/r/MechanicalEngineer

Photograph via snooOG

A community for those that practice the broad discipline of mechanical engineering.

Welcome

This a community for all things related to engineering, especially those dedicated to the broad definition of mechanical engineering.

This is a community where we can share the things we find interesting or relevant to the discipline.

This is a place where we can come together to help solve problems or answer questions that we may be struggling with.


Rules

  • Questions / Inquiries : When posting questions please be sure to keep them in-line with what this subreddit is about. No questions that would be better geared towards a car mechanic or a technician. I know we all want to help solve problems but these questions don't really belong here.

  • Submitting White Papers / Research Posts: When posting white papers or research articles please be sure to provide a link that leads to the actual report or paper. No posting of articles behind paywalls.

  • No advertising allowed

  • No Spamming


Related Subreddits

General Engineering
Chemical Engineers
Bio Engineers
Civil Engineers
Aerospace Engineers
Engineering Students
Computer Science Ask Engineers
Ask Science
Thermodynamics

/r/MechanicalEngineer

20,343 Subscribers

3

Any Recommendations for Training Courses?

Hello fellow MechE's! I graduated last May and immediately started a job at a major petrochemical company as a discipline engineer in my site's capital projects group. I've been learning a lot but I still feel like the learning curve is quite steep and much of what I have learned is tribal knowledge. Does anyone have any recommendations for good training courses that I can attend? I would prefer in person because I learn better that way. I am able to travel within the US for training, so location is not a major factor for me. Thank you for any input you have!

5 Comments
2025/01/30
15:48 UTC

1

Siemens Nx fem and sim

Hello

I have a project related to Siemens NX FEM. Who can help me with this?

1 Comment
2025/01/29
15:19 UTC

1

Final Year Project

Can u guys suggest me final year project for mechanical engineering like simple 3D print products invention or something similar

4 Comments
2025/01/27
04:28 UTC

4

mechanical engineering challenges

I am a mechanical engineering student and project leader in our mechanical club. Our club is organizing a Mechanical Day under the theme 'Connected Mechanics: Where Technology Meets Ingenuity.' During this event, other mechanical clubs from across our country will participate, and we plan to organize a hackathon. In this hackathon, we will present a problem, give participants one hour to think of a solution, and have them present it.

Currently, I am looking for a problem related to this theme—whether it's solving an issue in a mechanical system, optimizing a design, or a challenge that pushes us as engineers. I would greatly appreciate your ideas if possible. Thank you!

2 Comments
2025/01/25
19:49 UTC

2

Do you have any tips on decoupling an electric pneumatic pump from its chassis? The product is like a portable battery powered bicycle pump but only has to pump to 10 psi. We are trying to make the unit very quiet since it will be used in the house (not garage).

It's a consumer product and price target is less than $60 retail.

The pump's rpm fluctuates between 9,000 and 12,000 rpm depending on the pneumatic demand. It's a diaphragm piston pump connected to an electric motor. The vibration comes from the piston moving back and forth. It's an off-the-shelf pump unit (pump plus motor) and we cannot alter it. It weighs about 2 oz (57 grams).

The chassis is plastic injection molded and is about 6" x 6" x 3" in size. It can be nearly 100% sealed but needs a small hole for the air pump's air intake. Cooling is not an issue since it is a very low duty-cycle usage.

2 Comments
2025/01/25
17:04 UTC

2

About materials science

I'm a first-year m.e student and i'm interested in learning about materials science but I don't know where or how to start. Books, videos, practical problems and anything else that might help is appreciated, thank you!

3 Comments
2025/01/25
00:14 UTC

3

Resume

I have applied to hundreds of job in the current market and didn’t get a single interview. I tailor every resume for each job requirements. Please I need help. I’m a mechanical engineer who just graduated.

