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53 comments

  • EVILDR235
    A man once went to work for Thomas Edison. He asked Mr.Edison what are the rules while working here ? Mr. Edison replied, there are no rules, we need to get some work done. Probably a BS story, but it has some truth in it.

    Jose.
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  • Cubslover
    quote:Originally posted by KX500
    Speaking as a Mechanical Engineer who has worked with countless other Engineers, I will admit that most engineers are a pain in the butt - I wouldn't go as high as 99% though, maybe just 60%.

    Getting through Engineering school is a good thing, but it isn't easy. And when you get out of school, you should have the tools it takes to be a good engineer, but most are going to have zero experience using those tools in the real world. And then the most common way to acquire the rest of what you need to know is 'OJT'. Sometimes that works out well, sometimes it doesn't. Really depends on the company and their understanding of engineers.

    Honestly, the best engineers I ever knew were (poor)farm boys, gear heads or guys who'd had some exposure to a machinist. These guys all had some experience, in addition to college, with how mechanical stuff works, how it fails, why and how to fix it - prior to becoming an engineer.

    The worst engineers I ever knew were those who had zero mechanical aptitude, prior to becoming an engineer. They were simply good at math and physics. They had some of the best tools a college education can give. But college can't show you how to use those tools.

    But I will say that Engineers as a whole would love to develop and provide the most robust, excellent, state of the art, part-piece-machine-thingy ever made.

    But then all of the constraints get thrown into the mix and you end up with something that works - just barely.

    Oh and then there is the pressure to get things done on time, in budget. You will, or someone else will. And if you don't, your services may not be needed - and it doesn't matter if you were dealt a loosing hand to begin with. You're an engineer, you can handle it.

    In my experience, very much a 'what have you done for me lately' profession.




    ditto

    In my field it's always easiest to blame what you don't understand.

    And that's typically my poop that gets blamed.
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  • gearheaddad
    I'm in the fastener business. Screws, nuts, bolts, etc.(40+ years)
    I've had my experiences with engineers, both good and bad.
    There are tons of "standard" fasteners, and some engineers seem to enjoy inventing new ones for simple non-critical type applications.
    Even if a fastener isn't a standard, there are various ways from simple to complex to produce them. Complicated parts can take weeks or months longer to produce and they tend to be considerably more expensive.
    My favorite engineers are the ones that would involve us in the design process, and ask some "what if" and "how about" questions......Before "invent-a-screw" is specified in a design and it takes an act of congress to make a small change.
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  • Mr. Perfect
    90% of the engineers I have worked with were highly competent and excellent problem solvers. I guess there are some bad ones out there tainting the pool, but not IME.
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  • fugawe
    After 38 years in the motorcycle/ATV industry I swore I was going to start a consulting company to prevent bad/stupid/overcomplicated designs. I would simply walk around behind design engineers with a short piece of 2x4 and when I caught one creating a bad design.......POW! Wrong, try again!
    I would spend most of my time at Polaris. Some of their ideas would make me say "You started with a clean sheet of paper and THIS is what you came up with?" I swore that every Polaris ATV was designed by seven engineers who had never met each other.
    Honda was bad in the mid 80's. I think that their philosophy was 'Never build anything out of one part that can be built out of ten'.
    They learned by the early 90's that simpler was better.
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  • grumpygy
    Last year Dec I did around 30 Drawing with Quotes for him. If after one year they are not purchased we throw away the hard copies. I threw away around 30.

    Today got a drawing from him He made up angles these cannot be produced that way. Threads he called out for 10-32 NC. Not sure if you know what a drawn hole is but he wants it in Sch 80 pipe. We have some big presses but they cannot handle that. Just the amount of Machining he wants will drive the cost to high for him to buy it.

    Not even quoting this one. We did send some examples to him of a different design that is affordable and will work. Hope he likes it.
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  • Horse Plains Drifter
    And being 10-32 is NF, not NC.
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  • grumpygy
    quote:Originally posted by Horse Plains Drifter
    And being 10-32 is NF, not NC.


    I know that is why I brought it up.
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  • gearheaddad
    quote:Originally posted by grumpygy
    quote:Originally posted by Horse Plains Drifter
    And being 10-32 is NF, not NC.


    I know that is why I brought it up.

    Did he even put what class? 2B or 3B or?
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  • Mr. Perfect
    quote:Originally posted by gearheaddad
    quote:Originally posted by grumpygy
    quote:Originally posted by Horse Plains Drifter
    And being 10-32 is NF, not NC.


    I know that is why I brought it up.

