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Mechanical engineering is not being a "mechanic." They rarely build or install anything with their hands. Usually we sit in cubes running software to analyze ph
by nether 10y ago
Mechanical engineering is not being a "mechanic." They rarely build or install anything with their hands. Usually we sit in cubes running software to analyze physical systems (like air flowing over a wing) and write up the results. We use a lot of math. Technicians, who usually don't have 4-year degrees, handle the actual fabrication and maintenance.
(In case you've forgotten, mechanics is a branch of physics dealing with force, acceleration, mass, that sort of thing.)
- mywittyname 10y agoI understand. I was more getting at the fact that, for example, an HVAC technician would develop an understanding of basic engineering principals by virtue of their job. But nobody would come out and say that they should be retrained to be MEs. Those same people would learn basically nothing about CS in their job, yet they should be developers.
- douche 10y agoExcept that they often do have to fab up prototypes, at the least, and the better ones have enough familiarity with the realities of the blue-collar Joe or Jane that's going to have to use and maintain the piece of equipment that the engineer designs.