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Recent content by MikeMech

  1. MikeMech

    COUNTER WEIGHT

    If you can get power to A, install an appropriately sensitive tilt sensor that controls an appropriately sized motorized flywheel or similar that will produce an offsetting torque. A simple linear feedback loop. If there is no power available, a heavy weight hanging straight down and rigidly...
  2. MikeMech

    Bevels

    We have one of those rotary plate bevelers that works like a shaper, and while pricy, they put down a perfect bevel in a fraction of the time it takes to grind it. Well worth the money.
  3. MikeMech

    stainless steel

    I think Ed has a good notion with pre-heating the oil, or perhaps adding it in smaller increments more often, if possible, to reduce the thermal shock. You could pour the oil through a warming filter of some kind, sort of like an instant-on water heater. In fact I wonder if you could just rig...
  4. MikeMech

    Small Structural Consulting Firm Business Structure

    It's not the most likely thing, but you may be surprised. They might love to hear of a plan that will let them lessen their workload as time goes on, and leave their company with continuity beyond their ownership, if it comes from an employee they think has the potential to do it. Especially...
  5. MikeMech

    What makes an employee invaluable?

    Valuable employee: Make money for the owners. Make your boss and coworkers look good to TPTB (the powers that be). Make life easier, not harder, for your boss and coworkers. Have specialized, scarce knowledge valuable in your role. "I want to get fired" employee: Be dishonest, untrustworthy...
  6. MikeMech

    Christmas Bonus

    We had bonuses of 3-12 percent of annual pay, plus an hour long contest to see who could make the best zombie killing weapon out of whatever was lying around (we are a fab shop). Then we tested the weapons in the parking lot on zombie heads made of produce. Best Xmas ever.
  7. MikeMech

    Calculator of choice?

    HP has my vote. RPN is like greased lightnin'. I've used a 28s for 25 years, the same one, very durable.
  8. MikeMech

    Ropeway engineering

    You could inspect parasailing cables in the off season... Seriously, maybe there is a market here if you can show a premium reduction greater than your invoice, plus avoidance of all that pesky bad press when an accident happens. Maybe contact Lloyds of London or similar to get some info on...
  9. MikeMech

    Civil Engineer Seeks Polymath Career...OR....How to Escape PS&E

    I had a similar problem when I was about your age. Starting your own business, any kind of business, should keep you interested for a while if you can take the risk. If you are successful, you can either create new challenges by expanding or sell and get into a new endeavor with the proceeds...
  10. MikeMech

    Rail Vehicle Dynamics

    Ditto to what dhengr says...
  11. MikeMech

    Engineers on the Silver Screen and the Little Screen.........

    Of course, the Star Trek engineers of every series. owg, I still remember Scotty drinking some sort of alien robot under the table to help free the Enterprise (Mudd's Women?), and getting into a bar fight with Klingons to defend the ship's honor (Trouble with Tribbles). Also Kaylee from...
  12. MikeMech

    Certifications in demand

    Familiarity with NAVSEA welding specs and WWT requirements are much in demand right now if you are interested in getting into the manufacturing side of things. You just have to read and understand NAVSEA -248 and supporting documents, all available for free online. These documents are real...
  13. MikeMech

    Suggested Readings for Engr Students

    Many of Neville Shute's novels feature engineers or technical people as protagonists. All excellent reads. I have collected his complete works and reread them regularly. An excellent storyteller who offers insight into engineering, business, and design.
  14. MikeMech

    career decision

    Ditto to what SNORGY and corus said. Double ditto.
  15. MikeMech

    Why did you decide to become an engineer?

    Pat, Mom and Dad were right, it was a good choice. I find it much more interesting and useful to be working on problems that have solutions than philosophizing about problems that don't. But sometimes, in the wee hours, I still listen for the sound of one hand clapping...
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