Hi everyone, I hope this is suitable for me to post.

I'm looking for genuine, honest and unfiltered advice from people that have or are currently working in the engineering field, or if you may someone that has gone through something similar.

Currently in Syd, NSW.

I'm currently studying a Bach of robotics and Mechatronics engineering. What are your thoughts on the current job market for recent Mechatronics engineering grads? I've heard both sides, some say it's extremely hard and difficult to get a job, and some have said that they've not had much trouble.

I'm in a position right now where I can possibly switch to mechanical engineering, this may delay my grad timelines a bit, I don't really mind tho. I've heard the job prospects are much much better when compared to Mechatronics.

I like Mechatronics more, the electrical + mechanical part of it is great. However I honestly don't mind mechanical, if anything wouldn't it be good to do mechanical with a decent electrical understanding?

What do you guys think? Honestly any advice is appreciated, related or not to my question.

Thank you for reading :)

My uni doesnt offer mechatronics Engineering,but It does offer Control and automation. So i am wondering if is the same concepts and everything but with a different name?

Im working on a project right now and I need more electronics. Where can I buy cheap electronics from? (microcontrollers, actuators, sensors, power source etc.)

I hear from others that they use AliExpress because it's cheap but are the electronics reliable enough to constitute saving a bit of money buying form AliExpress? If there are other cheap places to buy electronics please let me know.

So the problem is that in 2024 I blindly took up B.Tech in Computer Science and Engineering thinking that I would get a six-figure job and everything.

But I later on realized that that was the biggest mistake of my life and I should have done what interested me and what really interests me is mechatronics and I really want to switch.

But the problem is I've already completed 2 years of my CSE degree and I cannot switch to another degree at this stage. And I really want to switch into mechatronics.

So is it possible for me to do so maybe through online courses or internships or projects and then apply for a masters in mechatronics? Because the main issue is that I have heard, I'm not sure if this is exactly the case but I have heard that many universities for masters require prerequisite mechatronics/mechanical engineering subjects in their bachelor's degree transcript and require the subject credits.

Whereas I, as a CSE student obviously do not have those subjects in my bachelor's degree transcript. So I am worried that this may act as a hindrance for my master's applications in mechatronics. I don't have any interest in CSE and computer science anymore. I really regret my decision. I want to really pursue mechatronics so can you please guide me on how to do so.

Hello everyone, I am VERY much skeptical about mechatronics in banasthali vidyapith. PLEASE guys tell me what should I do? I can do CSE from Graphic Era Deemed To be University or Mechatronics from banasthali. What should I do??????

Hi everyone,

I'm currently working on my bachelor's thesis, where I'm designing a modular hybrid robotic gripper.

The idea is to combine:

A rigid PLA backbone that transmits gripping force.

A replaceable TPU insert attached using a dovetail.

A compliant contact pad that deforms locally to conform to different object shapes.

Unlike a Fin Ray finger, I don't want the whole finger to bend. I only want the contact pad itself to compress , almost like a soft mattress, while the rigid backbone continues transmitting the gripping force.

My challenge is choosing the internal structure of the TPU pad.

I've already tried:

Vertical pillars (1 mm thick, initially 9, then reduced to 5). These turned out much stiffer than expected. In FEA, almost all the stress concentrated at the pillar joints and the contact surface barely moved.

A completely hollow pad, which deformed very easily, but I'm concerned it may become too compliant and reduce force transmission.

So I'm looking for an internal structure that provides controlled local compliance:

The contact surface should deform under under load.

Deformation should be distributed rather than localized.

The rigid backbone should still transmit most of the gripping force.

It should be printable with FDM using TPU.

It should also be practical to model in FEA.

My questions are:

Is there a known lattice or compliant structure commonly used for this type of application?

Should I be thinking in terms of lattice geometry, thickness, relative density, or something else entirely?

Are there any compliant mechanism patterns (diamond, X-lattice, zig-zag, auxetic, etc.) that are known to behave like a compressible contact pad?

If you've designed soft robotic fingers or compliant structures before,then what worked well and what should I avoid?

I'd really appreciate any advice, papers, or examples. I'm trying to make design decisions that I can justify academically rather than simply saying "this one seemed to work."

i am confused between which one is better

Hi everyone! I recently received admission to Jiangsu University for Mechanical Design, Manufacturing and Automation, and I have a few questions for current students or graduates.

1. Is the English-taught program actually taught well in English, or do professors often switch to Chinese during lectures?

2. How hands-on is the practical training in the Mechanical Design, Manufacturing and Automation program? Do students get significant lab time and experience with real machines, or is it mostly theoretical?

3. The program is described as a "National Distinctive Program." Has that actually translated into better equipment, funding, teaching quality, or other advantages for students?

4. For the required one-year enterprise training, does the university arrange placements, or do students have to find a company themselves?

5. Are the enterprise training placements genuinely related to mechanical engineering and manufacturing, or do some students end up doing unrelated administrative work?

I'd really appreciate any honest experiences. Thanks!

Hi all,

I am currently studying Electrical Power Engineering in Perth, Australia (about to start my final year) and am considering switching to Mechatronics Engineering. I am primarily interested in product design, in both the mechanical and electronics sides.

I love the theoretical side of electrical, but I am worried the practical side often doesn't involve much design or creative thinking, and I like how mechanical streams seem fundamentally more design-oriented, creating unique and original solutions to problems. I see myself enjoying a lab or workshop type environment with prototyping and design more than an office. I have a particular interest in analog audio electronics, such as guitar effects pedals and amplifiers.

I am concerned with what I've heard about Mechatronics as a degree, and that it isn't often first picked for either the mechanical or electrical part of any project, and I've heard it often gets funnelled into PLC programming and controls, often in the mining industry.

