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mechanical or electrical/electronic engineering?

mechanical or electrical/electronic engineering?

mechanical or electrical/electronic engineering?

(OP)
Hello!

What is the most crucial type of engineering, in order to develop a sensor? or an implantable cardiac pacemaker? or a system to measure a substance in blood? other medical devices?

ofcourse I understand that other professionals are needed, like biologists, chemists, doctors, physicists, etc, but between mechanical and electrical/electronic engineering, which is more essential?


thanks!

RE: mechanical or electrical/electronic engineering?

We make all of those sensors. It depends what your desire is. We have mech and elect engineers that understand both, and work together.
What is your desire, mech or elect? Do you have the aptitude for one?

Chris, CSWA
SolidWorks 14
ctopher's home
SolidWorks Legion

RE: mechanical or electrical/electronic engineering?

(OP)
My desire is to innovate. I don't have a specific preference for mech or elect.

It's quite surprising that mech engs make those sensors, because I 'd expect elects to make them!

RE: mechanical or electrical/electronic engineering?

At the heart of EVERY sensor is both electronics and something to package it in, particularly when it comes to biological sensors, since the electronics would not tolerate well the fluid environment of a typical body. Moreover, something like a blood pressure monitor requires an electromechanical structure that converts pressure to voltage.

TTFN
FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies

Need help writing a question or understanding a reply? forum1529: Translation Assistance for Engineers

Of course I can. I can do anything. I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!

RE: mechanical or electrical/electronic engineering?

(OP)
the package of the sensor, obviously, isn't any important as the heart of it!

as for sensors that detect chemical substances?

RE: mechanical or electrical/electronic engineering?

Quote (worldman)

the package of the sensor, obviously, isn't any important as the heart of it!
With that attitude, you will not go far in the design world. You obviously underestimate the importance of all disciplines involved.

I can only assume you are a young (and inexperienced) student...

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

RE: mechanical or electrical/electronic engineering?

MacGyverS2000,
I am worried about your comment to the OP.

Now in general I see here and in other forums a growing tendency of criticizing very quickly (jumping at very first possible occasion) new/inexperienced people. The pattern is specific and often it is finger pointing to attitude problems with sort of statement "you will go no where with that attitude".

It often happens more and more when (green) people complain about that they are uncomfortable with a boss, with a coworker, when they feel not valued etc.

Yes years of experience matter, definitely. But I am getting quite annoyed becomes its is becoming predictable harsh comments.

"If you want to acquire a knowledge or skill, read a book and practice the skill".

RE: mechanical or electrical/electronic engineering?

The OP's only other posting relates to being offered an apprenticeship, so they are, in fact, young and presumably, inexperienced. Even if, for the sake of argument, one might argue that electronics hold sway simply by virtue of being the medium through which measurements and detections are made, it's highly impolitic to lord over the very coworkers that are, in fact, critical to getting things built. The OP can take their licks here, where there's no particular dire consequence or bad atmosphere at work, or, they can take their licks in an actual work environment and suffer the consequences there.

TTFN
FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies

Need help writing a question or understanding a reply? forum1529: Translation Assistance for Engineers

Of course I can. I can do anything. I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!

RE: mechanical or electrical/electronic engineering?

True, mech and elect are equally important to make a sensor work, they work together.

Chris, CSWA
SolidWorks 14
ctopher's home
SolidWorks Legion

RE: mechanical or electrical/electronic engineering?

Is it the bread or the salami that makes the sandwich?

RE: mechanical or electrical/electronic engineering?

The peanut butter.
And the banana. 8<)


RE: mechanical or electrical/electronic engineering?

Quote (rotw)

MacGyverS2000,
I am worried about your comment to the OP.
I saw no point in waxing poetic about a subject that's pretty straightforward. The OP stated in no uncertain terms that he doesn't think the packaging matters. Tell that to the heart patient who uses a pacemaker made of toxic aluminum instead of stainless steel or titanium (metallurgy, chemistry, bio), one that uses silicon contacts that corrode away instead of gold (metallurgy and bio), a sharp-cornered design that the body creates scar tissue around instead of a smooth casing that still functions (mechanical and bio), etc. The electronics of a pacemaker are but a small part of the overall design, but every field is just as important... the device will be an abysmal failure if any are ignored. If the OP dismisses those fields out of hand as secondary, he's in for a rude awakening.

What about MEMS devices in sensors? That's more mechanical than electrical. Peristaltic pumps? Same. Microfluidic devices for blood testing, as the OP mentioned? Mechanical.

I could create a similar list with "chemical" after them all, or "bio", or, or, or...

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

RE: mechanical or electrical/electronic engineering?

If you want to "make a difference", go where your interests and abilities lead you. There is lots of space to innovate in every field and every discipline.

Your impact as an innovator will be dictated more by your personality than your education. You're either a creator or you're not.

RE: mechanical or electrical/electronic engineering?

(OP)
thanks for your replies
I may rephrase my question in order to become more understandable

what prevents us from having now a device that detects blood glucose without having to draw blood?
I doubt that an unsolved mechanical property prevents us
is it the correct signal processing? is it the correct radiation properties? not sure
but I doubt it's a mechanical problem that prevents us

RE: mechanical or electrical/electronic engineering?

A more important question: what do you know about how blood glucose is currently measured? It's easy to say something should be better without having a clue about the blood and sweat that went into getting things as far as they are today.

