As an engineer, do you spend enough time in the machine shop?
A discussion on the Machine Design Group in LinkedIN asks, “As an engineer, do you spend enough time in the machine shop?” The person posting the item listed 8 reasons why engineers should.
In my case, my past background on the shop floor has been extremely valuable in my eventually becoming a writer for publications such as American Machinist, Machine Design, and Medical Design. It is much easier to write about manufacturing/engineering and relate to people who are fabricating parts when you actually know how to use a set of manual micrometers and understand how the chip should look when the machine tool is running correctly. And knowing the basics of how to run a centerless grinder, an old screw machine, an injection-molding machine, and a CNC machine tool is priceless. Today, shops are immaculate — a good thing. But, those in the know never forget the sweet smell of cutting oil that permeates the thrilling smoky atmosphere of the old one-man machine shops and traditional factory floors.
December 15th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
Hello Leslie,
I write the Industrial Interface blog and I just want to thank you for the mention in the article this morning. I used to work as a manufacturing engineer at Titleist Golf in San Diego. I had an entire machine shop at my daily disposal, and I was always surprised at how hesitant the other engineers were to go get input and advice from the machinists. That post is one of my favorites.
I thought you might enjoy these as well.
http://industrialinterface.com/blog/category/efficiency/
This one in particular has been popular recently as funny as that may seem.
http://industrialinterface.com/blog/2009/10/05/why-every-design-engineer-should-have-a-surface-finish-scale/
Happy Holidays,
T. Brian Jones
December 18th, 2009 at 3:42 pm
Your points are well taken.
Too many design engineers not only don’t spend enough time in the shop, they also don’t solicit advice from the people who have to turn design into reality. There’s a wealth of knowledge there, and it’s free for the asking.
Today we’re graduating “engineers” who have no shop experience whatsoever. It’s a travesty. Theoretical knowledge of our profession is valuable, but at least a nodding acquaintance with its application is essential. Ou colleges let us down when these types of courses aren’t available and required.
Merry Christmas and Happy Hannukah,
Jim Tuttle
January 25th, 2010 at 4:13 pm
IT IS EXTRIMLY IMPORTANT FOR A DESIGNE ENGINEER TO SPEND TIME IN MACHINE SHOP TO GAIN KNOWLEDGE ABOUT MACHINING. DURNING MANY YEARS OF WORK, I HAVE SEEN DESIGN ENGINEERS WHO DIDN’T KNOW HOW TO USE CALIPER AND MICROMETER. THEY DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT SCREW SIZES BOTH INCH AND METRIC AND HOW TO SELECT THE RIGHT DRILL SIZE FOR IT TO SPECIFY IT IN THIER BLUE PRINTS….AND MANY OTHER SIMPLE THINGS.
I STRONGLE RECOMAND THAT EVERY DESIGNE ENGINNER VISIT MACHINE SHOP
AS MUCH AS THEY CAN AND DONT FEEL BAD ABOUT ASKING QUESTION FROM MACHINESTS. THEY WILL ANSWER YOU GLADLY.
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