The Ingenious Design of the Aluminum Beverage Can
Why Hacker News recommends it
It is a go-to recommendation whenever cans, good design or mass-produced objects come up, and many also recommend the whole channel.
What it is
Bill Hammack of Engineer Guy explains the engineering behind the aluminum beverage can: why it is cylindrical, how it is manufactured, why it narrows at the top, the double seam, and how the pull tab works.
Recommended by 9 HN commenters across 9 different months, 2016 to 2026.
What Hacker News said
Strong rec MawNicker · 2016-06 · on “The Most and Least Expensive Cars to Maintain”
Wow. That was an awesome video. Thank you. I didn't know why the top had a neck. Further efficiency apparently. He has an excellent explanation of the two-mode pull tab towards the end. Direct link: [this video]
Strong rec Laforet · 2016-07 · on “The Chemical History of a Candle”
While we are at it, the Engineering Guy has a really good youtube channel. His videos are not very frequent most of them does a great job explaining how mundane objects are designed and manufactured. I thought I was familiar with some of his subjects but I always end up learning something new after watching. Personal favourites: Aluminium cans: [this video] Wind-up music box: [LINK] Nerf guns: [LINK]
Strong rec vanderZwan · 2021-02 · on “I told a cat food company how much they’d save by using taller cans (2020)”
Highly recommended related YT video: The Engineering Guy: The Ingenious Design of the Aluminum Beverage Can [this video]
Strong rec anamexis · 2023-07 · on “Wavy walls use fewer bricks than a straight wall (2020)”
Engineer Guy (Bill Hammack) has a great video about this. [this video] Edit: Just realized this is the same video you referenced. All of his work is fantastic.
Strong rec Gunax · 2024-10 · on “Ask HN: What's your favorite YouTube video, ever?”
Design of the aluminum beverage can [this video] For everyone else, thanks for sharing! Normally i think sharing videos is bad mojo--the Internet is so personalized that favorites are difficult to share. But I really enjoyed most of what has been shared so far!
Recommends leobakerhytch · 2019-11 · on “Boeing 777X’s fuselage split dramatically during September stress test”
Nice video on the design and manufacturing of aluminum drinks cans here: [this video] The whole thing is pretty ingenious, but the way the internal pressure helps vent the can while the tab is acting as a second class lever, then as soon as it’s vented becomes a first class lever to push the scored section of the top into the can — that’s great engineering.
Recommends jihadjihad · 2021-10 · on “Why soda bottles have gaps in their threads (2000)”
In a similar vein, I found this explanation [0] of how and why a soda can's tab functions the way it does to be fascinating. Very clever and elegant solution to the problem of opening a can under pressure. 0: [this video]
Recommends cjtoth · 2021-11 · on “Ask HN: What are the best-designed things you've ever used?”
It feels pretty disingenuous to write off all real world design as trivial or impossible to make an impression. For instance, aluminum cans are a great example of quality design [this video]