RE: mechanical or electrical/electronic engineering?

So, here's a good lesson to be learned for the OP. Had they asked the correct question, this thread would substantially shorter and more to the point.

"but I doubt it's a mechanical problem that prevents us"

How do you know? What is your basis for this assertion? What makes you think it's that easy to measure glucose? Do you really think that millions of people want to prick their fingers multiple times a day?

TTFN
FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies

Need help writing a question or understanding a reply? forum1529: Translation Assistance for Engineers

Of course I can. I can do anything. I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!

RE: mechanical or electrical/electronic engineering?

(OP)
I don't know much about how it is currently measured
I suppose a test strip with a reactive material comes in contact with blood, reacts with glucose and in a concentration-dependent way, this reaction changes the electrochemical properties of the reactive material, which digital signal is processed and results in the measurement of glucose

the question is, will we be capable to measure the glucose non-invasively? there are many attempts, so it seems yes
but what is the role of mechanical engineers in this technological advance? chemists may play a role, physicists may play a role, electronic engineers may play a role, but what about mechanical engineers? are they only for the packaging of the device?

RE: mechanical or electrical/electronic engineering?

worldman,
You seem to think you know about sensors already. Pick a field that interests you.
(Constructive): Practice spelling/grammar. winky smile

Chris, CSWA
SolidWorks 14
ctopher's home
SolidWorks Legion

RE: mechanical or electrical/electronic engineering?

(OP)
I would seperate a materials scientist with a biomaterials specialization, from a mechanical engineer

and I cannot see that a simple package, a box to include inside few chips is as important as the heart of the device

am I missing something?

RE: mechanical or electrical/electronic engineering?

No, you are not "missing" something, you are continually ignoring something. Without the packaging, there is no product; there's just a bunch of parts on a board. No package that small is "simple."

TTFN
FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies

Need help writing a question or understanding a reply? forum1529: Translation Assistance for Engineers

Of course I can. I can do anything. I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!

RE: mechanical or electrical/electronic engineering?

I have a VERY strong feeling a mech was involved in designing the implantable sensor for the unit IR linked to.

Initially I thought it was ignorance on the OP's part that prevented him from initially seeing the importance of the other fields... with his repeated attempts at downplaying the other fields, despite our attempts to convince him otherwise, now I'm leaning towards youthful arrogance and naiveté.

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

RE: mechanical or electrical/electronic engineering?

I was leaning toward abandoning this thread... whoops! there I go... gone...

RE: mechanical or electrical/electronic engineering?

TheTick,

You are right ...by the way I am gone too :)

"If you want to acquire a knowledge or skill, read a book and practice the skill".

RE: mechanical or electrical/electronic engineering?

(OP)
what is the role of mechanical engineering in improving the charging time and the range of an electric vehicle?

RE: mechanical or electrical/electronic engineering?

A. Designing the car.
You answered your own question. You want to be an electrical engineer.

Chris, CSWA
SolidWorks 14
ctopher's home
SolidWorks Legion

RE: mechanical or electrical/electronic engineering?

Funny, my work as a mechanical engineer rarely involves packaging. Or designing. Or materials, or stress, or structures, or manufacting for that matter. I wasn't interested in things like that.

I chose a job with loads of fluid dynamics (compressible and incompressible), heat transfer & thermo, much signal processing and control design, loads of newtonian mechanics, ODEs and PDEs. Quite a lot of simulation and programming too.

Mech would need quite a big pigeon-hole.

- Steve

RE: mechanical or electrical/electronic engineering?

Steve,
It depends on your area.
I work with mechanical engineers that have never designed a part in their life. They wouldn't know where to start.
But, they know materials and basically do what you describe.

I also work with electrical engineers that design PCB's along with test equipment/tooling.
These days having a working knowledge of a mix of disciplines helps with your future, and helps the company.

Chris, CSWA
SolidWorks 14
ctopher's home
SolidWorks Legion

RE: mechanical or electrical/electronic engineering?

Ok. My comment was made for the OP. Put in simpler words:

Please don't tell me what it is that I do with my Mech Eng degree. You'd be surprised.

- Steve

RE: mechanical or electrical/electronic engineering?

OP, again, ASK the right question, and save yourself needless diversions.

You continue to ask questions about ME components of electronics, which is NOT the right question. MEs play critical part of the overall efficiency of an electric car, and it's not just only about the battery. If that's the way you think about systems, you and your company will fail miserably. Systems are always compromises between critical requirements. CFD, as mentioned above plays a critical role in lowering the aerodynamic drag of the vehicle, and the ability of the car's thermal controls to keep the batteries and equipment from overheating. An efficient "packaging" job means there's more room for more battery. A better "package" means the battery could take less room and be more efficient in volume and weight. Efficiency in the drive train determines how much power is consumed per mile, regardless of how efficient the battery is.

TTFN
FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies

Need help writing a question or understanding a reply? forum1529: Translation Assistance for Engineers

Of course I can. I can do anything. I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!

RE: mechanical or electrical/electronic engineering?

Save yourself the trouble and go electrical. You seem to be trying to find faults with mechanical engineering so just don't become one.

RE: mechanical or electrical/electronic engineering?

To find faults, he'd first have to acknowledge that ME's do anything other than make boxes.

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