EEVblog-Like Forum for Mechanical Engineering?

[wraper]

Electronics does not rely on CNC or mechanical engineering to the same extent - by a long chalk (if at all).  IF you were to completely eliminate any and all references to mechanical engineering and CNC from the EEVblog, the impact would be very limited and discussions on a wide range of topics would be completely unaffected.

LOL, you cannot build finished device without involving mechanical engineering. I consider electronics a bit more than spewing out bare PCBs.

[Simon]

it's quite hard to plan holes on a cast box with draft angles without 3D cad that can then spit out a drawing for machining on a home mill.

[tpowell1830]

I think I would quite like to see some form of mechanical engineering I’m especially interested in rapid prototyping 3D Printing and CNC milling for circuit boards etc. Been questions I have wanted to post but wanted to avoid taking the other forum section off topic.  I know Dave Jones had an interest in CNC for a while didn’t he have a milling machine in his store.  Oh we’ll cannot please everyone all the time and there is just not enough hour in the day.

My best regards to everyone on the forum

We all know failed electronics engineers become software engineers
I’m a failed electronics engineers so mechanical engineering looks like the next step for me

Chris

If you're saying that mechanical engineering is a step down from electronics engineering, you are badly mistaken.

However, CNC machining is not the only aspect of mechanical engineering. When I did mechanical engineering, some of the problems that had to be overcome were mostly in unknown territory. Many MEs run into this situation on a daily basis and gladly work through the problem. This was the draw for me to mechanical engineering. Just to be clear, I have worked as a machinist as well and understand the fundamental problems regarding making parts of any kind.

Yes, that's right, I am one of the old goats that have done everything, as someone said. I have not done everything, but I will continue to expand as needed to complete my tasks. I am 64 and still chasing nirvana in the technology field. I think everyone should try it out, I love the fact that I have been able to do so many different types of jobs.

Back to the question at hand, I can understand if Dave does not want his forum to diverge into areas where he is not expert and to stick to his field. However, one thread devoted to mechanical issues related to electronics would be in order, IMHO. I have always said that problems with electronic assemblies are usually from mechanical problems (outside of bad electrical/electronic designs, of course). This could be an area where members could throw out those pesky ME problems for help and discussion.

One other point that I would make is that there are many discussions/threads here that are so far from electronics that even Dave would admit is not even technical. OHHH politics...

Lastly, I also request a perma thread here and allow members to get those type of discussions started. I, for one, would participate as a semi-expert as well as ask questions like a novice. There are many more things that I haven't done than I have done (which is always my outlook on learning).

Just my 2 cents...

[Brumby]

There's nothing more frustrating after spending $2000 on a prototype 8L PCB with impedance control and HDI, and another $2000 on a custom made CNC enclosure, only to find a stupid connector won't fit.

You print your design on a 1:1 scale. Find a cardboard that is about 1.6mm thick, farnell boxes are sometimes like that. Glue the paper on the cardboard. Cut it out. Make a x mark on TH components with . Place components on the cardboard. Try connectors, if you can reach it, have space for fingers,  it doesn't feel wrong, sticks out enough, etc.
99% of the time it works. I've saved a lot of prototypes with this technique.

+1 for the mechanical section. It is as important to electronics as software and firmware.

Cardboard Aided Design.   

I've done this myself.  I still have the original pieces from a project I did in 1993.

It wasn't absolutely necessary - but it was helpful.

[gamalot]

Usually I use Autodesk Inventor for mechanical design, and I would like to learn Solidworks once I have the time. 

[cdev]

I take it one step farther and actually make a box out of cardboard. I'm embarrassed to say that often that ends up being the case. But often it does work well enough to just leave something in one. Plus its cheap.

There's nothing more frustrating after spending $2000 on a prototype 8L PCB with impedance control and HDI, and another $2000 on a custom made CNC enclosure, only to find a stupid connector won't fit.

You print your design on a 1:1 scale. Find a cardboard that is about 1.6mm thick, farnell boxes are sometimes like that. Glue the paper on the cardboard. Cut it out. Make a x mark on TH components with . Place components on the cardboard. Try connectors, if you can reach it, have space for fingers,  it doesn't feel wrong, sticks out enough, etc.
99% of the time it works. I've saved a lot of prototypes with this technique.

+1 for the mechanical section. It is as important to electronics as software and firmware.

Cardboard Aided Design.   

I've done this myself.  I still have the original pieces from a project I did in 1993.

It wasn't absolutely necessary - but it was helpful.

[Neomys Sapiens]

We all know failed electronics engineers become software engineers
I’m a failed electronics engineers so mechanical engineering looks like the next step for me

Ein MASCHINENBAUER ist ein Landwirt mit einem selbstfahrenden Arbeitsgeraet!

[jonovid]

« on: January 22, 2018, 05:59:06 AM »
The title says it all. I know about Hackaday and Thingiverse, but they don't exactly have the same feel. What other fourms do you recommend for mechanical engineering stuff?

eevblog could diversify into other disciplines of engineering , as in mechanical engineering
but each and every new engineering discipline forum/blog would require its own set of forum moderators in that engineering discipline.
in order to fully understand the forum posts.  keep it all in control  .

[wraper]

« on: January 22, 2018, 05:59:06 AM »
The title says it all. I know about Hackaday and Thingiverse, but they don't exactly have the same feel. What other fourms do you recommend for mechanical engineering stuff?

eevblog could diversify into other disciplines of engineering , as in mechanical engineering
but each and every new engineering discipline forum/blog would require its own set of forum moderators in that engineering discipline.
in order to fully understand the forum posts.  keep it all in control  .

This forum is basically self moderating. There are no moderators watching after specific topics.

[LaserSteve]

What? No GAD Program ?  Gad is great that it works across all disciplines of engineering without any additional program modules or added expense...   Graphite Aided Design, the drawing course required of all students when I was a student in the college of engineering.  Next year's class after me got CAD.  CAD class was so much easier.. 

I would like to see an integrated ME forum or Section on EEVBLOG... +1

Steve

[Brumby]

Would that be the MEVblog sub-forum, then?


(I can see some particle physicists interested in the name, though.)

[Galenbo]

I think EE and ME are very related, and don't believe in people who believe in the full separation of knowledge between the two.
At the same time, both of them touch mounting, biology, math, Cad design, sales, chemistry etc...

But for 1 forum, I do believe in the separation, an EE-ME forum/site would evolve to a "general engineering" forum, missing the technical specifics of both disciplines.