5 Comments
2025/01/21
06:49 UTC

3

Validating hydraulic cylinder output

I’m looking for a way to physically validate the type of force that a hydraulic cylinder is outputting. The hydraulic cylinder is effectively retracting to compress two molds together. I was planning on putting a donut load cell on the end of the hydraulic shaft to verify the load on the molds. I’m running into an issue where the force I’ve calculated (and thru hole necessary) is on the high end of load cell capabilities making things a little more difficult to source.

  1. Is there a better way to achieve this?

  2. Can someone maybe verify my calculations? I’m seeing 3000 psi max on the hydraulics. The cylinder bore diameter is 7”, shaft is 2.5”. The biggest force I’ll see is on extension, at about 115,000 lbs. So I’d need a load cell capable of 115k lbs correct?

3 Comments
2025/01/21
00:00 UTC

30

Am I underpaid or am I delusional? BSME, 15yr experience, just barely cleared $88k in 2024 - SE PA

I do basic ME stuff, nothing fancy or ground breaking.

Grad yr 2014 at 30yo, but was working as an ME designer prior to that without a degree. Boss told me to get a degree so I did.

I've been at this current job of 6 going on 7 years now with zero advancement in roll and I'm just trying to gauge where I am supposed to be in life right now.

48 Comments
2025/01/16
21:14 UTC

2

standard for static compression test with punch

So, I was looking for some standard procedure for my test. I wanted to compress a rigid plastic with a punch so it would leave a trace on its surface and then increase the amount of displacement on other regions of the same plastic so that I could use it as a lab part for my Ultrasonic testing. but I couldn't find any related standard for it. I mostly just want to figure out if I have to put something under my plastic plate or not. like another plate with a hole in it and a diameter as same as my punch or should I just fill it?

2 Comments
2025/01/16
09:21 UTC

0

Common Softwares Used as MechEng

Hello po. I am currently preparing for the August ME board exam. While waiting po, gusto ko po magaral ng mga softwares na commonly ginagamit ng mga ME. Can you recommend some po and also describe your line of work(+ saan po kayo nagtatrabaho if pede lang po). Thank you po!

2 Comments
2025/01/16
06:48 UTC

3

Me doing Bluetooth Control of Soft Robotic Octopus

0 Comments
2025/01/15
06:51 UTC

0

Hydraulic cylinder Interview prep help 🥺 pls

Hi everyone,

I'm a mechanical engineer I recently received an opportunity for an interview for mechanical engineer at a hydraulic cylinder manufacturing firm from USA, the interview is with the director of engineering

I have close to 2.5 yrs of exp in design manufacturing and troubleshooting systems

I have studied but I wanna be more prepared Can you please please provide some technical questions?

Thanks in advance

3 Comments
2025/01/14
19:32 UTC

1

Helpful Advice Please?

Thank you for reading. I am 18 and in the middle of a mechanical engineering transfer program. I don’t know if I wanna do engineering or a 2 year engineering technician program. I’m not in any debt right now, and probably would graduate with bachelors degree with maybe 10-15k in debt. I can do school, I’m smart, but I hate spending all day inside and would love to start living and working and traveling and working on a house and family.
I don’t mind working with my hands, I have experience as a maintenance intern and a bobcat (heavy duty) shop-hand and everything in between. I just don’t know if spending 2.5 more years in school is gonna be good for me.

This is technically the second semester of my college career but dual enrollment helped me enough so that I’m taking engineering courses and calc 2&3 this semester.

MAINLY, what jobs do engineering techs do? I can’t find specific info or salary’s or anything

1 Comment
2025/01/14
02:15 UTC

0

I NEED HELP

4 Comments
2025/01/13
11:21 UTC

0

Plastic Help 😫

What type of plastic is this and where can I can it?

Firm but flexible

9 Comments
2025/01/12
19:21 UTC

5

Starter books, no degree, career change

Hello,

33F, no degree, thinking about a change in careers.

Not sure if I am mathematically inclined but I am interested in finding out.