    Did he even put what class? 2B or 3B or?
    Be lucky to get class 1.
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  • dog1944
    I spent 5 years working 3rd shift in a machine shop while I got my ME
    degree, I learned a lot in both places
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  • grumpygy
    quote:Originally posted by gearheaddad
    quote:Originally posted by grumpygy
    quote:Originally posted by Horse Plains Drifter
    And being 10-32 is NF, not NC.


    I know that is why I brought it up.

    Did he even put what class? 2B or 3B or?


    He did but not sure right now what he put.
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  • redneckandy
    An engineer is someone who will walk past five hot blondes just to fu@k a mechanic.[;)]
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  • 11b6r
    There are different engineers-

    Chemical Engineers- you need to pour some alcohol in them to get them started.

    Mechanical Engineers- need to wind them up first.

    Electrical Engineers- cattle prod usually works.

    Civil Engineers- most of them are- if you whack them a few times with a chunk of rebar
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  • Horse Plains Drifter
    quote:Originally posted by redneckandy
    An engineer is someone who will walk past five hot blondes just to fu@k a mechanic.[;)]
    [:D][:D]Lot of truth to that! Reminds me of my current project I got goin' on. I'll post some pics.
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  • gearheaddad
    quote:Originally posted by grumpygy
    quote:Originally posted by gearheaddad
    quote:Originally posted by grumpygy
    quote:Originally posted by Horse Plains Drifter
    And being 10-32 is NF, not NC.


    I know that is why I brought it up.

    Did he even put what class? 2B or 3B or?


    He did but not sure right now what he put.

    He lost all credibility with 10-32 UNC, huh?
    I get it!
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  • Don McManus
    quote:Originally posted by gearheaddad
    quote:Originally posted by grumpygy
    quote:Originally posted by Horse Plains Drifter
    And being 10-32 is NF, not NC.


    I know that is why I brought it up.

    Did he even put what class? 2B or 3B or?


    IMO, put a fit tolerance on a 10-32 tapped hole is ridiculous unless (I would imagine) you are designing aircraft.

    This is where new engineers develop a reputation for over-thinking, or a least over-defining things.

    This goes for most other things as well. Overly tight tolerances, and overly defined fits and finishes either cost money or are ignored. Unless working at the margins of material strengths or specific applications were due to loading, speeds, etc., one can usually specify manufacturing to easily achieve tolerances and simple and fast machining or fabrication practices.

    Not everything needs the precision of a Swiss Watch.
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  • 11b6r
    "Measure with a micrometer
    Mark it with a grease pencil
    Cut it with an axe
    Pound to fit
    Paint to match"


    Brought to you by the Engineers of the US Army!

    Essayons! [:p]
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  • grumpygy
    He changed his mind. We sent two Examples for him to see. One we would guaranty to work. One the tube Sidewall was way to close to the bolt hole. Each bolt used head would ride on this weld.

    The one that will not work is the one he wants. Made sure to let every one know when he starts sending them back cause the bolt do not sit right do not come talk to me. They will order around 2000 of these. The flanges need to be Ordered from China and we would order 2500 on the 1st order. For some reason I see us eating these special flanges.
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  • He Dog
    I cannot count the number of non-functional, engineer designed life support systems I rebuilt or replaced with the help of a plumber. If you are dealing with an engineer, you are screwed.
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  • Mr. Perfect
    quote:Originally posted by grumpygy
    He changed his mind. We sent two Examples for him to see. One we would guaranty to work. One the tube Sidewall was way to close to the bolt hole. Each bolt used head would ride on this weld.

    The one that will not work is the one he wants. Made sure to let every one know when he starts sending them back cause the bolt do not sit right do not come talk to me. They will order around 2000 of these. The flanges need to be Ordered from China and we would order 2500 on the 1st order. For some reason I see us eating these special flanges.
    Don't you have quality sign off on prints before production? Have them reject the design.
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  • grumpygy
    quote:Originally posted by Mr. Perfect
    quote:Originally posted by grumpygy
    He changed his mind. We sent two Examples for him to see. One we would guaranty to work. One the tube Sidewall was way to close to the bolt hole. Each bolt used head would ride on this weld.

    The one that will not work is the one he wants. Made sure to let every one know when he starts sending them back cause the bolt do not sit right do not come talk to me. They will order around 2000 of these. The flanges need to be Ordered from China and we would order 2500 on the 1st order. For some reason I see us eating these special flanges.
    Don't you have quality sign off on prints before production? Have them reject the design.


    We do but it seems these guys never have to sign theirs and I'm the only one in the company that ever saves a signed copy. Sales as soon as its sold throws theirs away.
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