Preserve it in landfill maybe. Sounded as sick as a parrot before he parked it up.

Have they bought a truck with all the engines in, just in case… 😉 Unlikely, but depending on your point of view, it’ll either shoot the fox or liven things up if he has to take a 9th engine this weekend or next. Do you tactically take the hit and potentially have reliability from a 9th new unit, or fit a biffer for the last race and cross your fingers/roll the dice for the championship?

The discs on both sets of my avid brakes do this if I go on a wet ride & then forget to take the wheels out of the wheel bags when I stick them back in the shed.

I think my bike should come and live with you!! Their road discs on my commuter. 5000 miles a year, year road, rain, snow, road salt… might get a wash and brush up once a fortnight if it’s lucky… I’m sure it dreams of wheelbags when its lurking in the shed at night 😉

I had some rotors that came with BB7’s and they are cheerfully rusting around the cutouts and holes. Put it down to being laser/plasma cut from sheet of lowish chromium content stainless.

It only take a couple of mm here and there to drastically alter the graphs for leverage ratio etc

Indeed. There was a graph on the Whyte site a few years ago comparing axle paths for their design against a few others… guess who had the ‘job’ of producing that?…. 😉

Tails – I thought it was an awful faff to start with, but as we have 5 irregular users, using it at home and in the office, and 2 keys it actually works rather well. It’s less hastle than handing round dongles and more secure than holding keys on-site and using a FLexLM server or some-such.

Yes however “engineering” is not purely design

I’d go further and say as an engineer you need a sound understanding of design…. but creating an object which fits in the space envelope, meets the aesthetic and functional brief etc is the role of the designer – the role of the engineer is to confirm that the object is fit for purpose. Repeat that loop as necessary until a satisfactory solution pops out the bottom. I accept the lines in many sectors are blurred as one or other role has sufficient knowledge to do both job at once at the same time.

Jools182 I can probably send you a 2009 version I think. Problem is I have not been able to get it to work on my system. I think you now have to registar with them, unlike say adobe which is still a product key.

If it’s like our system (still running 2008…. long story) 3DS holds the key and when you fire up a session the key is transferred over the web to your PC. You hold it on your machine until it is released back to the pool on the 3DS server…… but, you must have the unique code for your key and enter this when installing the Solidworks locally. If the code on your machine and in the key don’t match, then no dice.

Bazzer – if you missed it, I appear to have vented on the whole chartered thing a few pages ago. Feel much better for it too 😉

Engineer is a job title not a status.

Indeed, though incorrectly applied in some cases. ‘Doctor’ is another case in point, though perhaps with the perception the otherway around.

The above is the only actual FACT about this matter on the whole thread.

I would disagree, and also suggest that that statement, by implication is the nub of the problem, via the OED back to the IMechE et al, as discussed some pages ago.

Legspin – then you’re original post missed out a whole hill of other stuff you must being doing to perform due diligence on the design you are going to sign off and supply, so fair enough.

My point was that in Germany and France it caries a different social meaning to what it does/has become here.

On the Engineer debate…. At work I design something in Inventor, export the solid models to cad/cam software,then create the toolpaths and then the code which is then sent to the cnc machines. I then go and set the machines machine the componet then fit all the parts together.
As I only have a city and guilds qualification does this make me not a engineer?

IMO – you are doing doing the leg work of an engineering technician – which is in short supply in certain areas. This is problem – engineering is the bit between design and implementation/manufacture. Are you determining loads, doing calculations for stress/fatigue and comparing against material allowables, selecting appropriate and cost effective manufacturing processes, sizing sections/welds/radii appropriately and staying within the relevant BS/ISO/Eurocode? In what you’ve described above, all of that is missing/done by someone else, no? Don’t get me wrong, all of what you’ve described are valuable (and of value) skills that I don’t have – I can do all the calcs/write all the reports in the world, but if there is no-one to go to actually cut some metal then it’s useless.

This is really off-topic and probably the subject of another incendiary thread 😉 Go to Germany and you have to do a 7 year degree to be called an “engineer”.

Noseybonk

Thinking of doing a conversion as well. Looked into doing it myself, and whilst there was a saving to be made a) there is a lot of materials to be humped up to roof level, so you will need help to do this and install it and b) everyone I’ve spoken too says that it will take 6-8 weeks from the scaffolding going up to the builders walking away. If I did it DIY, I simply couldn’t do it as quick, and minimising the time/mess/disruption is very appealing.

You can keep costs down by getting someone in to manage planning and doing the roofing and getting it to a first-fix level of completeness. Once it’s water tight you can go at your own pace and fit it out DIY.