Can someone recommend me a good book to start out with?

8 Comments
2025/01/11
23:55 UTC

0

My life has been a lie I’m almost in uni help 😭😭😭

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DELU3GgSNNj/?igsh=MWo3aDZ4bWxvdHFkag==

I’m a high school senior that has already been accepted to multiple Mechanical Engineering programs because I love the idea of designing cars and NOW I find out that all my researching and advice has been a LIE???? Transportation or Industrial Design is what it’s really called and CAD is just a small part of it??? I was going to do Mechanical instead of Automotive so I don’t limit my career options but what I’m not even in arts wtf 😭

HELP ME OUT PLEASE. 🙏

10 Comments
2025/01/11
20:39 UTC

4

For anyone looking into the formlabs 4L SLA printer!

0 Comments
2025/01/11
01:07 UTC

8

Mechanical engineer struggling; need some advice

Hello. I am a 25 yr old mechanical engineer and I just need some advice on what I can do to help myself.

A little context on me: I live in the 5 boroughs of NY. I graduated with a mechanical engineering degree in 2021 and I found a job working as an entry level HVAC/Mechanical engineer at a company. My starting salary was $60k and since I had nothing else lined up, I just took the job. Over the years I have really grown to dislike this field because it’s really hard to enjoy what you’re doing when you’re not making any good money. I also just don’t particularly like HVAC or anything construction related. After working at this company for close to 4 years now my salary is at $89k.

The issue that I’m having is that I literally cannot find anything other than HVAC/fire protection positions in this area. There is literally nothing. I’ve talked to so many recruiters and they all only offer positions in those fields. I feel very stuck because I have really grown to dislike this field and I want to do something else within engineering but I have no idea where to look or what positions I can even chase after.

I am open to using my degree to work in anything else other than design construction but I just don’t really know what to do at this point. Like I said, I feel very stuck. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you.

tldr; my mechanical engineering job pays me shit and I can’t find anything outside this field of work where I live. Need advice

7 Comments
2025/01/09
17:37 UTC

14

What percent of time do you actually do design and engineering?

Guys, what percent of your time do you actually get to do what you like? I work for an industrial hardware company and probably spend just ~50% of my time doing actual design and engineering. For the other 50%, I myself busy with rather boring things like:

  1. Coordinating with so many other teams. Sometimes Procurement finds a new manufacturer and wants me to get on a call with them. Or Quality finds an anomaly in the production batch and wants to check if the deviation is acceptable. I constantly find myself emailing or getting on calls for such things and honestly it is a little frustrating.
  2. I spend a lot of time finding manufacturers who can make sample parts and prototypes during the design phase. Even after finding one, I need to constantly follow up with them only to realize that they are not going to deliver on time.
  3. My manager is pretty strict about having every detail updated in PLM. We use Windchill and not only the CAD files and drawings, but all test reports and datasheets are needed to be saved there as well.

I'm curious if this is the case at other companies also and if folks here have a similar experience. FYI, I am grateful for my job as it provides me an opportunity to work on new projects and learn along the way, but I just feel having more time to design and engineer would be even more fun.

12 Comments
2025/01/09
12:20 UTC

0

What are my options after BEng(hons)-Mechanical Engineering?

What are my options after BEng(hons)-Mechanical Engineering?

2 Comments
2025/01/08
06:41 UTC

2

Undergraduate technichal design course. (Need help understanding shaft-hole fits &tollerences)

if my tables are separate and they dont have letter&numbers together; I have one table that gives me the tolerance IT1-IT18 and I have a second table with the letters A-ZC (and another table for shafts a-zc),
how would I do the calculation?
for example if I have the tolerance 100M6g7, then I have IT6 = 22, IT7 = 35, and I have the letters M for hole = -13 , g for shaft = -12.
so from what I understand the letters tell me where the tolerance is applied in relation to the nominal diameter, (additionally, I understand they have reversed directions/order for holes and shafts.). whereas, the number tells me the tolerance to apply
so for my example:
hole: I would start at (100-0.013) 99.987 and then find the max and min by adding and subtracting 0.022
=>> min = 99.965, max = 100.009
shaft: I

I have a strong feeling that this is completely wrong. I'm struggling to understand this. if anyone can help I would greatly appreciate it thank you in advance!

