Go to Metal Casting Zone to get your free ebook on Metal Casting at Metal Casting. Metal Casting Zone also has Electric Arc Furnace Information, Blast Furnace Information and a Metal Casting Blog with daily news on Metal Casting. You can Find Metal Casting Zone at www.metalcastingzone.com.

Back to Top

Article Source: iSnare.com

---

Metal Casting Molds, Ingot Mold, And Cold Mold Information

Submitted By: Kent Klein

Casting molds are an essential part of the metal casting process as it will be used to shape the final result. Nearly all metal casting methods will use some type of mold. The standard mold will consist of a cope and drag that when together is called a flask. The mold itself can be constructed of several materials depending upon the casting method.

Most molds will be made from latex, fiberglass, sand, and even metal. Sand molds are the most popular since Sand Casting is commonly used in small home foundries. In Permanent Mold Casting, the mold is created from metal. Most molds can be used over and over again, but not all of them. Certainly the metal molds can be used multiple times without loosing any quality from the finished product. However, molds created using sand or other materials will not have a very long shelf life. This is not generally seen as a huge problem just a minor annoyance since mold making is relatively cheap and easy.

No matter what material the mold is made from, the basic construction is pretty much the same. The molding box is called the flask which has a cope, the top, and drag, the bottom. You will then fill the flask with the molding material and then place the original into the mold. So, if you want to cast a tiny metal elephant, you will place an original of the elephant usually made from clay, wax, wood, or even metal into the drag of the flask. If this is done in sand you will ram the flask until the sand is packed tightly around the original. The top of the flask, the cope is then placed on and more molding material poured in. The entire flask is then rammed or vibrated making sure everything is packed in nice and tight.

When the molding material is dry, you will remove the flask and carefully split the mold to retrieve the original, in this case the tiny elephant. Now, if you want to make sure that there are some empty spaces in the cast to be finished then you will place cores into the mold. The cores are made of sand or wax.

The type of mold used depends heavily on the type of casting, alloy, and complexity of the pattern to be cast. Metal molds have little use in small foundries unless you plan on casting a lot of tiny metal elephants.

In some cases, pre-made molds can be found in hobby shops or through company casting companies. Usually, pre-made molds are used in miniature castings. Many individual metal casters prefer to make their own molds since it is inexpensive and allows them greater control over the finished casting.

Metal casting involves several sets of skills and mold making is one of these skills. Mold making is an invaluable skill for metal casters as it is so very important to the casting process. Not only are molds used in metal casting but in other casting types as well. Resin casting and other plastic casting requires a mold as well. The flask can be made of wood, metal, and in some cases those toy building blocks, we all know the type. As long as the flask can hold the mold material until it dries it can be used.

Every metal caster should learn how to make a mold instead of relying on others. It's not only about independence but about saving money as well. Making your own mold is just cheaper.

About the Author
Go to Metal Casting Zone to get your free ebook on Metal Casting at Metal Casting. Metal Casting Zone also has Metal Casting Molds Forum, Casting Molds Blog and a Metal Casting Blog with daily news on Metal Casting. You can Find Metal Casting Zone at www.metalcastingzone.com.

Back to Top

Article Source: iSnare.com

---

Casting Metal Hobbies, Home Metal Casting, Home Foundry Information

Submitted By: Kent Klein

The Do It Yourself movement is certainly not a new one. The term, DIY was popularized in the 1950s but the concept has been around for ages. The concept behind DIY is undertaking a variety of projects either home improvement, restoration, or arts and craft without the help of paid professionals.

Recently the DIY movement has received a boost of popularity with the aid of the internet. Many are finding that DIY projects are easier to undertake with the help of instructional websites which provide step by step instructions and real advice from people who have actually accomplished the DIY process. Several of these sites provide ideas, photos, message boards, and a sense of community for Do It Yourselfers that was simply not available years ago.

DIY projects can include any number or projects and ideas. Certainly the most common projects include home improvement such as cabinetry or installing plumbing fixtures, but one of the oldest DIY projects has to be metal casting.

The DIY casting movement has been around ever since metal casting itself has been around, which is quite some time. Metal casting is the act of taking molten metal and shaping it with the use of molds into something new. Metal casting has been used in the ancient world for the use of making weapons, jewelry, and even religious icons. Today, DIY metal casting is used to create parts and items for use in a variety of hobbies and restoration projects. This includes home improvement items as well. Metal casting can be used to make door knobs, cabinet handles, and other such items. For hobbyists, small model parts and miniatures can be created. Even artists use metal casting for sculptures and jewelry creation.