EDIT: I found this website quite helpful for describing the rewards and pitfalls of the DIY route.

http://www.internode.co.uk/loft/index.htm

Not as off-topic as the Southern driving one.

LOL – is that still going?? Think I’ll steer clear – let me guess – the forum bruisers have waded in now and it’s all gone a bit silly…. 😆

I quite fancy a Schumacher Cat or an Associated RC10, as they were the dogs goolies when were a lad.

Compare the speeds of the CAT in 1987, when Masami won the first worlds http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cJLvSa9CcA ….

With the brushless kit of today (well, 2006) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7ISJYr7F3Q

Or, the speed and skill of the TC’s http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7IIlDUwhxw

(oh, and the quality of the video 😉

For instance, engineer in a small startup bring new products to market – dynamic, interesting and potentially rewarding, suitable for the ambitious. Engineer in.. I dunno, railways, or something government run – slow progression for those that want a steady job.

That was one of my scenarios in my post above – if you have a good idea, a bit more than just technical competancy and some “ambition” (call it what you will), then you find a way to make money (if that is what you class as being rewarded).

As LHS says, I don’t think it is sector-by-sector in terms of progression, it’ll be company-by-company – moving around a lot, or simply to a ‘better’ company, can have a huge effect on your career in a rapid space of time – particularly if you have the skills set to be of value to a range of ‘sectors’, which a lot of graduates do have as degree courses tend to be common/general for a year to two before specialising.

Gone way off-topic now….. 😉

There’s no ‘engineering’ industry sector, is there? So why would you think you could generalise all engineering jobs?

Mol – in what context do you make that statement? (or, in other words, ‘what’s your point caller…’ 😉

If engineering rewarded ambition better, a lot more people would be attracted to it

If you want big bucks on the technical side, you’ll either have to, do something very niche very well, invent something new and do it yourself or play the game and move from job to job increasing pay as you go (I know people who are doing this, but it will only go so far).

I tend to agree that ambition, in a technical sense, is not high up there on the skills set of a typical practicing engineer, beyond getting the job done correctly, on time and on budget (and making sure as many people as possible know it was you and your team that did it! ;-). I think there is trend now to identify those with ‘ambition’ and move them into management roles where there dynamism will be rewarded (or not as the case may be) and not force those that are able and technically very good into roles that they may not want to go into or be suited to – essentially two career paths, rather than just doing time and progressing as people leave/die!

Many people call themselves engineers, but may only be fitters. There needs to be some way to differentiate.

100% agree – that is one of the many reasons I refuse to give any cash to the limp-wristed, toothless bunch of wind bags that is the IMechE. They should be leading/lobbying on this and yet they choose to be the most invisible bunch of toss-pots on this or any other subject, relevant or otherwise. The fact that I would have to give them money to maintain membership in order to maintain Chartered status devalues it to zero worth – it woudl appear that this measure of professional competance is based on your ability to keep paying fees, which isn’t right.

Said I wouldn’t rant didn’t I…. 😉

EDIT:

and i know some completely clueless ‘chartered’ engineer

Yes, and that as well…. 😉

There’s a whole other thread about the ‘merits’ of ‘Chartered Engineer’ status, but that really is going off-topic here…. 😉

^^^ Charlie – not chartered either, have no intention of it, for various reasons and doing very nicely without it…..

not round here it’s not

You’re in the wrong place then!!

LHS/Ahwiles – with a bit of experience maybe – starting salary with a good degree and CV is mid-20’s these days. With 10 years on the clock add about 10K that’s the experience of me and the guys I graduated with.

If you have XXX amount of prospective students chasing x courses then its good ol supply and demand.

Any courses that people aren’t falling overthemselves to suscribe to and you’ll lower your prices slightly

The canny universities will specialise – fill the course with students each year at top-whack rates. Those that maintain a ‘universal’ approach, trying to make popular faculties subsidise under-subscribed ones, will be the ones in trouble…….

manufacturing, that’ll need engineers then? – where do they train?

You can train technicians through apprenticeships – the skills shortage is a real and present issue. Not everyone ont he shop floor doing the graft needs an MEng. However, there is also a shortage of qualified engineers coming out of univerisites.

Joemarshall speaks alot of truth.

Being privy to some of the funding discussions around this issue at my local University, the price for lower fees will be more overseas students prepared to pay A LOT more, making up a larger proportion of the UK higher education population and lower student numbers overall.

The current government policy seems determined to run Universities more as commerical enterprises, rather than support them as essential national assets so market forces will drive them.

^^^ Nice!!!!!

How would you fit 15 or so gears into a shaft gearbox?

