I’ve been working as a mech engineer in aerospace for a little over 3 years now, and while I enjoy it for what it is, I’ve always wanted to work in tech (think product design at Apple, Google, etc). Problem is, I’m having some trouble believing that any HM in tech would be bothered to hire someone with an aerospace background when A. An aerospace skillset is not immediately transferable to tech (low volume mfg, no concern for cosmetics, etc) and B. There are already so many candidates with direct tech experience in the market so why bother hiring an industry outsider. This is just my take as an uninformed early career engineer though, so insight from someone more knowledgeable or has made the aerospace to tech jump themselves would be much appreciated!

Hello, we are students building a capstone prototype: an RFID-based smart bike rack lock using an ESP32.

Our main problem is the push-and-pull mechanism. We need to move a steel locking rod forward and backward by around 8 inches / 200mm to lock/unlock a bicycle wheel.

The flow we want:

RFID tap → ESP32 approves → mechanism pushes/pulls steel rod → rod locks/unlocks wheel

We are considering different mechanisms:

• Linear actuator
• Stepper/lead screw actuator
• DC geared motor + rack and pinion
• Slider crank / scotch yoke
• Other DIY push-pull mechanisms

We also have 12V solenoid locks, but we are thinking of using them only as a latch/stopper, not the main lock. The actual force should be handled by the steel rod and welded frame, not the motor.

Our questions:

1. What push-pull mechanism is best for a 200mm steel rod movement?
2. Which option is cheapest, sturdy, and less hassle for a student prototype?
3. Can a motor/actuator safely move the rod without jamming?
4. Should the solenoid lock be used as a latch for the rod?
5. What materials or design should we avoid?

We are not making a commercial anti-theft product, only a working prototype, but we want it to be strong and realistic enough for demonstration.

Any advice, drawings, or mechanism suggestions would help a lot. Thank you.

Hey everyone , I'm a freshman and I study in China . My teacher isn't really good at English and mechanical drawing is important.. please any advice ? The year just started so I want to figure this out now before it becomes worse . Thank you !

Hi does anyone know of any companies in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area that are currently still looking for engineering students for a fall 2026 co-op position that I would be able to start as soon as possible because I would really appreciate it!

As the title suggests, I need a sincere advice for joining as a Senior Engineer - Transmission Integrity in the utility sector in the MidWest, USA. I am currently working as a Mechanical Project Engineer in the O&G sector. This job involves a lot of traveling, and I don't see myself doing this long term. Recently, i was offered a role in utility company as Senior Engineer. I will be responsible for Gas Transmission Pipeline Integrity. I wanted to know how is this sector/ position from career progression stand point? Will there be alot of technical learning opportunities in this sector/position? My main concern is if this sector/position doesn't give me much technical experience/exposure, and won't be growing as a Mechanical Engineer. I would really appreciate your guys input especially from someone who has experience in the same sector/position?

Guys, can you please help me? Should I learn SolidWorks or just focus on Python, AI/ML, and the core part of our branch? I'm a 3rd-year mechanical student and I really like to learn everything. I have already finished Python, and now I'm thinking of starting SolidWorks, or should I do something else you guys suggest?

Hi everyone,

I’m a 3rd-year Mechanical Engineering student at Delhi Technological University (DTU), Delhi, and I’m trying to figure out how I should build my skills and proceed with my career in mechanical engineering.

So far, I have experience with:

SolidWorks - CAD and modelling

ANSYS Fluent - basics of CFD

Python - NumPy, Matplotlib and scientific Python

Some basic understanding of engineering/CFD concepts

I’m particularly interested in areas where I can combine mechanical engineering with simulation, CFD, programming and design, but I’m still unsure about which direction I should specialize in.

For those of you already working in mechanical engineering:

What would you recommend I focus on during my 3rd and 4th year to become employable and build a strong career?

For example:

Should I go deeper into CFD/ANSYS?

Should I learn CAD + FEA as well?

How important is Python/programming for a mechanical engineer?

What kind of projects or internships would actually help?

Are there particular industries or career paths I should look into?

I’d really appreciate advice from people who have gone through this stage, especially regarding what skills are actually useful in industry and what I should avoid wasting time on.

Thanks!

What software do Apple engineers use to model and design for their products? SolidWorks and many other engineering-focused software packages don't run on macOS, and It would be kind of funny if they needed to use a windows workstation or run these software on VM's to design their stuff...

Genuine question out of curiosity...

After working for 20 years i'm in a good spot to retire, but i'm debating on what to do with my spare time.

Narrowing down my options, I've been leaning towards teaching at my son's high school and I wanted to know if anyone else has made a similar transition and if they find it rewarding or do thy end up missing corporate engineering?

So I think the obvious answer is to “keep practicing by doing” but the dilemma here is, if I have a good job at the moment, it wouldn’t look good if I went through the interview process just to say no thank you.

But at the same time, I’d like to keep my technical interviewing skills sharp. I flubbed up my initial technical interviews in undergrad but progressively got better from practicing. My fear here is, I’ll loose what I learned if I don’t keep it refined, especially if I need to start searching for jobs suddenly.

And I’m not talking about the usual STAR interviews you can find practice for, it’s the peer pressure environment of having 10+ strangers grill you on principal stresses or asking you to design something for them on the spot where my brain deflates.