Metal casting possesses the true spirit of Do It Yourself. Many metal casters are drawn to the skill because it provides a cheap alternative to purchasing items or having commercial foundries make custom items. Nearly everything used in metal casting can be made by the caster. The furnace, molds, tools, and many others are made by most casters.

Like other DIY projects, the DIY casting movement is being helped along my communities that are found online. These communities act as meeting grounds for casters to share and exchange knowledge and ideas, not to mention blueprints for furnaces and ingredients for casting materials.

Metal casting is the pinnacle of DIY projects as it involves the fabrication of items from metal. After creating a mold of the desired item the caster will melt down iron, brass, or aluminum in a furnace. The molten alloy is poured into the mold and allowed to cool. The cast is removed to reveal a copy of the original pattern. There are several casting methods so undertaking a DIY casting project can be very involved and addicting.

In the spirit of DIY, metal casters strive to make the best for the least. A great source for aluminum is soda cans and many casters gladly travel to scrap yards for iron or brass.

The DIY casting movement is really gaining steam as many realize how cheap and fun this alternative is.

About the Author
Go to Metal Casting Zone to get your free ebook on Metal Casting at Casting. Metal Casting Zone also has Home Made Foundry Forum, Home Metal Casting Blog and a Metal Casting Blog with daily news on Metal Casting. You can Find Metal Casting Zone at www.metalcastingzone.com.

Back to Top

Article Source: iSnare.com

---

Plastics

Plastics Are The Best

Submitted By: Low Jeremy

Plastic is one of the more commonly used materials for prototyping. Product development engineers, production consultants, inventors, special project leaders, and retail and production prototype specialist turn to plastics to create their moldings and prototypes.

These people know that plastic can be molded, cut and manipulated in any ways conceivable to create prototypes that would benefit the development of their products. Prototypes from plastic can be drop tested, tested for strength, sterilized, tested for consumer preference and durability, and can be put into actual use in no time at all at bare minimum costs.

With plastic prototyping, designers have different options at their disposal. Designers and developers can use rapid prototyping techniques which have tools like stereolithography, deposition modeling, laser sintering, laminated object manufacturing, and three dimensional printing at its forefront.

All these incorporates the basics of rapid prototyping, each technique creates individual parts from 3D-CAR models and joins them as layers until the final prototype is finished.

Using rapid prototyping techniques allows fast reproduction of prototypes regardless of the complexity of shapes.

However, it could be inexpensive at first but since each part is created individually, production costs may go up as the number of parts needed increases. Also, final output always have rough finish which brings the need to polish each part as they come out of their moldings.

An alternative is rapid injection molding techniques which incorporates the use of metal molds. This technique is able to create plastic parts that are fully functional and have a good finish. Since the molds are made of metal, they are able to support a wider range of resins and can come out as a lot cheaper than rapid prototyping or rapid tooling.

Regardless of the technique, the resulting plastic prototype should encompass the qualities of less production costs and more speed in production. The finished part also must adhere to certain standards.

Any prototype part must mimic the shape, size, finish and even color of the final production part. And any prototype part must at least be similar to the production part’s strength, chemical resistance, flexibility, durability and heat tolerance just to name a few.

Plastic is a very good material to create models which can be assembled, tested and used as close as the production parts.

Using the right prototyping techniques can save you time and money and allow you to simplify your production process, both for the prototype and the actual production unit. Remember that if the prototype is good, the final product could be good as well.

About the Author
Low Jeremy maintains http://Prototyping.ArticlesForReprint.com. This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included.

Back to Top

Article Source: iSnare.com

---

Other

Machining And Keeping Your Shop Clean

Submitted By: Ivan Irons

Keeping your shop clean

My first inclination is to say that it can’t be done in your home shop. My experience in my home shop has been that machining creates dirt. I use the term dirt very loosely. Dirt in many forms like plasma dust, machining chips, and cutting fluid spray. All of these forms of dirt are very invasive and get into everything. You constantly have to be cleaning just to keep up.