Rohloff get 14 gears into a ‘gearbox’, although chain driven at present.

Indeed – a twin shaft g-boxx2 would get you to 14 speeds, ‘Rohloff in a box’ style…..

Christini have been pushing their AWD system for ages (it may even be 10 years!) and I’ve never seen one in the flesh on the trails (I have ‘bounce tested’ one around a car park though) and none of the ‘big boys’ appear to have copied it.

Not saying that it won’t happen, or some evolution of it from a true gearbox bike might make it more practical, but there must be a technical/cost/perception issue with it if it hasn’t take off, in that guise, by now.

But it looks bloody brilliant!

Yeah, fair enough 😉

Yep – integrating the electronic ignition was the biggest game. Was learning as I went along though as a nipper of 15/16 years old at the time 😉

Or a monumental c***-up by the designers as it put the dizzy out the front of the car, right in the firing line of any spray or rain. Ohh well, at least it discourages people from driving them in the rain and stops them rusting!

IIRC, that was a very late change to the design – the engine was rotated through 180-degrees as it was found that the carbs froze in cold weather if at the front of the engine. That’s why the A-series engines have a characteristic ‘whine’ as an extra idler gear had to be added so that the gearbox still turned the output shafts the right way with the engine the other way around.

See also adding an extra 6″ to the width of the Morris Minor – hence the ridge in the bonnet – as further evidence of late change madness 😉

Avante was stupidly expensive and mechanically complicated. A bugger to set-up as well as everything was adjustable. Spares very expensive too. Optima Mid (if you were minted, you got the “Custom Special” version, or just bought the bodyshell!!) or ProCat for the win in those days 😉

@funkynick – yes aware the Metro used basically the same A-series lump. I think I still have few spare blocks/heads/piston sets kicking about in the garage. Biggest hastle was mating the slightly more complicated electrics of the turbo engine to the very simple wiring loom. That job was supposed to be a dry run for fitting a Daihatsu 3 cylinder turbo diesel engine, but time/funds never permitted in the end….. happy days 🙂

Gaz – is 1/8 electric rallycross going to develop into a new class to go along side 1/8 IC do you think? I think RCRacing or RedRC had video of a demo race at the Neo invitation race, and the electric cars looked rather good…. If time or funds permitted (neither of which is likely at the mo….) I might have a go at this, as my reactions aren’t up to touring cars…..

If I didn’t have somewhere to work on one, I wouldn’t buy one full stop.

Sound advice….. I did a conversion with a friend who fitted an MG Metro turbo engine to his car (structurally, surpisingly straight forward – just needed an extra cut out/welding in the front bulkhead to accomidate the turbo) – when it worked it was a whole pile of fun…. when it didn’t it seemed to be on the axle stands for weeks.

M_F – very, very nice…..

I was coming at sub-frame issues from a DIY perspective – if you’re prepared to pay someone who has the hoist equipment to drop the subframe out/lift the body up in one go and experience of doing it regularly, then it prob isn’t too bad a job and costs will reflect this.

Hopefully i wont arrive at work quite as tired or wet and cold if i go by mini.

Depending on how far the commute is and/or how reliable the car is….. I wouldn’t be so sure of that statement!!

Check the sub-frames for rust and the sub-frame mounting points/bolts on the body. If either of these needs work it will be a major PITA. Apart from that, all the usual checks for rust/electrics/engine. To be honest, if the body is sound the mechanical parts are easy to work on. Built/restored three Mini’s up from clean body shells – about as simple as you can get to work on!

I used to race 1/10 electric buggies in my youth – recently met up with a mate who has got back into R/C, mostly gliders and ‘copters, but he has also bought up and built a load of NOS Kyosho Optima Mid’s, Schumacher Cougars/ProCats/Cat2000, RC10s etc from Ebay. He also has a pair of LiPo/brushless Associated B4’s (IIRC) which we had a blast with for a happy afternoon. Blew my tiny little mind how fast they are now, but mental fun 🙂

If you fancy wasting a day on mostly 1/10 TC’s or 1/12 electric racing, have a look here…. http://www.rcracing.tv/

EDIT:

Plus, with something that flies you can stick a camera on and get some cool pictures. I think you can even buy a real-time live camera feed thing to fly them remotely now.

Yeah, check out some of the truly mental POV flight footage on Youtube. I can’t find a link, but there is a good one of a bloke chasing a train and flying through an open barn….

Some smaller Honda engines use chains as well.

Amen to that – the additional hazard of a layer of damp leaves which a) has no grip and b) hides the edge of the road/path is equally helpful 😐