Mechanical Engineering

Hey guys. I have finally decided on studying mechanical engineering in school. But was wondering what you guys know on the profession. I want to get into designing performance parts and possibly open up my own company one day but a lot of the performance companies out there seem to either have been started by a racer/retired racer or experienced mechanics. Could studying mechanical engineering lead to designing performance car parts? Also could this profession lead to an understanding of engine operation and possibly engine design so that maybe I could build my own engine one day, I really wanna build my own engine but need a better understanding. If I can't open my own company I'm going to try and get a job with GM. I am truly in love with cars especially the performance sector. If you know that engineering won't lead to what I want to do, do you think that I should just go to school for automotive technology, maybe UTI because they have that HotRod U program that focuses on engine performance. Maybe I could just open up a performance shop. Not to sure. I really would appreciate help. Thanks for the posts in advance.

Mechanical Engineering is such a broad field it can go into anything. We are the unrecognized masterminds of the world today. :)

I have been a Tool maker for over 18 years and it has been interesting. Lately I have been programming more than actually getting my hands dirty. It is a lost field and one that is not flash but we are the ones who keep the world moving :)

Ah yes the forgotten people that make the shit you use.

Been working as a CNC operator and programmer for 3 years after completing a Diploma in Engineering.

Damn you graduates!!!! :smoker: I still have 1 year in my ME degree.

To answer your question...yes. In getting an ME degree you will learn all of the kinematics, dynamics, and thermodynamics(to name just a few fields that you will use) that will allow you to design the engine of your dreams. That is of course all bookwork. I guess if you already have an extensive knowlege of how an engine performs already, then you will be well on your way to discovering newer and better alternative setups.
Engines are extremely inefficient, and there is lots of room for improvement. Go for it!!

Actually, I got 3.5 years left oc school! :D

18 years on the job
2 years ME class room theroies which = shit for the most part in the real world.
ISA, SPC, ISO certified
Technical Blue Print comprehension
Drafting
CAD/CAM 3 years
2 years Robotics Engineering
Technical courses in Electrical Engineering
Technical courses in Hydrolic Engineering
3 years Technical Maths
God I hate schools now

Originally posted by Razorgtst

Hydrolic



I see enlglish was not the main focus. :D

As for me, I really want to be an engine designer fro BMW, Eventually in the "M" division. Just maybe someday, you'll see my work under the hood of an M3. :)

Porsche thats an awsome goal man, maybe one day you will be designing the engine in my future M3. Actually guys I have 2 paths to choose now. Both are in Mechanical Engineering. Here they go: If I stay in Chicago i'm going to go to a community college and get my associate in engineering and transfer to a university for my B.S.M.E., if i do that I am going to take some automotive courses as well so I can have a well rounded background with the engines so that when I get out into the world I can open up my performance parts company. Only thing is that I will have to go to a different school for the auto tech. courses cause they don't offer auto classes at the community college I will be going to, so I'd have to pay more money for those courses. If I stay in chicago I can keep my job, buy a car, and it will be cheap to go to community college. Or, I can go to Southern Illinois University in Carbondale (which I was accepted to already) and study mechanical engineering there. At there student chapter of the ASME they build a forumla SAE racer and the students get to race it and are the pit crew, so I would get a well rounded background in auto tech if I go there to. If I go here I have to quit my job, probably won't be able to get a car, and it will cost more, but I get to have the experience of going away to school and get to be on my own for once. Pretty tough decision but I will decide soon. I Would like your insight. Which one would you choose?

Originally posted by Porsche


I see enlglish was not the main focus. :D

As for me, I really want to be an engine designer fro BMW, Eventually in the "M" division. Just maybe someday, you'll see my work under the hood of an M3. :)


are we related?? that's like my main goal- to work at BMW M. preferably an engineer, or head of the whole division, either one is fine:)

If you want to start your own business, you need to aquire a lot of knowledge in many different areas including electronics and business to make your success more likely. Engineering schools can give you a good understanding of the theory but you'll need to find the practical experience yourself. After your formal training, your best experience can come from large companies that are involved in many aspects of a product.

