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WhatÆs the more adequate engineering? (help me to chose)
5

WhatÆs the more adequate engineering? (help me to chose)

WhatÆs the more adequate engineering? (help me to chose)

(OP)
I am a student who has six days to decide which course to go, but it seems that the more I research the more confuse I get, due to the many options available.

What I want to learn is electronic / electromechanical physics (aerodynamics income etc.), ( want to learn all that i need to build electrical machines(ex electric car), or car's computers.. etc)

With this in mind my main options are:
Mechanical engineering.
Mechatronics.
Electromechanical engineering.
Electrical engineering.
Electronic Engineering.

Could be recommended any of the prior art in view of what I want to learn? thanks  

RE: WhatÆs the more adequate engineering? (help me to chose)

Sorry stukafr, your question is a bit unclear - or at least what you want to learn is.

I'm not clear what 'aerodynamics income' is or how it is directly related to electronics/electromechanical physics.

Like wise, wanting to learn all that you need to build electrical machines is a lofty goal.  Most complex 'machines' involve a team of folks from different specialties.

Also, your options overlap and may mean different things different places.

My understanding is that Mechatronics is the continental European name for ElectroMechanical engineering.

Simplistically in the UK electrical engineering was the big stuff, while electronics was small stuff - PCBs etc.  In the US I've usually seen both referred to as Electrical.

If you want to get a more rounded/general purpose degree maybe mechatronics/electromechanical will get you part way there.  However, some aerospace & systems type degrees may do the same.  Unfortunately different places call the same thing different names and vice versa.

Where are you planning to study?

Posting guidelines FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm? (probably not aimed specifically at you)
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?

RE: WhatÆs the more adequate engineering? (help me to chose)

'aerodynamics income' = "High Income"
He is only interested in making lots of money.

RE: WhatÆs the more adequate engineering? (help me to chose)

No, aerodynamics money = blowin' in the wind.   

RE: WhatÆs the more adequate engineering? (help me to chose)

(OP)
Thanks for the reply KENAT!
I used google traductor for the word "income"(so i didnt mind "mony income"(and i missed a coma)).

I going to study in Portugal, about what you said of studing to many things you are right, those kind of projects must be made in teams.

What i realy want to learn is electral/electronics (eg. to idealize the circuts of a car)and the necessary Fisics to study the efficiency of a electric motor and build one.

That's why i thing i need electrical engineering but also a litle bit of mechanical engineering.

One of the reasons why i dont chose mechanical engineering is learning some disciplines that i dont realy need like thermodynamics.

Thats for the help again!

RE: WhatÆs the more adequate engineering? (help me to chose)

I think you answered your own question.
Double major:
Electrical Engineering, minor Mechanical engineering.
Good luck.

Chris
SolidWorks 10 SP5.0
ctopher's home
SolidWorks Legion

RE: WhatÆs the more adequate engineering? (help me to chose)

Ctopher, I'm not sure Portugal's Education system works the same as the US, certainly the UK's doesn't.  OP may not be able to major in one subject and minor in another.  Closest to achieving same would probably be Mechatronics/Electromechanical.

stukafr - I'd look closely at the syllabus/course descriptions for electrical, electronics and electromechanical/mechatronics and if at all possible contact folks at the university to ask.

Due to the language and education system differences it may be difficult for folks from the US or elsewhere to be sure we're telling you the right thing.

Posting guidelines FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm? (probably not aimed specifically at you)
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?

RE: WhatÆs the more adequate engineering? (help me to chose)

I would recommend electric engineering, or something similar, if the vehicles electrical architecture (power distribution) is what you are interested in.

I do electronic packaging (junction boxes)for automotive, and spend my day driving the development of printed circuit boards, and the plastic parts to house them.  We work closely with the harness and connector engineers, and even have a high power group for the heavy gage electonics used in hybird vehcles.  And although I have a mechanical degree, most of my peers are electrical.  I would have been much better off with an EE degree, but of course I did not anticipate where I would end up down the road.    

