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mechanical engineers

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I was kinda good at math in highschool, and went into civil engineering. However, being a genius, I took a dynamics course (major component of mechanical engineering), and almost failed it. Shit is hard. Although, I didn't apply myself in college during my first year that much.
 
I work in turbine engine design. Mostly I deal with bearings, lubrication systems and seals for aircraft engines. I spend most of my day thinking about the general design, analyzing concepts and then passing the idea off to a designer who draws it up for me. After he's done his work and I can get a few pieces made I have to figure out a way to test it and decide if it meets the criteria for the engine. I like it but rely very heavily on math to do what I do.
 
I'm doing mechanical engineering. I failed pre-calculus in High School and stopped math after that but now I'm up to calculus 3 and have not had any trouble at all. The hard part so far is the physics but its also interesting. I hate chemistry labs. Statics is a cake-walk. CAD can be irritating and boring at times but when you are actually making something with it its enjoyable. C++ is interesting. Those are my experiences so far.
 
Why not Design Engineer or to a lessor extent Industrial Designer? In some of the smaller niche markets these still drive the majority of the project, using ME's only as verification step at the end.
 
hmm...the only thing this thread has done is make me think I'm not smart enough to be a mechanical engineer.

This is always the problem with me though. I find something I might like then learn something about it that turns me off to it.
 
Engineering is only difficult if you don't learn the fundamentals properly and memorize things you don't understand. You don't really know what's going on, you just know the answer to problem X, which is not what you want. Ultimately, you should try to take all seemingly difficult problems to a very fundamental level that allows you to understand what's going on. Often, that requires a pencil, paper, and a few hours of good time spent making all the connections. If you're not willing to spend the time, don't go into engineering.
 
The math is hard in college, but you will get through it.
You most advanced math you use at work is algebra and sometimes very basic calculus.
 
Originally posted by: edro
The math is hard in college, but you will get through it.
You most advanced math you use at work is algebra and sometimes very basic calculus.
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That very heavily depends on what you do. I used tons of math. Hell, I had to buy textbooks to learn more math than is offered in undergraduate programs in order to make my shit work the way I wanted it to.

I mean, I could go work for shell and be a project manager and manage things and not do any math, and plenty of people do and love it. My end goal in life is building awesome robots (honestly that's about as far as I've gotten future plans wise), and you need lots of math for that.
 
Originally posted by: wwswimming
Originally posted by: pontifex
Anyone here a mechanical engineer? Might this be a good career for someone who likes to tinker with stuff?
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yes. AND the best mechanical engineers that i've worked with also had electrical engineering experience and/or degrees.

if you're good at 'visual thinking', you would probably do well with the electromagnetics part of electrical engineering. a lot of electrical engineers i've worked with (as a mech. engineer) DETESTED vector calculus, it was complete torture for them.

i suggest taking a class in electromagnetics statics, and then time-harmonic (dynamics).
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I'm an ME student, and I've thought about ECE, but I had a harder time with my introductory E&M physics class than I would have liked. It's just not as intuitive to me, but on the other hand, I love working with computers, and analyzing circuits isn't so bad (given, I'm in the middle of this class). So I guess I'll just remain in the ME department.
 
im taking classes like Statics and strengths of materials and Dynamics, and i hate them all to the core. Humans are not calculators. i guess i hate it because its ALL hand written calc's no computers. If im allowed to use a computer i enjoy design
 
Also, at this point math is for the logic and understanding, giving intuition and insight into operation of systems. Numerical approximations and simulations are of great practical use and can now replace 'exact' calculations in many applications.

also, matlab <3
 
Originally posted by: Bignate603
Originally posted by: Eli
All of this stuff that you people do sound so badass.... Sigh...
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Only on a tech forum would anyone think doing math all day was hardcore.
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Nothing makes me feel more badass than filling a few whiteboards with complex math.
 
Originally posted by: pontifex
oh, and the community college I was looking at has what they call a career associate's degree in Mech. Engineering. How would that differ from a 4 year program?
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Most likely, the Associate's degree will get you ready for the mechanical engineering courses at a 4 year school. That's the way they're focused at the community college I just graduated from. They prepare you for the course work at the university level and get your first two years out of the way. Then you go to the university as a junior instead of a freshman. It's usually MUCH cheaper to do it that way as long as the schools have articulation agreements. (make sure of that first!)

Once upon a time, I had dreams of going back to school for a mechanical engineering degree...or preferrably a structural engineering degree...

BUT, I are math stoopid...I'm fine with "regular math, addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, decimals and fractions, etc. But, as soon as you put letters and squiggly lines in a math problem, (fuzzy math) I go blank and the problem may as well be written in some obscure Chinese dialect.

I have a beginning Algebra textbook here that I picked up at the college bookstore's "yard sale" last year. I keep saying I'm gonna teach myself algebra...but I'll be dammed if it's taking. The book is on my bookshelf less than 5 feet away, you'd think the knowledge would jump over and I'd learn by osmosis! :roll:
 
Originally posted by: BoomerD
The book is on my bookshelf less than 5 feet away, you'd think the knowledge would jump over and I'd learn by osmosis! :roll:
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That would be diffusion. 😉
 
Originally posted by: Rubycon
Originally posted by: BoomerD
The book is on my bookshelf less than 5 feet away, you'd think the knowledge would jump over and I'd learn by osmosis! :roll:
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That would be diffusion. 😉
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I figure my hard head is a "semi-permeable membrane" at best...although "the process by which molecules spread from areas of high concentratiion, to areas of low concentration" may be as good of a definition as any...:laugh: 😱
 
Originally posted by: Pollock
Originally posted by: wwswimming
Originally posted by: pontifex
Anyone here a mechanical engineer? Might this be a good career for someone who likes to tinker with stuff?
Click to expand...

yes. AND the best mechanical engineers that i've worked with also had electrical engineering experience and/or degrees.

if you're good at 'visual thinking', you would probably do well with the electromagnetics part of electrical engineering. a lot of electrical engineers i've worked with (as a mech. engineer) DETESTED vector calculus, it was complete torture for them.

i suggest taking a class in electromagnetics statics, and then time-harmonic (dynamics).
Click to expand...

I'm an ME student, and I've thought about ECE, but I had a harder time with my introductory E&M physics class than I would have liked. It's just not as intuitive to me, but on the other hand, I love working with computers, and analyzing circuits isn't so bad (given, I'm in the middle of this class). So I guess I'll just remain in the ME department.
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Both ECE and ME use the same math. If you understand one, the transition shouldn't be too difficult. Like our electron transport theory is similar to your fluid dynamics.
 
Originally posted by: Leros
Originally posted by: Eli
All of this stuff that you people do sound so badass.... Sigh...
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What do you do?
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Menial work, in comparison. I'm kinda a jack of all trades at a large jewelry manufacturer. I do quality control, shipping and receiving.. Have been taking on large projects where the company was bleeding money though, involving their previously non-existant RMA process. Lots of computer work; data analysis and entry.

I love building stuff though, and am very mechanically minded/inclined...I need more schooling to solidify it and make a career out of it though.
 
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