1358Views14Replies
What are some resources I can utilize to teach myself the basics of engineering and mechanics?
Being adept in this kind of thing certainly gives one an edge in innovation by a wider range of what is physically possible to create. I am currently a high school student with no intention of earning a formal degree in mechanical engineering in the future, however, I do take a keen interest in it and would love to become knowledgeable enough to successfully, safely, integrate it into my inventions. I'm wondering how many of you actually have a background in this field and if not, how did you manage to teach yourself?
Comments
Best Answer 9 years ago
I gained most of my engineering knowledge from my father (an old time steam engineer) Also doing practical projects with varying success when younger.
Reading practical thinks (magazines abound even on line) and making models something I still do today.
http://www.animatedengines.com/
http://www.homemodelenginemachinist.com/index.php
http://www.john-tom.com/html/Engines.html
http://www.nativeaccess.com/allabout/index.html
http://www.popularmechanics.com/
http://www.google.com/search?tbo=p&tbm=bks&q=Popular+mechanics&tbs=,bkv:f,bkt:m&num=10
http://durealeyes.com/
http://www.ministeam.com/acatalog/Bohm_Stirling_Engines_and_Kits.html
http://www.jjjtrain.com/vms/library.html
http://www.diyfixit.co.uk/
http://www.mekanizmalar.com/index.html
http://herff.com/wordpress/?cat=12
http://www.lowtechmagazine.com/2010/03/history-of-human-powered-cranes.html
http://books.google.com/ebooks?id=vOhIAAAAMAAJ
Enough already! The information is out there :-)
Read - Try - Do
Best way to learn anything.
Answer 9 years ago
What abundance. Thank you very much!
Answer 9 years ago
best answer :-) ?
9 years ago
check http://anengineersaspect.blogspot.com/search/label/Top%2025%20Lists and read section 15. It's a lot of free educational resources. I received AutoCAD and Autodesk Inventor for free by being a student, and taught myself the programs. There are plenty of good books out there, but I find experimenting on your own or with somebody else works best. I have had the privilege of being around engineers for a large portion of my life, and I'm now an engineering student at my local vocational school.
Taking apart everything mechanical in sight is a pretty good start as well. It's best to know how to put them back together though.
9 years ago
Do you mean the theroretical basic of engineering, which is highly mathematical, or a sense of mechanism ? Most degrees don't seem to offer a sense of what's possible, or what has been achieved. Old engineerng books are a great resource - I picked up a lovely set of books on mechanisms from a remaindered book store in the USA on a visit a couple of years ago.
Or do you mean the practical basis ? Like hand skills ? These are MUCH easier to find if you can get to one of the hacker spaces that are springing up everywhere.
Steve
Answer 9 years ago
I think one would need to know varying amounts of all, but from my current vantage point and desired purposing I think mechanism and hand skills are my priorities with just enough theory to prevent setting my house on fire...
9 years ago
Follow this thread to observe and learn how a problem is resoled
in a technical group.
A
Answer 9 years ago
I believe that Im over 3 times your age one of my daughters is a building stress engineer another a doctor.
For mechanics engineering and simple programing I recommend using
Lego mindstorm to model concepts as I do for clients and entertain my
grand children.
I built the picture robot to teach kids how sensors work on catching a ball.
Have Fun at whatever you do !
A
Answer 9 years ago
Thank you!
9 years ago
First you must learn to change a flat tire on a Ford at night.
A
Answer 9 years ago
Any Ford in particular?
Changing an exhaust with no ramps / jacks / other facilities can be a challenge...
L
Answer 9 years ago
I need to know if she uses her hands or looks ?
I knew a lovely girl who car pooled daily with her dad and two others to
Chicago back and forth, forth and back, until a..... flat tire !
The men who could change the tire, retired to a coffee shack. Soon a
young man would appear and change the flat for the lovely daughter.
Afterwards the car pool with good tires, finished in the suburb as always.
Then, I will endeavour to show her the tao of life she seeks.
A
9 years ago
Speaking only for myself:
I have no formal background in this area.
I have some extremely basic knowledge that I have picked up by learning it when I needed it -- mostly, enough to have a sense of what might be possible and what isn't, and enough to discuss what I need with someone who has the deeper knowledge when I need to ask for assistance.
Part of the art of inventing is knowing how to break a problem down into parts that someone else can make for you. Part of the business of inventing is figuring out how to hire them -- and in general how to do your experimenting without going broke. Among other things, the expert will generally find a way to do what you need better and less expensively (in production) than you would as a tinkerer.
Learn what you can of what you need -- but also learn when to say "this is something which I either need to learn properly or farm out to someone who has learned it properly."
Answer 9 years ago
Great advice. Thank you.