6 Comments
2025/01/06
17:44 UTC

0

Invitation to join

Hi guys, i have created this community for people who works in the manufacturing industry or just curious in Paint Booth. We all face challenges to in our day to day work life. This community can provide good discussion platform for people we are interested this topic. Either you are planning to buy one or currently operate and recently purchased one or you are an expert in this field. This community can provide common ground to share knowledge and help each other. r/Paintboothdiscussions

0 Comments
2025/01/04
22:44 UTC

2

Chartership application word count advice

Hi everyone!

I’ve been putting off my chartership application as I started a new role in October 2023, and wanted to get enough experience under my belt so that my application and interview would include recent information.

I’m in the process of updating my draft, and have currently finished writing for 3 out of 5 competencies. Anyway, all 3 of these are currently above the suggested word count by around 6%.

My question is, has anyone had experience of submitting an application over the 2000 word limit? I really cannot cut anything else out without removing valid examples or deleting pertinent detail.

Based on my current draft I would assume my finished draft will be in the region of 2150 words.

Does anyone know if this will be acceptable? Have any of you gotten away with this previously?

For info, the guidance on the UK IMechE website says ‘around’ 2000 words.

Thanks in advance for your help!

3 Comments
2025/01/03
22:17 UTC

2

Company recommendations to intern at

I am mech engineering student from India...looking to intern this summer at a company that is related to the field.can anyone please help? I am looking for companies both in India and abroad...can anyone please give suggestions on which companies I can apply to

1 Comment
2025/01/03
05:01 UTC

5

I Wrote a Guide to Simulation in Python with SimPy

Hi folks,

I wrote a guide on discrete-event simulation with SimPy, designed to help you learn how to build simulations using Python. Kind of like the official documentation but on steroids.

I have used SimPy personally in my own career for over a decade, it was central in helping me build a pretty successful engineering career. Discrete-event simulation is useful for modelling real world industrial systems such as factories, mines, railways, etc.

My latest venture is teaching others all about this.

If you do get the guide, I’d really appreciate any feedback you have. Feel free to drop your thoughts here in the thread or DM me directly!

Here’s the link to get the guide: https://simulation.teachem.digital/free-simulation-in-python-guide

For full transparency, why do I ask for your email?

Well I’m working on a full course following on from my previous Udemy course on Python. This new course will be all about real-world modelling and simulation with SimPy, and I’d love to send you keep you in the loop via email. If you found the guide helpful you would might be interested in the course. That said, you’re completely free to hit “unsubscribe” after the guide arrives if you prefer.

0 Comments
2025/01/02
22:02 UTC

0

Is it possible to learn mechanical engineering with VR application that could simulate university workshop and industry-level machinery, allowing you to operate it like in real life, while learning all theoretical knowledge through online courses?

3 Comments
2024/12/30
12:46 UTC

2

Help with Drawnings standard

Hello everyone, I'm from Brazil and I need do change some mechanical drawings from the standard here to the US, but I don't know the name of the standards. Can anyone list for me?

8 Comments
2024/12/29
23:23 UTC

6

Suggestions for additive manufacturing book for recent grad to take up 3D printing as a hobby

I have a BS in Mech Eng with about a year of work experience under my belt before my company went bust. As I'm job searching I want to dive into hobby 3D printing and just ordered a Prusa Core One.

I'm looking for any recommendations for books to get started. I want something deeper than "3D Printing For Idiots" but more practical than a additive manufacturing textbook.

Thank you

7 Comments
2024/12/26
09:02 UTC

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