Hey everyone,
So, I guess I finally made it. I am really done with school and am graduating this week from college. For those of you who do not know, I am graduating in Mechanical Engineering. What can I do with this degree??? Well, everything. Mechanical engineering specializes in the dynamic world. You know, planes, trains, automobiles, engins, anything that moves or has a moving part. Mechanical engineers also do a lot in the thermodynamic industry (heating and air conditioning, heat transfer in machines, and what not).
We are moving to Idaho Falls on this Saturday after graduation. I will start my new job on the 12th of May. I will work for Bechtel Bettis (NRF) and work on the nuclear engine technology for the Navy (next to INL, but a different company). I can't tell you more or else I would have to kill you. Besides, they really couldn't tell me more in the interview. My specific job that I got is really cool, but I am not sure if I can tell you what I will be doing.
I spent the last year of my school working on my senior design project called the "Mini baja". It is the most involving senior project that we have. I have learned a lot from this and put everything I had into it. The baja is an off-road vehicle that is capable for all terrain (except large bodies of water, but some baja's are designed for that too). The baja will compete in a national competition against other schools in mid June. Sadly, I can not go because of my new job (the competition is outside the country in Canada. I can't leave the country for a while.)
For the competition, all teams are given a 10hp briggs-and-stratton engine,safety regulations, and that is it. The rest is up to us. We engineer all the dynamic and kinematic components of the baja, including the transmission. Once the design is complete, the mechanical components are then designed (material selection, thickness, and calculations for forces, stresses, fatigue, and what not). Our design is then presented in front of the faculty and they get a chance to drill us. They said that our team really pulled the wool over their eyes or else we really had a good design. They could not find anything wrong with it, our testing methods, or numerous calculations. The last 4 months have been concentrated on building the car from scratch. It doesn't look too pretty, but it sure is fun to drive. So far, our car is the fastest baja ever, has the best handling ever, and has the most competitive front suspension designed ever. Our goals were to reach new levels of performance and to win the national competition (between 200+ schools). I really think we have a top 5 car this year! It has been a lot of hard work, but I am glad that it is over.
I specifically worked on the front suspension. I spent most of my time optimizing the performance characteristics (minimizing body roll, camber change, kinematic and dynamic motion). I attached some images of what it looks like so far (not painted yet).
So, I guess I finally made it. I am really done with school and am graduating this week from college. For those of you who do not know, I am graduating in Mechanical Engineering. What can I do with this degree??? Well, everything. Mechanical engineering specializes in the dynamic world. You know, planes, trains, automobiles, engins, anything that moves or has a moving part. Mechanical engineers also do a lot in the thermodynamic industry (heating and air conditioning, heat transfer in machines, and what not).
We are moving to Idaho Falls on this Saturday after graduation. I will start my new job on the 12th of May. I will work for Bechtel Bettis (NRF) and work on the nuclear engine technology for the Navy (next to INL, but a different company). I can't tell you more or else I would have to kill you. Besides, they really couldn't tell me more in the interview. My specific job that I got is really cool, but I am not sure if I can tell you what I will be doing.
I spent the last year of my school working on my senior design project called the "Mini baja". It is the most involving senior project that we have. I have learned a lot from this and put everything I had into it. The baja is an off-road vehicle that is capable for all terrain (except large bodies of water, but some baja's are designed for that too). The baja will compete in a national competition against other schools in mid June. Sadly, I can not go because of my new job (the competition is outside the country in Canada. I can't leave the country for a while.)
For the competition, all teams are given a 10hp briggs-and-stratton engine,safety regulations, and that is it. The rest is up to us. We engineer all the dynamic and kinematic components of the baja, including the transmission. Once the design is complete, the mechanical components are then designed (material selection, thickness, and calculations for forces, stresses, fatigue, and what not). Our design is then presented in front of the faculty and they get a chance to drill us. They said that our team really pulled the wool over their eyes or else we really had a good design. They could not find anything wrong with it, our testing methods, or numerous calculations. The last 4 months have been concentrated on building the car from scratch. It doesn't look too pretty, but it sure is fun to drive. So far, our car is the fastest baja ever, has the best handling ever, and has the most competitive front suspension designed ever. Our goals were to reach new levels of performance and to win the national competition (between 200+ schools). I really think we have a top 5 car this year! It has been a lot of hard work, but I am glad that it is over.
I specifically worked on the front suspension. I spent most of my time optimizing the performance characteristics (minimizing body roll, camber change, kinematic and dynamic motion). I attached some images of what it looks like so far (not painted yet).
**I posted this for Jake cuz I know he's busy with graduating and moving and all . . hope that's okay Jake. Taylor LOVED the baja!
1 comment:
THanks a million Lesa, what would we do with out you!!!!!!!!!!!
Ann
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