In my home shop experience, I treat every one of my machines differently. My CNC plasma cutter is the dirtiest by far. I built a special room for it to try to contain the plasma dust it creates. My milling machine is in my main working area. I usually just have to clean around it from time to time. My CNC Wood Router is located in my woodworking shop. It creates a lot of wood chips and wood dust, which all my other woodworking machines do as well.

Factories invest in thousands of dollars in extra machines to keep things clean. These machines purpose is to reduce the amount of dirt in the shop. Some of these machines clean the air and some of these machines take care of the physical chips leftover from machining.

Here are some examples:

Automated Chip Augers - Chip augers are generally in the belly of machines. As chips fall down the augers move them over to a collection area. These chips can then be shipped out and recycled.

Downdraft tables – Downdraft tables are usually associated with plasma or laser cutters. As the machine is cutting, air is drawn downward from below it. This air is then moved through filters, which clean the air and place it back in the shop. They put the air back in to the shop so the building doesn't have to be continually heated in colder areas of the country.

Updraft Table – An updraft table works the exact opposite. It pulls the air upward, then through a system of filters.

Water Tables - Water tables are used mainly with plasma cutting operations. There is water directly under the piece of metal being cut. The dust and debris of the plasma cutting process is captured by the water table. Over time, the table fills with this debris and must be cleaned out.

Janitorial Services - Some factories maintain a janitorial service that cleans the facility every night. This is usually dependent on the cost in the area the factory is located.

My CNC Story

One day I knew I had a problem. I just spent 4 hours with my plasma cutter in my right hand. I had been cutting out patterns I had traced onto a sheet of metal. These shapes were going to be my new coffee table. Everyone complained to me that I didn’t have a coffee table. I thought, “I’ll show them” and began to build one.

Why make a coffee table out of metal you ask? The quick answer is that I wasn’t much of a woodworker at the time. On the other hand, I used to weld professionally and knew I could make anything out of metal. That is how it all began, making a coffee table out of metal.

Now if you knew me, you know that I can’t just make something normal. My brain is the scheming type that has to do things differently then the norm. I wanted to make a table that would knock people’s socks off. I thought a funky looking table, made out of metal, with casters and lights would do the trick. You know what? It did.

I really had a ball making this table. I mean I had serious fun. So much so that I started to design others. I began showing photos of my work to everyone I knew. On top of that, I was getting good feedback. I had just found a new hobby, furniture making. Who would have ever thought I would pick up furniture making as a hobby.

While making this first table a problem arose. It is the one I mentioned above with my right hand. After plasma cutting all those parts my wrist really began to hurt. While welding professionally there was always the threat of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Welders are constantly afflicted by this injury and others because of Repetitive Motion.

If you repeat something over and over and over and over, your body gives out at some point. After cutting up these table parts, I knew I couldn’t go on doing this for a hobby. I knew something would have to change or the new hobby would break my body.

That is when I began investigating Hobby CNC. I call it “Hobby” CNC, because that is how I found it. There were small groups of enthusiasts on the Internet that were building these machines for the fun of it. I thought this was the ticket.

My Initial Thoughts on CNC…

I thought, “If I could build a CNC Plasma Cutting Table?”
I could hook my plasma cutter to it
Create a program of the part I wanted
Cut out multiple parts to my hearts content
Save a lot of time
And Finally…

Save my wrist from the dreaded Carpel Tunnel Syndrome.

I really wasn’t scared of the technology to start with. I grew up in fabrication shops across the Midwest and had seen these machines in action. These machine “Operators” were always held in high esteem at the shop. They always made more Money and always had as much Overtime as they wanted. I decided if they could do it, I could do it.

CNC hobby projects were not cheap at the time. I figured I would have to invest $4,000 - $5,000 to build my table (they have come down considerably). Keep in mind this was in 2000-2001. For some reason that didn’t scare me off. I always liked a good challenge and this was it. With blind faith, I ordered up a CNC Controller and went down to my local steel yard to fill the back of my truck with steel.

Little Did I know…

There was a steep learning curve with CNC. Building a frame for the machine is only a small part of the project. Today it is much easier. The software, components and suppliers are better. There is an entire cottage industry that has sprung up around CNC to support it. Some of the best people in the world make their livings servicing CNC Hobbyist needs.

For some reason I figured if I just build this machine it would spit out parts whenever I wanted it to. Simple, Simple, Simple ran through my head. Over time, I started to get it. I didn’t have a teacher, but I started to learn the ins and out of what I was doing.

