On Tue, 1 Jan 2002, Tony Duell wrote:
Then I would suggest you're working with engineers
who are not
particularly knowledgable about practical electronics. If they're (say)
mechanical engineers or civil engineers, then no problem. If they claim
to tbe electronic engineers I'd probably dispute that claim.
I agree, last year they couldn't even build a set of LED Christmas tree lights
without blowing them up, never heard of constant current drive !!! I'm not
Do you own a suitably large LART?
<snip>
I would not trust a 'software engineer' who
couldn't actually write a
working program, an 'electronic engineer' who couldn't design a circuit,
make the PCB and solder it up, or a 'mechanical engineer; who couldn't make
a simple heat engine (or similar). You may argue that much of engineering
these days is not about making things, and that engineers rarely need
these skills (that is a separate rant). But unless you understand the
basics, and the practical side of the subject, then IMHO you are not
going to be much of an engineer.
I quite agree, Tony. During my pre-senior highschool year summer
vacation I was afforded the opportunity to work in the model shop of the
local Westinghouse plant. During that summer, I learned to use an
engine lathe, shaper, milling machine, and both gas and arc welding
equipment. I do not mean to imply that I was - or even thought I was -
a journeyman machinist after that exposure, but I certainly learned some
useful skills and a hell of a lot about manufacturability. I also
learned that a drill press is one of the most subtly dangerous machines
in a shop. Interest and curiousity are the major prerequisites for
being a successful technician or engineer, IMHO.
- don
-tony