My first job was at a company that allowed me to gain practical mechanical design experience as well as structural, welding, machining, electrical, electronic, forging and foundry experience. A lot of times mid size companies farm out the work they have no expertise in so you may not see the design aspects of these parts. Once you become familiar with product design in general, you will have the experience to start your own business on the side and grow it until it becomes your only business.

Hey CraigFL are you by any chance a mechanical engineer. I'm not 100% sure if I am going for mechanical engineering yet, because I had a bad experience with chemistry before and you need a lot of chemistry for almost all engineering. So I'm kinda thinking about a B.S. in auto tech. I know of a school with it, Southern Illinois University. I still want to go into the auto industry especially performance, but I am still a little confused.

I also wanan be an ME and I have about 3.5-4 years ahead of me. I bassically have a job waiting for me in 4 years with either Ford or ZF. I used to want to really work for Ford, but now im leaning more towards ZF because from what I heard, they seem to be a environment that suites my personality better.

I am going to be going to school to be a Civil Engineer. I would be an ME but you just get to design the cars... I build the bridges that collapse and kill the people that drive the cars you design :eek:

I will probably eventually get a degree in MEing...

Originally posted by 2cooljay
Hey CraigFL are you by any chance a mechanical engineer. I'm not 100% sure if I am going for mechanical engineering yet, because I had a bad experience with chemistry before and you need a lot of chemistry for almost all engineering. So I'm kinda thinking about a B.S. in auto tech. I know of a school with it, Southern Illinois University. I still want to go into the auto industry especially performance, but I am still a little confused.

I've been a Mechanical Engineer for 30 years now...., my own business for the last 5 years. You don't need a ME to be sucessful where you want to head but it will help. A lot of people are gifted with creativity that don't have degrees (and are very successful) as well as those that have degrees and can't remove a lug nut from their car. A smart person either trains themself or has good people they can count on.

Don't let Chemistry scare you, there's not that much required for engineering...:D

Well its not that I am scared of chemistry itself it just that I am scared of failure and letting my parents down (even though they won't be, as long as I try my hardest). But it all comes down to this summer, I am going to take a general chemistry class this summer, if I pass it, I will most definatley be going to study mechanical engineering. If I don't pass chem. I am going to get my Bachelors in auto tech/business. At least this way I learn to work on cars, learn how to open and operate a business, and get a bachelors. And if do that, I will be qualified for service manager jobs at dealerships and such, so I'm not to worried, because I have a backup plan and its one that I wouldn't mind. Or as I said before I could go to UTI because they have a great auto tech program, I would just have to take the business courses on the side. But I think that i'd rather study M.E. Well I guess life is full of many roads, but its not the journey that matters its the final destination. My destination is my own business, so it matters not what road I take but when I get there.

P.S.
CraigFL, if you don't mind me asking, what's your business? Do you make car parts, machinery etc... Thanks for the wise words. You are so right. No matter which I chose I have pretty much the same ultimate goal, so either I chose I am still going to work at one day starting my own business. Thanks

Originally posted by Porsche


I see enlglish was not the main focus. :D

As for me, I really want to be an engine designer fro BMW, Eventually in the "M" division. Just maybe someday, you'll see my work under the hood of an M3. :)

Not really neither is spelling at 5:15am when I posted that :p

Most of my work as been with a compay that subcontracted making various military parts for the US when I lived there. Currently I am in the Aluminum extrusion industry. Most of our customers are in the building industry.

Recently my firm has started to do bits and pieces for a food compay. The food dies are so small compared to the large ones I am used to working on, not to mention they are made of surgical Stainless which is not fun work with.

Its great to see so many ME majors on here, i thought i was the only one, i dunno y but it just seems like we a topic seldom talked about. This is the end of my third year, but im defintely on the 5 year plan.By the way chemistry sucks big fat hairy balls. i absolulty hate chem, i passed 1 and 2 with B's but only cause i had some help from my friends. everything else has been fun so far. Oh and who cares about "eglish" were engineers, no body said we were good at writing just crunching lots of numbers. just another thought, maybe we should create a forum for engineering students to post homework problems that are giving them a hard time. Oh and all u other guys still in college go check out the texas instruments calculator the TI-92 its a god send.

Later people

I am not exactly looking forward to the college part of it. I am sure I can hanlde it though.