Other things I had to learn along the way:

CAD Software
Designing Parts
CAM Software
Preparing parts for machining
Simulating Machining
Machining Basics
Cleaning parts

About the Author
Ivan is active in CNC Machining and CNC Mill. CNC Programming is one of his epxertise.

Back to Top

Article Source: iSnare.com

---

Plastic Injection Molds

Injection Molds and Rotational Molds - Manufacturing For a Demanding Marketplace

Submitted By: Kadence Buchanan

The world has become very dependent upon plastic products. From household items to industry and aerospace, plastic in its many formulations has transformed modern manufacturing and created conveniences and economies unimagined in the early decades of the 20th century.

Injection Molds

The injection molding industry took hold in 1946 when James Hendry built a screw injection molding machine. But, his technology was based on an earlier invention by John Wesley Hyatt who, in 1868 injected hot celluloid into a mold to make billiard balls. Hyatt's method used a plunger to force the material inside a mold. Hendry's improvement was revolutionary because it eliminated the plunger and replaced it with an auger-type action that better distributed material and facilitated the use of plastic inside molds.

Today's injection molds use much the same process and produce a wide variety of products from car panels to outdoor furniture, small toys and tools. Injection molding is ubiquitous in manufacturing and uses many different materials from polymer plastics to aluminum, copper and other metals. The plastic bottles and kitchen implements people use in everyday life are products of the injection process.

Because the metal molds are generally expensive to produce, injection molding is most economically used when thousands of pieces are being manufactured. Molds are made of hardened steel or, more recently, aluminum which is less expensive.

The Injection Process

Described very simply, molten plastic is injected into the mold under high heat and pressure. The goal is to have the molten plastic material evenly flow to all parts of the mold, creating an exact, consistent, solid plastic replica of the mold cavity. After a brief cooling cycle, the mold or tooling mechanically ejects the plastic part which then moves on through the manufacturing process. In the injection molding industry, this is a completely automated process that's very fast and extremely efficient.

Rotational Molding

Rotational molding is yet another method of producing multiple products, most often made with a variety of plastic powders. This process is usually used in making hollow products such as traffic cones, canoes, kayaks, bicycle helmets and giant tanks used for water or chemical storage.

Like Injection molding, rotational molding had its roots in the 1940s. But it was not until the technology was more sophisticated and new polymer and plastic formulations became available that the rotational process became a mainstream manufacturing method.

Rotational Process

The two processes are quite different. Let's consider, for example, a 300 gallon water storage tank made of polyethylene. Picture a master mold made of aluminum or steel. The plastics manufacturer pours poly resin powder into the mold that is fitted inside an oven. Once sealed, the mold is mechanically turned on at least three axes, moving much like a gyroscope. At the same time, the oven is raised to an appropriate temperature and the polymer - or other material - tumbles inside and slowly coats the inner walls of the mold, melting as it rotates.

Once the optimal temperature is reached, the mold is cooled. As the temperature of the mold itself falls, the product on the inside shrinks away from the inner walls and is easily removed. This is not always the case with injection molds that are often more difficult to successfully remove. The shrinking action of rotational molding is particularly desirable when the product is very large and awkward to handle.

Rotational molding is also more economical for some products because less material is used. In addition, the polymer that is left over from one mold can be used in another. The method itself is more streamlined than injection molding, which requires more interlocking parts.

Materials Improve and Expand

Most products made with the rotational molding method are from the polyethylene family. Other materials include nylons, polypropylene and PVC plastics. Some manufacturers have developed formulas that integrate the use of natural materials such as sand and chips of stone to make products.

Plastic and resin products are now an integral part of everyday life and supply us with items as tiny as paper clips and as big as storage tanks. As the industry developed, so too has environmental awareness about the safety and use of these petrochemical-based products. Today, materials can meet the specifications of FDA requirements, and other health and safety related regulations. Producers are also cooperating to create products that can be recycled.

About the Author
Visit us for additional information on rotational molding and rotomolding equipment.

Back to Top

Article Source: iSnare.com

---

Engineering

The True Meaning Of Engineering

Submitted By: Izrul Fizal

If you have ever wondered what engineering is, you may not be prepared for the huge answer that awaits you. When you delve into it, you will actually realize just how global and varied the industry truly is and there are so many career choices you can follow within Engineering.

