So much good advice in this thread. Thank you to all who have responded.
I want a 3d printer. Whats a good cheap 3d printer to get?
So tasty…too many options and it seems to change daily, between going just hardware or getting a hardware/software combo. Cost is also a factor. It’s come down…well more like good quality is catching up to the lower cost ‘meh’ quality ones.
I’d recommend saving up a stack, and when you have that kind of money in the wing, survey the landscape…its just a rapidly developing field (look for vids of the most recent Maker’s Fair for examples)
- Unreall
MAKE Magazine’s site has a decent comparison chart of ones starting at roughly 250 or so for pre-assembled models.
Here: http://makezine.com/volume/guide-to-3d-printing-2014/
Maker’s Faire is some really really nerdy shit. And I mean that in a good way. I’ve been to one, got sucked in all day and lost track of time. I’ve always been interested in Burning Man as well, but I don’t think I can justify traveling to attend one of those things lol.
Another solid way to make connections (for civil engineers) - participate in Engineers Without Borders if your university or city has a chapter. If not, you can even start your own.
Check this out, Audi’s self drive car tops 149mph - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-29706473
It seems like this technology is coming to market very quickly.
Awesome a thread for me.
I work on the Wave Glider for Liquid Robotics:
Also, when I viewed the Knack video, I then viewed this one:
Dunno. It seems like there are a lot of caveats and these demonstrations that sound great actually are done with a lot of constraints.
In a perfect world, self-driving cars would eliminate traffic, accidents, and motor-vehicle deaths on freeways. The reward is high enough for many groups to push for developing the tech. I see it happening in Europe first (almost consistently through most of the continent), then in parts of Asia; the US would probably be very late to adopt it and even then it’d probably be in California first (or possibly Oklahoma).
if it happens in Cali they gotta do that in LA and in the Bay Area
yea it would be great in those areas, except they’d want to do a pilot test first. so most likely it would be a central cali first - probably on a smaller state road before implementing on that north/south road (1? 101?). Then once the kinks are out, it’ll go to Bay Area…but I mean this is all conjecture and won’t happen til like 2040 lol.
Jeremy Clarkson nailed it when he said there’ll never be sell driving cars, so long as there’s guys called Nigel sitting in their garden sheds thinking they can modify them to make them better.
As long as automated cars are fuck-with-able, they’re unsafe un the hands of the general public.
Nice for taking people around private property, Disneyland, airports, not on the roads though.
do you have one, or have experience with them? I’m going to buy one, but I need to do more research. I don’t want a fancy brick.
Mechanical and Metal Trades Handbook published by Europa Lehrmittal is really good reference for those doing design work.
'Gineers!
My job has taken it’s toll and I’ve decided to branch out.
Working in Aerospace has knocked me the f*ck out. I commute 1000 miles a week to do what I do and, after 6 years of long distance commuting and no hope of working in aerospace any closer to my hometown, I’m looking to transfer into civil engineering or similar.
After speaking to a few employers over the phone, it sounds like they’re happy with what I’ve done and what I’ve got, but I don’t know where in the outside engineering world I’ll fit best.
I work daily with closed Hydraulic, Pneumatic, Electrical and Air Conditioning Systems on aircraft, with experience in sheet metal and sheet metal-based design too. Repairs, modifications, digital diagnostics, list goes on. Basically, I’m expected to know systems well, but nothing more in-depth than that, which makes me think something general would be best, rather than something very specific.
There’s a lot of Civil Engineering opportunities in the North East and I’m spoiled for choice. Any idea where my kinda skills would fit best?
Sounds more like Mechanical Engineering to me than civil. You’d be good anywhere N.VA up north.
- Unreall
There’s mechanical up here too, taking on any suggestions. just wanna be closer to home!
^ I’ve thought about studying civil engineering in college myself, but ultimately decided not to attend college altogether. The whole idea of attending what is essentially high school for another 4 - 8 years does not align with me, no disrespect to anyone.
I’m an 18 year old New Yorker taking courses for welding. It’s either that or try to find any other job that does not require a college degree.
All I know about Civil Engineering is that it involves construction and buildings. :shrug:
What I’d like to know, is it possible to become an engineer without going to college?
I don’t think so. At least, not in NY
http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/pels/pelic.htm
You have to take the Fundamentals of Engineering exam jr/sr year, which is what undergrad preps you for. Even if you did learn all that stuff on your own, your state requires some combination of education and experience for which credit is awarded before you can get a license. I don’t know if it’s impossible, but it seems highly unlikely.