Any mechanical engineers out there?

IN_'83_302 · #1 10-04-2013, 10:42 PM

I'm looking in to college courses. Just wanted to pick someones brain that is an engineer

WhiteLightning · #2 10-04-2013, 10:54 PM

Im no where near a engineer but im taking college classes and I will graduate with my hs diploma and an associates of mechanical engineering in 2016 since ill be staying back one extra year to earn my degree.

guell · #3 10-05-2013, 11:30 AM

Not there yet and a different kind of engineering. What questions ya got

IN_'83_302 · #4 10-05-2013, 12:00 PM

I'm just curious as to what the day to day responsibilities are. I know they are going to differ based on your employer. I'm wanting to do something that involves problem solving. And I constantly take broken things (ok not ALWAYS broken)apart to see how they work. I like drawing plans and stuff like that. Idk exactly what I want to ask specifically I guess lol. Just trying to see of it would be something if be interested in doing.

JZ1973 · #5 10-05-2013, 12:11 PM

My neighbor is mechanical and electrical engineer, is a shift supervisor in a cnc shop, he hates it, under utilizing his skills he says but pay is acceptable.

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WyldeChild · #6 10-05-2013, 02:34 PM

Mechanical engineers can have a wide variety of different tasks. Most of them are in charge of designing and developing the hardware side of things. Building things with CAD models they've developed, making sure things are built to spec, in charge of proper hardware materials needed for the job, making sure things don't fail. They can also be troubleshooters and diagnose problems with things.

Electrical engineers deal with the electrical side of things, obviously.

If you want to be any type of engineer, you need to be good at math. Also need to be very dedicated because it's a heavy college work load with lots of homework and difficult tests. Lots of distractions in college that can make you lose focus.

My vote is to try and take some entry level engineering classes and see if it's something that sparks your interest.

guell · #7 10-05-2013, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WyldeChild

Mechanical engineers can have a wide variety of different tasks. Most of them are in charge of designing and developing the hardware side of things. Building things with CAD models they've developed, making sure things are built to spec, in charge of proper hardware materials needed for the job, making sure things don't fail. They can also be troubleshooters and diagnose problems with things.

Electrical engineers deal with the electrical side of things, obviously.

If you want to be any type of engineer, you need to be good at math. Also need to be very dedicated because it's a heavy college work load with lots of homework and difficult tests. Lots of distractions in college that can make you lose focus.

My vote is to try and take some entry level engineering classes and see if it's something that sparks your interest.

This, you gotta enjoy math and physics to get through it.

IN_'83_302 · #8 10-05-2013, 02:50 PM

I love math and physics lol (Call me a nerd but i can live with that) Which is what peaked my interest in it. I've dabbled in electronics but not interested enough to make a career out of it. Thank you everyone that has taken time to respond I really appreciate it.

guell · #9 10-05-2013, 02:56 PM

I personally wouldnt pick electric engineering, seems like way too many people pick that. In my calc class there are 3-4 that sit around me that are going down that path.

IN_'83_302 · #10 10-05-2013, 08:22 PM

I like messing with electronics but just for fun and basic little things. Not going to make a career of it.

vulcan2000 · #11 10-08-2013, 05:50 PM

I'm in my 2nd year at Ferris State University, I'm going for Manufacturing Engineering, and I can agree on the homework. I can spend anywhere from 4-6 hrs a day doing homework on average, but I love it.

Heck just last night i spent 3.5 hrs practicing modeling and toolpathing for a mid term this morning, we had 30 mins start to finish to model a part and toolpath as if we were gonna walk down to the lab and run it on the cnc mill. I finished in 20 min with a 95% lol

Oh and in my program you can take a processing concentration and mix in half of your classes with anything of your choice (welding, electrical etc) and still get your bachelors in Manufacturing, so maybe you could find a program that has similar options so you can mix in your electrical and get a Cert for electrical but major in something else.

chi_dave · #12 10-08-2013, 06:06 PM

Mechanical Engineer? Learn AutoCAD early, you'll thank me later.

Ordinary Biker · #13 10-08-2013, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chi_dave

Mechanical Engineer? Learn AutoCAD early, you'll thank me later.

AutoCad is good, but we use Solidworks for more stuff.

vulcan2000 · #14 10-08-2013, 06:26 PM

We use Catia, I believe they are all owned by Dassault Systemes

dixie_boysles · #15 10-08-2013, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chi_dave

Mechanical Engineer? Learn AutoCAD early, you'll thank me later.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ordinary Biker

AutoCad is good, but we use Solidworks for more stuff.

I have a degree in Mechanical Drafting Technology, so I work under two mechanical engineers at Fairchild Industrial products. One is the Director of Research and Development. He is the main guy that comes up with new product that makes the company money. He is over all of engineering. That includes another r&d engineer, a Production Engineer, a Test engineer, an electrical engineer, and a few technicians and two design draftsmen (me and another guy). So as you can see he is very important and very smart. There is nothing he can't do. He is very good in the mechanical field, can design anything using SolidWorks, he can design any test and or test fixture, wire it up, etc....

You really need to think about what you want to do. I recommend a designer position myself. You can get one with a two year technical degree like mine and pay can be pretty good. I get to model in SolidWorks and SolidEdge all day. I also get to create production drawings for our assemblers to put our product together. I make drawings of component parts to be sent to vendors for parts to be cast, machined, etc....

I LOVE my job.

My job consists of creating the aforementioned drawings as well as taking care of Engineering Change request, helping to redesign parts, test fixtures, creating work instructions sheets for, help in any training for Solid Edge (our company is switching over to Solid Edge and I happen to know both)

Just really run. You have to have really good visualization skills, math skills and etc...