What is Engineering?

Basically, to put it into simple terms, engineering is where you solve problems. To add a bit more to it, engineers use technical, as well as scientific knowledge in order to make judgments. By using their imaginations, they come up with solutions to problems either new or old.

It is by using the application of technical and scientific knowledge that engineers put judgment, imagination and reasoning to work in order to come up with new solutions to human problems or new ways to solve old problems. So, if that has left you feeling a bit hazy, the best way to summarize all of this is that engineers are problem solvers.

What Are Some Types of Engineering Out There?

To get a better understanding of engineering, it is a good idea to know about some of the types of engineering there is out there. A broad field of engineering is civil engineering and it can be broken down into smaller parts, too.

To get a basic understanding of civil engineering, they deal with the planning, the construction as well as the maintenance of public buildings that are related to water, civilization and even the earth. This can include working with structures such as bridges, water supplies and trains, etc.

Other types of engineering you may or may not have heard of are computer engineering, construction engineering and mechanical engineering. Mechanical engineering is also another broad field of engineering available, and it deals with the physical principles including the analysis, design, manufacture and maintenance of mechanical systems.

Some other types of engineering careers available are aviation, automotive and also software engineering. As you can see, these are just a few that have been mentioned, but every main category can be split up into lots of different fields. If you wanted to be a software engineer, you could consider being a games software engineer or even a communications software engineer. The choice is entirely yours.

Is Engineering for you?

You may be curious about certain things and about the way they work, or you could be someone who loves to solve problems. If this sounds like you and you want to create certain things that could well change the way that everybody lives, engineering could be the absolutely perfect career for you. So, if that does sound like you, why not inquire a little more to see just how you can take the first steps into working as an engineer.

About the Author
Want more information on engineering, visit http://www.engineering-site.com to learn more about this challenging field.

Back to Top

Article Source: iSnare.com

---

What Is Reverse-Engineering

by: Matthew Noel

Reverse-engineering is a term that is used for the process of taking apart something to figure out how to use it, basically. In many cases, something new and great has come about from it. In order to understand how it works or to recreate it, engineers will pull it apart and study it. Understanding how it works is one thing. But in order to recreate it, they will have to make it different somehow. This can be challenging but is often necessary. Reverse-engineering is quite a fantastic, but a worrisome way to learn new things.

The task that is difficult in reverse-engineering is the task of making what is in such a way that it will no longer be the same. The fear that is involved has to do with the fact that patent information can be quite sensitive. Copying a product that is under a patent is highly illegal. But, if they can figure out how to use it and make it in a different method, it may fall into the gray area. What is important to remember, though, is that the patent is on the functionality of a product, not necessarily on the way it is designed.

Reverse-engineering is something that has happened the most often by the military. In this case, the reverse-engineering will be used to copy other nation’s technology when it comes to military endeavors. In many cases, the information is obtained by intelligence operations. Reverse-engineering was most commonly used in the Cold War and World War II.

You will find that reverse engineering also happens as a result of curiosity; seeing if they can do it, so to speak. It is also used as a means of cracking the code of security measures and finding a way to get around the security restrictions that can be found in such things as software and electronics. It is quite possibly quite illegal to do these things though and this needs to be taken into consideration.

Back to Top

Article Source: articlecity.com

---

Engineering As A Career

Submitted By: John Daye

Engineering is a great career choice for many. With 1.4 million engineering jobs in the U.S. alone, it’s no wonder this career field is a popular one. Let’s take a look at a few reasons why engineering is such a hot and rewarding career.

Challenging Work

Engineers get to combine their creativity, mathematics and science background with technology in order to help solve everyday problems. They get to work on the design and development of new products, help with their production, monitoring, maintenance and testing.

In alphabetical order, the main engineering specializations are: aerospace, agricultural, biomedical, chemical, civil, computer, electrical, electronics, environmental, health and safety, industrial, marine, materials, mechanical, mining and geological, nuclear and petroleum.

Career Tidbits

The following list includes some interesting information about this career field according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook:

- Engineers generally work 40 hours per week, but the workload may increase under tight deadlines. Daily engineering tasks often involve work outside the desk space including lab research, field work, exploration and construction sites, monitoring stations and more.

- Engineers need to continue their educations to keep on top of the latest research and technological changes. Some companies offer funding for this. Not staying on top of the changes can mean the difference between maintaining employment and being laid off.

