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Engineering is not a religion...
Matt,
I don't want to budge you, but I do want to urge you to open your mind a bit.
First, let me agree with you: All things being equal, simply support shafts are better than cantilevered ones, especially in cases where there are high loads (like wheels) and where the stakes are high if the shaft fails (like wheels).
BUT... ...engineering is always a case of tradeoffs and things are never equal. Specifically, there are advantages to cantilevered shafts. If you can deal with the problems associated with them, it can make good engineering sense to use them.
My larger point is this: Engineering is full of such issues and trade offs. While it is good to make people aware of the potential problems associated with this or that path, I think it is bad form to turn such decisions into religious debates where one side or the other is just wrong.
Over the years, I have used cantilevered shafts from time to time, even on wheels -- ZOUNDS! I might be a heretic...
...or maybe a good engineer.
Joe J.
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