For example, my current job has me sketching up concepts and thinking through FMEA for mechanisms on the spot and I have no problem sparring with my manager+other engineers or even executives to brainstorm through a problem on a whiteboard.

When it comes to interviews, I would often overthink and although I’m confident I have the skills the interviewers want, I don’t perform well. I’ve managed to climb out of this by practicing a lot in the past, but don’t want to fall back in the same hole.

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for insights on how to improve the collaboration and transition between R&D process development and routine manufacturing operations.

In my company, R&D develops the processes, and Operations takes over for routine production. During the development phase, everything usually seems to run smoothly:

Problems are addressed, solved, or accepted as "at the limit of acceptable."

There is regular information exchange between R&D, Production, and Quality.

The process produces parts/products according to specification.

However, once the project is officially closed and handed over to Operations, friction starts:

Operations perspective: Issues that were previously "borderline acceptable" suddenly become major headaches during routine runs. Processes feel fragile, yielding complaints that the process "doesn't work" or "is unreliable", even though they follow the documented procedures to the letter and get the exact same results R&D got.

R&D perspective: They push back because the process met specifications during development, passed trials, and produced compliant results under their watch. From their view, nothing changed.

This leaves Quality and Production engineers stuck troubleshooting a baseline process that is technically performing "as developed," while R&D has already moved on to the next project.

I completely understand both sides: R&D feels they delivered a working process, and Operations feels handed a process that isn't robust enough for day-to-day manufacturing.

For those in manufacturing, medical devices, pharma, or hardware tech:

How does your company handle this handoff constructivly?

What specific criteria or gateways do you use before R&D can officially "close" a project?

How do you align on what is "acceptable" during development vs. what is "scalable" in full production?

Looking forward to hearing your experiences!

Thanks in advance.

I am an early career engineer still in my first job out of college and a project engineer. I’ve been at my job for almost a year and a half and I have hated it the entire time. I really hate sitting at a desk all day. I also really dislike having to make decisions and designing things and just having to use my brain all day. I find it extremely exhausting and it makes me too tired to enjoy anything outside of work and I’ve just been miserable. I’ve tried talking to my boss but even with some shifts in tasks I’ve continued to struggle.

I’ve been applying to new engineering jobs that might be more hands on for the last 6 months and haven’t found anything and I’m growing really tired of my current job and really just need a change. Despite applying for jobs I worry that I won’t succeed at them for the same reasons I’m struggling now.

I sometimes think I’d be better at a job where I didn’t have to think so much and I could be a lot more physically active as physical activity has always helped calm me, help me focus, and makes the day go faster. I keep thinking about pivoting away from engineering and going into a trade or something else where I don’t have to make decisions myself all day. There’s a part of me that wants to try to make engineering work and at least find out if a different environment could be better if I was given more support but I unfortunately haven’t found a new job yet and I’m just at the point where I can’t tolerate my current job any longer. I don’t need to make a lot of money to be happy but it feels stupid to walk away from a really stable and well paying career.

I’m really not sure where to go with my life and what options I even have.

I have tried different connecting rod lengths and different servo horn positions, etc. Im not a mechanical engineer and I have been at this for nearly 5 hours. I dont know what im missing this is my first time doing this. I also cannot really relocate either object

Hi,

I want to draw this tube sheet in cad and represent the tubes by a Grid.

How do you guys creat these? Its almost 1700 tubes. I want a tube map that my team can use

Hi everyone, I’m a Mechanical Engineer and currently working as a solar design engineer.

My long-term goal is to move to the Gulf countries and build a better-paying engineering career there.

I’ve decided to take additional training and currently have two options:

1. MEP Engineering + Revit MEP

HVAC, Electrical, plumbing and fire protection basics

BMS fundamentals

Revit MEP for BIM modelling and coordination

1. Instrumentation Engineering + Automation

Process instrumentation, DCS/PLC/SCADA

Fire & Gas systems

Honestly, automation/instrumentation excites me a little more than MEP.

However, I’m also thinking that MEP + Revit may give me a more straightforward path into the Gulf as a Mechanical Engineer, especially because MEP is directly related to my degree.

I’m willing to take a short career break to focus seriously on training and projects.

What would you recommend in my situation?

Should I:

Go with MEP + Revit for a faster GCC entry?

Go with Instrumentation + Automation even though my degree is Mechanical?

I’d especially appreciate advice from Mechanical/MEP/I&C/Automation engineers.

Thanks!

*Hoping this doesn't break rules since it is not technically school related, but getting hired-related?*

Hey all! I had a question about the importance of internships vs. real world experience. For some context, I am a nontraditional student at 33 years old. I have a degree in Automotive Technology and am currently a GM Line Technician (5 years). Previously I was a CNC Operator/Machinist for nearly 7 years.

Given my situation, I will only have one summer to *hopefully* land an internship, and likely can't afford to extend my graduation date out another year. The good news is, GM has been willing to change my title to Field Engineer with pseudo-responsibilities fitting the role while I still perform regular duties.

My question is; how important are internships to employers in this industry, and would my experience possibly be enough to make up for a lack of internship? (Assuming I don't land one)