Bigger Isn’t Always Better

There’s this mindset that bigger must mean better. Bigger portions, bigger cars, bigger screens; whatever it is, it can be improved by getting bigger, right? While it often seems this way, bigger doesn’t necessarily mean better.

Firstly, it’s important to realize that “better” is a subjective term. In what way is bigger better than something smaller? If you’re argument is that bigger is better at simply being bigger, or taking up more space, you’ve got a case. If you’re saying that something bigger is generally better than something smaller, you might need to rethink that.

In the same way that you can’t objectively say that a fork is better than a spoon – because sometimes a fork is better (pasta) and sometimes a spoon is better (soup) -you can’t say that bigger is better than smaller. Here are a few examples where bigger does not mean better.

Let’s say that your name is Sisyphus, and you have to push a boulder up a hill for eternity. Is bigger better in this situation? No, it is not. You want the tiniest little pebble you can find, and the saddest excuse for an incline in all of Greece.

A regular sized spoon is better for eating cereal than a giant spoon like the one pictured above.

When it comes to bills, bigger is rarely better. Who do you know that breaks into song and dance when slapped with an enormous electric bill?

Imagine that you find the perfect pair of blue jeans. They fit just right, they feel great, and you look amazing. With the bigger is better mentality, you’d be searching for a larger size, and a belt to go with it.

When it comes to motors, you might think that bigger is always better, right? Not necessarily. If you’re looking for pure power, bigger might be better, but if you’re looking for versatility, size isn’t as important. In fact, there are many situations where a smaller servo motor would be preferable to a bigger motor.

The goal is to suit the motor to your needs. Those needs might include fitting your servo into the available space or configuration. They certainly include producing the right amount of power for the job at hand. Unless they also include producing that stunning electric bill we mentioned, go with the right size servo, not the biggest you might ever need.

Have we convinced you that bigger isn’t always better? It all depends on the job you’re doing, and the needs that you have to fulfill. If you’re not sure, give us a call. We can help you determine the best Indramat or Indradrive servo for your needs.

image from flickr