I graduated last spring with an ME degree at Uni. of Delaware. It was cool, although I was leaning more towards the computer side than the hands on. It's funny because half of the people are doing research/programming etc. and the other half are doing more the hands on stuff (consulting, building shit, etc). Depending on the area you live, you have many options of where you wanna go. Currently I am working at a government contractor that builds/designs rocket engines for nasa and the military. Unfortunately, I got a ways to go knowledge-wise before I can really get into the hardcore analysis stuff. I may even go back for my masters, get that nice pay hike. Good luck to you guys who are starting out, it's quite rewarding - not just decent pay, but an accomplishment that many won't try/ fail to do. My class started with over 80 kids, I graduated with 30, most dropping out of ME, not falling behind. Have fun while your at school, it's a great experience. It breaks my heart to see those kids behind books 24/7. Find a balance, maybe extend your curriculum a year to make it a little easier. The world changes a lot when you realize all you have are 40+ hour weeks ahead of you. Sorry for rambling.

Originally posted by ricodemus
I graduated last spring with an ME degree at Uni. of Delaware. It was cool, although I was leaning more towards the computer side than the hands on. It's funny because half of the people are doing research/programming etc. and the other half are doing more the hands on stuff (consulting, building shit, etc). Depending on the area you live, you have many options of where you wanna go. Currently I am working at a government contractor that builds/designs rocket engines for nasa and the military. Unfortunately, I got a ways to go knowledge-wise before I can really get into the hardcore analysis stuff. I may even go back for my masters, get that nice pay hike. Good luck to you guys who are starting out, it's quite rewarding - not just decent pay, but an accomplishment that many won't try/ fail to do. My class started with over 80 kids, I graduated with 30, most dropping out of ME, not falling behind. Have fun while your at school, it's a great experience. It breaks my heart to see those kids behind books 24/7. Find a balance, maybe extend your curriculum a year to make it a little easier. The world changes a lot when you realize all you have are 40+ hour weeks ahead of you. Sorry for rambling.

Thanks for commenting, it kinda made me think :licker:

Remember, D is for diploma.:D Which is pretty much my grades at my shaft-tastic school. :(

Yeah, all I need is to "get by". I don't think good grades are required to engineer Ice cream spoons :p

In my school D means "Don't come back". We can't advance unless we have a C or better. I've been looking around at jobs, and it seems really hard to get a good job unless you have a 3.0 or better anyway... :( so close....so close...

Originally posted by CraigFL


A lot of people are gifted with creativity that don't have degrees (and are very successful)



Don't let Chemistry scare you, there's not that much required for engineering...:D


1. I am fairly gifted you could say, but need a way to expand (School is very limiting mechanics-wise)

2. Thank-god, chemistry is not bad, but I wouldn't want to have to do sometihng big on it.

3. Hermunn123, I guess we must be related! :D I had originally been a harcore Porsche fan (See name), then realized I didn't want to be a pure-sportscar type guy, it's great fun, but you must look at the possibilites.

My plan will start with either GM or Ford, sometihng like that, make an impression, get a rep and move to BMW, then become more race-focused, maybe even doing a bit of it, to become inspired and make sure that "M' only gets the best ideas and designs.

Originally posted by PART
Oh and all u other guys still in college go check out the texas instruments calculator the TI-92 its a god send.

Way ahead of you on that one. I picked one up last year. I will probably be using it this fall when I start college. I too plan on majoring in Mechanical Engineering. I have been accepted to Kettering but it costs so much and is far from home. I don't know if I am going to go there and I don't have much time left to make my decision. My parents don't want me to get in a lot of debt from college. Why can't college be free for all students????

Man I am jealous. Everyone here seems so focused on M.E. I would love to do it but am still very confused. All I think about is how much money I can make. I will be set on M.E. and then I will see a Ferrari on the street and then I will start to look at business as a major. All I want out of life is a Ferrari. Don't care about anything else. Just want a Ferrari and only way to get one is to get a job that can makes lots of cash. How are you guys able to stay focused? Please, I am in need of serious help, I don't have much longer to decide on what to do in school because deadlines are already lapsing. I need direction.

Originally posted by 2cooljay
All I want out of life is a Ferrari. Don't care about anything else. Just want a Ferrari and only way to get one is to get a job that can makes lots of cash.

