I simply respond, "That is good  
and certainly useful, but I'll teach you how to write an operating  
system." Few people need to know how to develop and write an OS,
but many need to know how to use them. I believe It is the same with  
teaching coiling, some will get to some conceptual foundation, but   
most will become educated users and builders.
John W. G.

John W. Gudenas, Ph.D.
Professor of Computer Science


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