Why doesn't beer and soda come in square cans?

[Jhill]

Is it because a round can is easier to hold? Square cans would save a lot of space plus they wouldn't roll around when you put the case on it's side and opened it.

 

[rudeguy]

why not octogon so they are ergonomic and they dont roll?

 

[bockchow]

i don't think a square can would work well in a vending machine

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: Jhill
Is it because a round can is easier to hold? Square cans would save a lot of space plus they wouldn't roll around when you put the case on it's side and opened it.

The can they've designed is stronger structurally.


A box puses the forces DOWN.

The cyllinder with that smaller top pushes the forces applied from top in an angled vector. reinforment then transfers that energy in a downward vetor



*takes off nerdy classes.......it's easier to hold

 

[Spoooon]

A cylinder can hold more per unit material used for the container than a squarish shape?

 

[Jhill]

Originally posted by: rudeguy
why not octogon so they are ergonomic and they dont roll?

Because you would still lose space. With a square or rectangle can their is no wasted space.

 

[skim milk]

'm guessing... it's easier to manufacture... and cheaper... probably!

 

[iwearnosox]

Originally posted by: Jhill
Is it because a round can is easier to hold? Square cans would save a lot of space plus they wouldn't roll around when you put the case on it's side and opened it.

You smoke alot of weed, don't you?

 

[silent tone]

The closer to a spherical shape the container is, the less material(surface area) is needed to hold the same volume of beverage.

 

[ed21x]

rond cans distribute pressure more evenly in a carbonated drink. Also, circles have a smaller SA: Mass ratio, so you save on material. But square cans do sound cool though.

 

[Lithium381]

they would /stack easier too huh!

 

[Cyberian]

Originally posted by: istallion
The closer to a spherical shape the container is, the less material(surface area) is needed to hold the same volume of beverage.

OK, so how about we put beer into spherical cans?

That sounds interesting!

 

[nodoubts2k]

mmm square :beer: mmmm

 

[fjorner]

three words:

dodecahedron

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: Cyberian

Originally posted by: istallion
The closer to a spherical shape the container is, the less material(surface area) is needed to hold the same volume of beverage.

OK, so how about we put beer into spherical cans?

That sounds interesting!

Then you'd have a dozen guys at every bar attempting to navigate the bar's stoend drunk chasing their drinks.

The need a flat surface....or a least a balanced one....

 

[konichiwa]

Why doesn't[sic] beer and soda come in square cans?

Because beer and soda are three-dimensional! Har har...

 

[Jhill]

Originally posted by: iwearnosox

Originally posted by: Jhill
Is it because a round can is easier to hold? Square cans would save a lot of space plus they wouldn't roll around when you put the case on it's side and opened it.

You smoke alot of weed, don't you?

No, but I drink a lot of beer and soda.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Originally posted by: ed21x
rond cans distribute pressure more evenly in a carbonated drink. Also, circles have a smaller SA: Mass ratio, so you save on material. But square cans do sound cool though.

I vote for this as being the most important. A square can made of aluminum of the thickness used today does not want to be round under pressure. You could make the can much stronger by using heavier gauge material, but that is hardly cost effective.

 

[kranky]

The weight of the can is a really big deal to the bottlers (canners).

I remember reading a story a couple years ago where Coca-Cola would pay $10 million for a can design that is just 5% lighter yet as strong and as manufacturable as the one in use now.

 

[SagaLore]

The internal pressure from carbonation would distort the square into a round can.

 

[EyeMWing]

Do you know how fvcking hard it would be to put 6 pack rings around squares?

 

[huey1124]

using aluminum of same thickness and strength, the edges of a square-can can pose potential problems. with that much pressure inside, you can easily bust open a can by hitting one of the edges with other cans. also, i would imagine the edges will be somewhat sharp.

also, all the drink holders in cars come in circles.

 

[jadinolf]

Originally posted by: fritolays
'm guessing... it's easier to manufacture... and cheaper... probably!

That would be my guess too.

 

[OREOSpeedwagon]

because square cans would look funny as hell

 

[Nebor]

I couldn't imagine it being very easy to make a square can.