Mechanical Engineering

[2cooljay]

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.

[MBTN]

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

[RazorGTR]

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

[tazdev]

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.

[Pikachoo]

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!!

[MBTN]

Actually, I got 3.5 years left oc school!

[RazorGTR]

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

[Porsche]

Originally posted by Razorgtst

Hydrolic

I see enlglish was not the main focus.

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.

[2cooljay]

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?

[hermunn123]

Originally posted by Porsche


I see enlglish was not the main focus.

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

[CraigFL]

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.

[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.

[Psman32@af]

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.

[91HBSi]

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

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

[CraigFL]

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...