Five reasons to become an engineer
This year marks the 60th anniversary of National Engineers Week. This goal of this annual event, sponsored by the National Engineers Week Foundation, is to inspire and encourage the next generation to pursue engineering as a career.
Knovel, a Web-based application that combines technical information with analytical and search tools to drive innovation and deliver answers to engineers, works with engineers worldwide to seek answers to tough technical problems. Knovel has created “5 Reasons to Become an Engineer,” an infograph on why people should choose engineering as their profession. To access the infograph, go to http://info.knovel.com/videos/engineersweek/.
Tool refresher
Drill press: A tall upright machine useful for suddenly snatching flat metal bar stock out of your hands so that it smacks you in the chest and flings your beer across the room, denting the freshly painted project which you had carefully set in the corner where nothing could get to it.
Wire wheel: Cleans paint off bolts and then throws them somewhere under the workbench with the speed of light. Also removes fingerprints and hard-earned calluses from fingers in about the time it takes you to say, ‘Oh sh--!’
Skil saw: A portable cutting tool used to make studs too short.
Pliers: Used to round off bolt heads. Sometimes used in the creation of blood blisters.
Belt sander: An electric sanding tool commonly used to convert minor touch-up jobs into major refinishing jobs.
Hacksaw: One of a family of cutting tools built on the Ouija-board principle: It transforms human energy into a crooked, unpredictable motion, and the more you attempt to influence its course, the more dismal your future becomes.