That is exactly, and I mean exactly the same thing that I am thinking about.

Same for me. I will stop at nothing. I WILL own one. Even if it has to be a 208, I will have one...:grey:

Originally posted by 2cooljay
Just want a Ferrari and only way to get one is to get a job that can makes lots of cash.


you're in the wrong profession if you do engineering for the money. Engineers can make GOOD money, especially for a starting salary, but you're not making BIG money unless you have a doctorate and are grossly overpaid. If you want Ferrari money, you gotta do something that deals with money, ie business. Engineers are usually known for as simple people that make a good living, but will never own the proverbial house on the top of the hill. DON'T, and I mean DON'T go into engineering for the money. You will probably end up unhappy. Do something you really do love and at least you will be happy. Realize that you have to do this type of job for many years, it may not be worth the paycheck if you don't enjoy it. If you want to do something just to be rich, be a lawyer or a financial advisor or something. I dragged my ass through 4 years of school just thinking about the money. When it was time to get a job, none of them out there looked interesting at all. Luckily, I ended up finding a decent job that I enjoy when I'm not bored out of my mind. Some of my friends from school got cool jobs, some of them got bullshit jobs just to get by. Either way, none of us are going to be driving Ferrari's without more schooling and a shitload of luck. The only thing I got going for me is I can say I'm a rocket scientist, which the chicks dig :p .

Nice point. I am going into Mech. Eng. because I LOVE mechanical systems and stuff. Of course I suck at math but that will have to be an obstacle to overcome. :( :) Ever since I was young I have been good with legos and things. I took apart a phone when I was 4 and put it back together. I can do that stuff. I want to do it for a living because I love it.

Originally posted by ricodemus



you're in the wrong profession if you do engineering for the money. Engineers can make GOOD money, especially for a starting salary, but you're not making BIG money unless you have a doctorate and are grossly overpaid. If you want Ferrari money, you gotta do something that deals with money, ie business. Engineers are usually known for as simple people that make a good living, but will never own the proverbial house on the top of the hill. DON'T, and I mean DON'T go into engineering for the money. You will probably end up unhappy. Do something you really do love and at least you will be happy. Realize that you have to do this type of job for many years, it may not be worth the paycheck if you don't enjoy it. If you want to do something just to be rich, be a lawyer or a financial advisor or something. I dragged my ass through 4 years of school just thinking about the money. When it was time to get a job, none of them out there looked interesting at all. Luckily, I ended up finding a decent job that I enjoy when I'm not bored out of my mind. Some of my friends from school got cool jobs, some of them got bullshit jobs just to get by. Either way, none of us are going to be driving Ferrari's without more schooling and a shitload of luck. The only thing I got going for me is I can say I'm a rocket scientist, which the chicks dig :p .

well actually, since I can't afford to go to a 4 year yet, I'm going to go to community college. This works out great, because they have engineering courses and business courses, I plan on taking both so I will be able to find out which one of the 2 I like more, and I will be able to save some cash. Everyone keeps telling me that its normal to be confused this time in your life and that I shouldn't worry to much because I will eventually find what I like.

P.S.
This morning on the way to work I saw a black 360 Modena. I was happy all day. Let me just tell you that was just more fuel for my fire.

What's better than a black Modena? A Black Modena Spider!:eek: :)

Originally posted by ricodemus



you're in the wrong profession if you do engineering for the money. Engineers can make GOOD money, especially for a starting salary, but you're not making BIG money unless you have a doctorate and are grossly overpaid. If you want Ferrari money, you gotta do something that deals with money, ie business. Engineers are usually known for as simple people that make a good living, but will never own the proverbial house on the top of the hill. DON'T, and I mean DON'T go into engineering for the money. You will probably end up unhappy. Do something you really do love and at least you will be happy. Realize that you have to do this type of job for many years, it may not be worth the paycheck if you don't enjoy it. .

This is essentially true if you consider "engineering" to be the "design" engineer position-- the guy who does all the calculations and basic designs for a product. A lot of people who were trained as engineers went on to bigger and better things. There are a lot of engineers who move on to project management as well as general management. I started as that design engineer and went thought the chain and worked my way up to VP and Director jobs for Billion $$ companies. Skills I learned through the ranks allowed me to grow my business by five times in the last five years without adding any additional people. The most satisfaction for me comes from running my own business.