We also have a lot of hardware engineers.  We are working more and more with JB's that are programmable, and some that are solid state (no removable components such as fuses/relays).  If computers are your thing, I am not sure what to advise.  Our hardware engineers spend the day programming and de-bugging software, for our JB's as well as key fobs.

I did study electric motors in mechanical engineering, but I didnt get much out of it.   

RE: WhatÆs the more adequate engineering? (help me to chose)

In the US, some schools offer "mechatronics" which attempts to blend electronics, software, user interfaces, and mechanisms: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechatronics.  However, obviously, a course in something like that will limit how much you can learn about any given discipline.  The more diversity you add to your curriculum, the less depth you'll have.

TTFN

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RE: WhatÆs the more adequate engineering? (help me to chose)

Do you know where you're going more specifically than a country?

Most universities have counseling to help you decide exactly what you are trying to decide.

RE: WhatÆs the more adequate engineering? (help me to chose)

In US. thermodynamics is part of core courses common to all engineering disciplines, no avoiding it.

RE: WhatÆs the more adequate engineering? (help me to chose)

"thermodynamics is part of core courses common to all engineering disciplines"

It wasn't for, my EE.

That said, I've had to learn sufficient heat transfer to do simple problems.  I think that if not Thermo, then you'll need a heat transfer course.  One of the biggest constraints on almost all modern electronic systems is the removal of heat, "no avoiding it."

TTFN

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RE: WhatÆs the more adequate engineering? (help me to chose)

Thermo was initially required for me, but the semester after I took it they decided it wasn't... I still have nightmares about that teacher.

Dan - Owner
http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

RE: WhatÆs the more adequate engineering? (help me to chose)

Go mechanical.  It will teach you much of the core classes required for EE.   

RE: WhatÆs the more adequate engineering? (help me to chose)

Also, I know of a few people with BSEE's who still can not pass the FE, much less the PE.  I passed both on first try.

RE: WhatÆs the more adequate engineering? (help me to chose)

2
Like the others say.
Mechatronics Engineering

peace
Fe

RE: WhatÆs the more adequate engineering? (help me to chose)

If you want a challenging path, go Electrical.

If you want an easy path, go Mechanical.
pokelol

 

______________________________________________________________________________
This is normally the space where people post something insightful.

RE: WhatÆs the more adequate engineering? (help me to chose)

Go with one of the classical engineering degree plans: electrical, mechanical, civil, or chemical.  The others are valid degree plans but not highly or widely recognized yet thus will not benefit you as much.

I took thermo and have used it in the past.  I also took fluid dynamics, heat transfer, statics, dynamics, and strength of materials and been thankful for those, too.  There were some upper level ME and ChemE courses I wished I'd taken and could have used in industry.  Just because you lack interest doesn't mean you shouldn't be interested.  Life is very dynamic and you don't know what you'll be doing twenty years from now.  Or ten years, for that matter.

RE: WhatÆs the more adequate engineering? (help me to chose)

2
If you wantg to get a charge out of life - Electrical;

If you want to get pumped up for life - Mechanical;

If you want to have some structure to your life - Structural;

If you want some dirt in your life - Geotechnical;

If you want a wondererful glowing live - Nuclear;

If you want some movement in your life - Transportation.

You see, the answer is in what YOU want out of life, really.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

 

RE: WhatÆs the more adequate engineering? (help me to chose)

Beautifully said by msquared48.

cheers

peace
Fe

RE: WhatÆs the more adequate engineering? (help me to chose)

To be honest, exactly what you do at university doesnt matteras much as you think as long as it is in the general field that you are looking for.

A degree is not going to teach you 'everything you need to know to design an electric car' a large amount of that you are going to have to learn on the job.

A degree cannot teach you everything because:

The syllabus is set at the begining of the year so what you learn is at least 1 year out of date.

They do not have time to teach you every angle of every facet of your chosen professions that would take many more years than anyone would want to spend at university.

They cant properly teach you how these things are used and how they are built and how they can go wrong, understanding these comes with experience.

What a degree will give you is the foundation for life long learning.

