Hi from a-not-so-model engineer

[JellyParticipant @jelly]

Hi All,

I’ve joined after several years of lurking, as I thought the forum might have some insight into a problem I had, and maybe I’d be able to give some insights back in due course too.

I’m not sure I count as a model engineer, as I don’t seem to work on anything at a model scale, most of my personal projects being either machine tools or toolmaking.

I “teach” wood-machining and some metalwork as part of a community organisation, and am also active with a heritage railway, but tend to do more fitters type work than machining/engineering there as I’m a recent volunteer (trust being something which is earned and all).

I worked for a large sawmilling concern all through uni, and got to learn a good bit in their toolroom and fitting shop (between turns sweeping, lifting and carrying), then went to work first in the Oil and then Waste industries as a Chemist, meaning I’ve been around and involved with engineering projects professionally for my whole working life; but am not actually an “Engineer”.

[JellyParticipant @jelly]

[Nick_GParticipant @nick_g]

Posted by Joshua Kelly on 05/10/2016 12:12:06:
but am not actually an "Engineer".

.

Hi Joshua,

I think you will find that a very high percentage of the membership here ain't an engineer by profession either.

I certainly am not. What bonds the site and it's members is a common interest.

Nick

[KWILParticipant @kwil]

So what is the problem you have?

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Hello Joshua,

Thanks for poking your head over he parapet!

Neil

[Carl Wilson 4Participant @carlwilson4]

Hello Joshua,

I don’t build models either but real things. I share common cause with those who do though.

You will find it helpful here. Apart from the odd campamnological extremity they are not a bad bunch.

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Welcome Joshua. No problem with lurking, it's what I'm doing with your Hydraulic Surface Grinder thread.

I see 'Model Engineering' as being a very broad church indeed. Others prefer narrower definitions. It doesn't matter much – as a beginner I get loads of value from reading posts and asking questions.

Enjoy,

Dave

[MikeParticipant @mike89748]

Hi Joshua, and welcome. I'm about as far as you can get from being an engineer – I'm a semi-retired journalist. I delight in the variety of subjects on this forum: certainly model engineering, but also tool making, motorbikes, aircraft, clock making, and lots more. There's even an active beekeeping thread….

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by KWIL on 05/10/2016 12:18:01:

So what is the problem you have?

It's here:

http://www.model-engineer.co.uk/forums/postings.asp?th=121081

Neil

[KWILParticipant @kwil]

Neil,

Perhaps the threads should be merged then as I had not read the other.

Edited By KWIL on 05/10/2016 14:59:36

[JellyParticipant @jelly]

@KWIL: I’m trying to re-purposing a manual surface grinder into an NC Hydraulic one. To complicate matters, it was bought from a guy who had made it himself by re-purposing a horizontal mill. See the thread in the Homebrew CNC section for quite possibly more detail than can sustain your interest.

@Nick_G: It’s more that I don’t want to give a false impression that I am, as if I talk about work at some point I might easily leave that impression unwittingly.

[DanielParticipant @daniel]

What defines an engineer, anyway ?

I am & am not

Welcome

[MWParticipant @mw27036]

Posted by Daniel on 05/10/2016 15:19:54:

What defines an engineer, anyway ?

I am & am not

Welcome

 

You do enough work for people or models for yourself then they start to think of you as one.

I literally have one very simple engine of a wobbler, and part way through a polly, both stationary engines, but i've turned out no end of different bits for people. Which is kind of why i am more the "M.E.W" type than "M.E", but who knows, i might be one day. 

…Or you could take the technocratic solution and say you're not one until you're chartered, but then they know different things to us, but not the same as what we do either.

Most people aren't fussed about that though, they rightly care more about what you can do for them then what your title is. 

Michael W

Edited By Michael Walters on 05/10/2016 15:50:14

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

'Engineer' … have a look at …

**LINK**

George.

[DanielParticipant @daniel]

That's a good summary Micheal.

My first wobbler still isn't finished, although it's permanently on the bench, and gets dusted from time to time. But, in the mean time, there's no end of other jobs passing through.

"The Loosely Fitting Bush", being an example.

[Russell EberhardtParticipant @russelleberhardt48058]

I'm a chartered engineer and of small stature. Does that make me a model engineer??

Russell

[Roderick JenkinsParticipant @roderickjenkins93242]

model (n) "a standard or example for imitation or comparison"

So, Russell, I'm sure you are

Rod

[DanielParticipant @daniel]

Posted by Russell Eberhardt on 05/10/2016 16:53:11:

I'm a chartered engineer and of small stature. Does that make me a model engineer??

Russell

. . .Very good

[KWILParticipant @kwil]

I am a Chartered Engineer and made to a scale of 12" = 1ft.

So I am not a model engineer then?

[Matt Nolan 1Participant @mattnolan1]

Posted by KWIL on 05/10/2016 20:02:23:

I am a Chartered Engineer and made to a scale of 12" = 1ft.

So I am not a model engineer then?

Apparently not.

[Adrian GilesParticipant @adriangiles39248]

Could be worse, could be a 'civil' engineer!😂

I'll get me coat!

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

Scale is only a perceived requirement fof a model engineer. Scaled down for models but there is always scaling up – mock up for cars or road building projects for instance.

Just look at the Colin Furze U-toob channel for his latest 'model'! A slightly up-scaled model of AT ACT?

I, too, make little or nothing scaled down. A dozen old tractors, stationary engines, etc are enough to keep me busy for the rest of my time.

A chemist as well, morphing into engineering projects, then back to chemistry then on to other things at times. I still remember atomic masses from the common radioisotope numbers, mostly! Always close but not usually spot on!

[Brian OldfordParticipant @brianoldford70365]

Posted by KWIL on 05/10/2016 20:02:23:

I am a Chartered Engineer and made to a scale of 12" = 1ft.

So I am not a model engineer then?

And a pattern maker works to 12 1/8" = 1ft. . . . . . . .for iron. More for other metals.

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