Having a general knowledge of engineering and how things work allows you an opportunity to extend into other areas of business and make more money. You may not be using all of your Engineering background owning your own business but I look at it as the dues I paid to get here. You still can(and do) incorporate your engineering knowledge in your day to day work.

Just out of curiosity what did you graduate with (GPA). I am looking at graduating with a 2.8 or so. Is that enough to get a good job?? I would love to go to Lockheed Martin in Dallas, they just got the contract to build the new fighter jet. (drool) If I can't get my GPA up I might stay behind after I could graduate and take a few classes over to get the grade I need. I have never failed a class, but just have a lot of C's. Plus i took all of my easy classes as a community college and the grades didn't transfer, just the credit for the class.

ME is so interesting to me but then automotive design is also.
I mean helping design the interior/exterior of a car and then seeing on the road...i must get that feeling. But hten again the feel of hearing the engine you helped design race down the streert is the same satifaction..
I can't decide either, also automotive design is so hard to get into..sheesh:confused:

I used to be able to draw cars reall good but now I am getting worse. It looks ok in the begining but then it starts to look messed up in the end. Do you think anyone of you could help on AIM with advice or links. THanks!

AIM sn: SinisterSavior07

Originally posted by Razorgtst
18 years on the job
2 years ME class room theroies which = shit for the most part in the real world.
ISA, SPC, ISO certified
Technical Blue Print comprehension
Drafting
CAD/CAM 3 years
2 years Robotics Engineering
Technical courses in Electrical Engineering
Technical courses in Hydrolic Engineering
3 years Technical Maths
God I hate schools now

You're like my ex-wife, WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO GET SERIOUS, except for the 18 years on the job part. She went to so many schools but never did anything with the knowledge!

I just felt like dropping a few lines. My only knowledge of the various fields of engineering are through my experiences with my boyfriend, who will be graduating shortly as an electrical engineer. While he's pursing his EE studies, and not mechanical, as merely an intern his career goals are already proving to be lucrative. It takes quite a bit of hard work, and he'll be working on his MBA in about four years (he wants to take two years off to become well-established in the field and start a family. If anyone enjoys the field, I'd strongly suggest checking into it, despite the horrors of Chemistry (the only college course I failed).

Good luck to everyone! :licker:

Originally posted by DantesInferno
If anyone enjoys the field, I'd strongly suggest checking into it, despite the horrors of Chemistry (the only college course I failed).

Good luck to everyone! :licker: [/B]

My son just graduated this past June with a degree in Chemistry. He's torn between doing research, going to grad school or becoming a proffesional rock guitarist. As a parent I hope he goes to grad school, BUT being a rock star would be cool too, I could retire and become a roadie, tune guitars and drive the bus!

I start my adventure in ME this fall, scares the crap out of me.

I know I probably sound like a loser, but I was going for Civil Engineering and was in Chem II and Cal I when I decided that I would just go for a two year drafting program. I just need time to think, I mean don't think that I am a loser and took the easy way out. I am just going to use this as something to get started in. I plan on re-entering for architecture or maybe engineering again. I just jumped off the deep end a little early and didn't even think it through. Chem beat me with a stick, I was ok with the Cal. part but geez ChemII...

What made it worse was since it was a summer course and was only for 5 weeks, when a regular term class is like what 10 weeks?

Originally posted by 91HBSi
I know I probably sound like a loser, but I was going for Civil Engineering and was in Chem II and Cal I when I decided that I would just go for a two year drafting program. I just need time to think, I mean don't think that I am a loser and took the easy way out. I am just going to use this as something to get started in. I plan on re-entering for architecture or maybe engineering again. I just jumped off the deep end a little early and didn't even think it through. Chem beat me with a stick, I was ok with the Cal. part but geez ChemII...

What made it worse was since it was a summer course and was only for 5 weeks, when a regular term class is like what 10 weeks?