RE: WhatÆs the more adequate engineering? (help me to chose)

While I don't recommend buying this book: http://www.johnnybunko.com/, the gist of the book is that there is no "plan" that you can create for your life.  As suggested by many authors on the subject of war, the battle "plan"s often the first casualty of battle.  So, theoretically, there is no "best" major, or discipline, for anyone.  

I had planned on being an EE in 7th grade, and graduated with BSEE thinking I would be designing microprocessor ICs.  But, life took nearly an immediate turn, resulting in no chips, or portions thereof, designed, and actually very little of my degree exercised.  Nonetheless, pay is good, job is reasonably fulfilling.

Likewise, you should go with your desires, but the reality at the other end of the college process may steer you in a totally different direction.

TTFN

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RE: WhatÆs the more adequate engineering? (help me to chose)

Here is my 2 cents.

If you are really just looking at making money go get a finance degree. But if you really want to do Engineering here is what I have found.

Everyone (management especially) looks at a mechanical device and thinks,  anybody could have done that, I could have done that, its not that hard, why should I be paying this guy so much.

Everyone looks at a black box that is controlling the device and they say.  look at that voodoo magic box I don't understand.  I better throw money at the guys who can make that work because I know I can't.

There are some personality aspects to consider as well.  I just don't fit in with electrical engineers when we all go to the bar.

 

RE: WhatÆs the more adequate engineering? (help me to chose)

Really, gad?  A quality ME impresses me... they come up with unique cams (trying to design a locking cam myself, right now, and I can't quite solve all of the problems with it... I bet an ME would draw up a sketch of a good one in 15 seconds).  A basic CAD jockey, not so much, as I can do that.

Maybe it's because I'm seeing it from the other side of the septic tank, but I don't think software/hardware guys get the respect we should.  It's invisible, and few understand the thought involved to make it work without fail, like expecting the gas pedal in your car to get you somewhere without thinking twice about the myriad of parts in the engine working together to accomplish that goal.  At best, the customer is merely content something works as it should... at worst, the customer is outraged a bug wasn't found until it hit their hands.

Dan - Owner
http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

RE: WhatÆs the more adequate engineering? (help me to chose)

I completely dissagree with gadkinsj.
The persons who don't give respect are the type that don't respect everyone....

I can give many examples in this regard

peace
Fe

RE: WhatÆs the more adequate engineering? (help me to chose)

Gadkins:

If that is true, then why are Mechanicals and Electricals listed on the net as the most likely to find jobs?  Mechanicals are currently more in demand than Electricals.  

If I were you, I'd quit complaining and be proud of the profession you have chosen.  

Cheers.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

 

RE: WhatÆs the more adequate engineering? (help me to chose)

Actually, that electronic black box and everything inside may have been designed by Mechanical Engineers.  That is my bread and butter.  I tell the EEs that it all looks good in the lab on bread boards, but when it comes time to package the electronics it become more difficult, which is where the ME comes in, designing everything from the CCA out to the box.  It becomes more of a challenge if an 18 year old will take that box out to some god forsaken place and then on top of that his/her life may depend on that black box working without a hitch.  Theories used from a ME's repertoire are Heat Transfer, Dynamics, Material, and Structural.

Tobalcane
"If you avoid failure, you also avoid success."
"Luck is where preparation meets opportunity"  

RE: WhatÆs the more adequate engineering? (help me to chose)

All disciplines have their place and sometimes we all have to work in the same sandbox.  It's a great profession regardless of the chosen discipline.

RE: WhatÆs the more adequate engineering? (help me to chose)

I made one overgeneralized comment about  my personal situation and I've become a Mech Engineer hater in 8 posts or less? \

My best professor told me that an Engineer can do for a buck what anyone else can do for 2.

I'm commenting to general perceptions I have noted with people that I personally work at.  For comparison it is a fortune 100 company and I work in an engineering department with about 140 people and we are just a small subset of the engineering organization.  We are currently trying to hire 7 Electrical engineers who don't mind some travel and can program PLC's. But have all the Mechs we can stomach.  

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