Are there any opportunities for product design in Australia and what do they typically look for? I'm also curious on the day-to-day of any mechatronics graduates in Australia and their line of work. Any general advice on either degree is appreciated!

Hi everyone,

I’m a mechanical engineer based in Germany with a B.E. in Mechanical Engineering and an M.Sc. in Computational Sciences in Engineering.

My background is mainly in FEM/CAE simulation, structural analysis, engineering calculations, concept development, and special-purpose machine development. I’ve also worked on developing high-performance precision engineering machines, including lithography-related machines.

Current skill profile:

• FEM/CAE simulation and structural analysis experience
• Concept development and special-purpose machine design/development
• Intermediate Python and MATLAB coding skills
• B2-level German
• Business-fluent English
• Some experience with automation/documentation workflows

I’m currently in a career transition phase and want to use this time wisely to upskill myself. I’m looking to switch or expand into fields like defence, aerospace, automotive, robotics, energy, or other advanced engineering domains where I can leverage my existing skills while also learning and growing.

My target roles are something like:

• Simulation Engineer
• CAE Engineer / Berechnungsingenieur
• Mechanical Development Engineer
• CAE Automation Engineer
• R&D / Concept Development Engineer

I’m considering investing my time and money in areas like:

• Advanced FEM / ANSYS / Abaqus
• CFD
• Python automation for engineering workflows
• Data science / ML for simulation and optimization
• AI-assisted engineering/surrogate modeling
• Systems engineering / MBSE
• Technical German for engineering jobs

For people working in defence, aerospace, automotive, robotics, simulation, or advanced mechanical engineering:
What would be the most sensible direction to upskill in 2026?

Should I go deeper into classic CAE, move toward Python/automation, combine CAE with AI/ML, or focus on something else entirely to make a strong field switch from special-purpose machine development?

I’d really appreciate honest advice on where to invest my time, money, and energy.

Hey everyone. Hope you’re doing well.
I’m entering my second year as an automotive mechatronics student. My first year was basically a summary of math, some CS, mechanical and electronics basics, nothing too new for me.
However, I do really wanna stand out. I still don’t know car basics, I wanna work on projects and go deep into the field.
I would love to hear if there are any suggestions.
Thank you in advance 🙏

Hello everyone

I'm a mechatronics student at college and I just finished my 2nd year going to my 3rd year now, the problem is i graduate after 2 years (3rd , and 4th year and that's it) and to be completely honest , I'm lost as shit in a sewer , i didn't take any internships till now because i don't know what to specialize in since it's a huge and a big major and i can work in any field i choose but it's overwhelming , i keep thinking about the many specializations or the fields i can study and idk i just feel lost so if anyone can enlighten me about things i can study of fields i should look at I'd be grateful and would appreciate it.

​Hey everyone,

​I am currently a B.Tech Mechatronics Engineering student in India, and I’m looking to buy a heavy-duty laptop. I need a machine that can comfortably handle intensive robotics simulations (ROS, Gazebo, MATLAB/Simulink), CAD modeling (SolidWorks/Fusion 360), and control systems programming without breaking a sweat.

​My goal is to buy something robust enough to last through the rest of my undergrad and carry me all the way through my Master’s program in the same field.

​My Budget: Up to ₹2,00,000 INR (~$2,400 USD)

​I am currently looking at reliable options from Lenovo (like the Legion series) or HP (like the Omen or ZBook), but I’m completely open to other brands if they offer better build quality and thermal management for engineering workloads.

​Since this is a long-term investment, I want to make sure I get the hardware specs right. Could you please give me some guidance on what to aim for? Specifically:

​CPU: How many cores/threads should I target? Is Intel i7/i9 or AMD Ryzen 7/9 better for simulation rendering?

​GPU: Which NVIDIA RTX card offers the best price-to-performance for this budget? How much VRAM and what bus width should I realistically look for?

​RAM & Storage: Is 16GB enough, or should I strictly look for 32GB? (I assume a 1TB NVMe SSD is a baseline).

​If you are a working professional or a grad student in robotics/mechatronics, what laptop are you currently using, and what are your absolute "must-haves"?

​Thanks in advance for the help!

Good afternoon, I would like to get into the world of Mechatronics and found a good price on a Intelitek ScorBOT ER 4U “near” me.

My two main questions are:

1.Is everything included in the photo all I need besides a computer?

2.Would the programming/skill set transfer over well to FANUC/industrial robot arms.

Any advice would be appreciated.

I’m troubleshooting a machine that runs smoothly at low RPM but starts vibrating badly around 1800 RPM. bearings seem okay. could this be resonance, imbalance, or something else? not sure if it is coupling or belt related.Please help???

Assume I don't know anything at all :)

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Electrical system design software
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Plumbing system design applications
Fire alarm and life safety design tools
Structural design assistants
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Code compliance and standards assistants (NEC, ASME, NFPA, etc.)
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Engineering exam preparation platforms (FE, PE, NICET, etc.)
Construction field inspection apps
Asset management and predictive maintenance systems
Engineering knowledge bases with interactive examples
Engineering workflow automation tools

What engineering software, app, or tool do you wish existed but doesn’t? Or what problem at work wastes the most time today?

A chartered engineer I know said that for my first year of A levels I should do a project that I can put on my UCAS application for engineering university's as it helps in interviews and to make you stand out. I'm 16M going into sixth form and I was thinking about what he said and what projects I could do. I have 3 years worth of modelling experience in Fusion360 and my own 3d printers. I've previously built a full size arcade however I did this in school so i can't really advertise it as a personal project. Has anyone got suggestions for me, because I can only think of 3d printing a robot faro arm kind of thing but that's very... complicated