You are not a loser, not at all. If anything, I think you're far ahead of many of your peers. Many people, when they found themselves in the thick of something they weren't really enjoying, would stick with it, at the sacrifice of their happiness. You, on the other hand, recognized how you were handling where you were, and rethought a plan of action. That above all, is commendable. When you came face-to-face with a hurdle, you found another way to achieve what you really want. That makes all the difference.

Good luck in your endeavors. :)

yo dont feel bad at all man, the classes engineering students take are by no means easy, but y should they be, after all if they were everybody would be in some sort of engineering. off subject sorry. neway it took me two years to get past certian unmentionable classes and sometimes its just better to take it slow. But if engineering is really waht u want to do stick with it. i finally got over the hump and am happily on my way to graduation in june 2003. i even made the deans list last spring. GO 3.75 neway dont let people talk down to u, there are as many chances in life as u need. stick with it

ern

Originally posted by 91HBSi
I know I probably sound like a loser, but I was going for Civil Engineering and was in Chem II and Cal I when I decided that I would just go for a two year drafting program. I just need time to think, I mean don't think that I am a loser and took the easy way out. I am just going to use this as something to get started in. I plan on re-entering for architecture or maybe engineering again. I just jumped off the deep end a little early and didn't even think it through. Chem beat me with a stick, I was ok with the Cal. part but geez ChemII...

What made it worse was since it was a summer course and was only for 5 weeks, when a regular term class is like what 10 weeks?

Please don't put yourself down if something is not for you. My son was a natural at Chemistry. All the math, chemistry and physics classes came easy for him, ironically, biology was his least favorite science class. You need to think about what you want to pursue that will make you comfortable and happy. One of my son's classmate blew up the lab and made the TV news! She was really lucky no one was seriously hurt! I myself was a business major because that's what my parents wanted me to do, but the Vietnam war cut that short and maybe it was for the best as my heart really wasn't into the studies. The pool hall and surfing before classes probably had a bit influence on me too! Good luck and follow your own dreams.

Cool, lots of engineering types here. I want to do Mech. Engineering also, figured I could play with all that cool thermodynamics and such.

Physics = teh cool.

Wow. I must be weird. I want to make the cheapest, longest lasting car in the world. like under 10 cents a mile for all costs. I have several years to go on my degree as well. I've worked engineering, auto service and repair and some sales, so i guess that counts towards something. I've made it a point to work in as many auto fields as possible before i get my degree, and you may want to do the same. Studying the auto from as many directions as you can will help immensly. You'll need the experience to have confidence in your abilities as a company founder. I too will have my own engineering company, so I've tried to learn as much as my brain will allow about cars.

Originally posted by DantesInferno


You are not a loser, not at all. If anything, I think you're far ahead of many of your peers. Many people, when they found themselves in the thick of something they weren't really enjoying, would stick with it, at the sacrifice of their happiness. You, on the other hand, recognized how you were handling where you were, and rethought a plan of action. That above all, is commendable. When you came face-to-face with a hurdle, you found another way to achieve what you really want. That makes all the difference.

Good luck in your endeavors. :)

Thanks for the encouraging words ;)

Oh and PART, see the thing is I didn't really want to be an engineer. My heart has always been set on architecture, but since engineering had higher pay I figured that I would just do that since it didn't really appear to be much different than architecture. I wasn't really doing it for the money, but since it was related and payed more then, in my mind, there was no point in going for architecture.

Nice one man, i was set on architecture for a long while. But now im off to Uni in September to do a masters in Automotive Engineering. Cant wait for Uni life. :)

Originally posted by snowboarder
I start my adventure in ME this fall, scares the crap out of me.

Me too man. I don't know how hard it is going to be. Here is what I am taking. I am going to a local community college, then in 2 years transfering to Tennessee Technological University.

1. Calculus
2. Chemistry
3. Composition
4. Engineering Graphics
5. Tennis (have to take a P.E. class)

total of 16 credit hours. Should equal a lot of late nights.

Hey Raging Bull what school are u going to for ur masters ?

might as well add my 2 cents:
im going to UMass Amherst, College of Engineering, for....well....duh, Engineering.

YEah that's apobut it, i really dont know what to expect, toehr than math sucking because i have to retake precalc because my HS math teacher was a complete moron so tehrefore i failed the class and learned nothing.

Yeah, so... fun fun!