- The Internet has opened the doors for telecommuters (who may often come aboard for less money via long-distance arrangements), but local engineers are still in demand. Engineers often work on-site teaming up with others and their support staff.

- In 2004, engineers with higher degrees (Master’s and PhD’s) earned more. And for specialty engineers, workers earned well into the 6-figure ranges.

- Rapid growth in the technology sector means companies must seek the means to stay ahead of competitors with product and technology development, testing, and monitoring. Therefore, engineers are in demand and will be for some time to come.

About the Author
So check into career opportunities in your area and see what rewards you can reap as an engineer! Visit Engineering Career Secrets and learn more about this exciting career field today.

Back to Top

Article Source: iSnare.com

---

So You Want To Be A Sound Engineer?

Submitted By: Jim Hurn

Did you know that... if your work and passion are the same, you'll never work - but have fun everyday doing what you love and get paid for it.

If you have a love for all things audio, read on...

A lot of people I know choose careers without much thought about what their passions, interest and natural abilities are.

They plunge in, some targeting financial rewards as their sole aim, some based on what their buddies are doing, some from suggestions from well meaning friends and relatives.

I am writing this to persons who have an interest in audio and want to investigate the possibilities of having a career as a sound engineer.

The biggest piece of advice I can give to you is that you have to ask yourself if you have the PASSION deep down in you?

Ask yourself - in your teens, did you show any natural interest in things related to sound? Did you take things apart, especially radios, amplifiers, cassette recorders?

Did you always tweak the knobs of amplifiers to get that "perfect" sound?

Have friends always told you that you have technical ability that is beyond them?

If you have a few "yeses", then you have a chance. In fact, I would encourage you to seriously consider digging deeper for more information about being a sound engineer.

But that's not all....

Being highly technical alone is not enough to get you far in your career.

Sure, it's fun to mess around with buttons and knobs all day long. But if you can't interact properly with clients, they'll probably not come back for more.

Unless perhaps you have such great technical and musical skills that make up for your lack of personality.

You must realize that being a sound engineer requires you to have great patience and tolerance from sometimes utter rubbish from your clients.

You need to know how to say "no" graciously, or to voice your opinion about a mix tactfully so that nobody's feelings are hurt.

So, check yourself to see how good you are in this department.

If you plan on starting on your own someday, you need to know about how to market your services.

Almost all businesses don't make it through the third year in business because they don't have enough business.

Many of us think that because we're so good, customers will beat a path to our doors.

In my city, I know of long established recording studios that have folded because of competition from smaller but more marketing savvy studios.

You're fighting for the same clients in your area - and the one that makes the most "noise" in the market, gets the lion share of the business.

So, remember that you need to ALWAYS focus on how to get clients CONTINUOUSLY through your doors if you want to setup a studio of your own.

Not everyone gets the opportunity to work in the big studios you see in the audio school brochures.

The market is small, but growing because of online content. There will be many opportunities - if you keep up to date with the relevant technologies that people are looking for.

Customers want speed, quality and competitive pricing.

And you can only deliver on those if you work fast and accurately. You will also need to know online technologies as your productions will be broadcast to the world in so many forms, both offline and online.

Continuous study is a must.

And if you want to be able to work in a large recording studio or broadcast facility, you need to be really competent in all these areas.

And that is where you passion comes in. With passion, learning all this will be second nature to you. It will not be a drag, not a chore, but something you WANT to know - and you can't beat that in any job.

So how do you start?

If you believe deep down in your heart that being a sound engineer is what you want to be, then you have to be strategic in all that you do.

Here's what I mean.

Get involved in audio anyway you can.

At church, doing recordings for friends, converting audio from one format to another. Messing around for hours on audio software, tweaking software equalizers to see how various frequencies affect the sound.

You have to immerse yourself with sound.

Work for free in a recording studio while studying. That will teach you valuable lessons and you'll be way ahead of your class. And when you're ready, a job will probably be waiting for you!

Read pro audio magazines, attend exhibitions and audio talks. Join the AES (Audio Engineering Society), get involved in audio newsgroups. Start a blog on your audio interest, you'll be surprised how the "word" gets around, and you'll be documenting your own growth in the industry.

Get your hands dirty!

Perhaps, now would be a great time for me to tel you a bit about myself.

When I was a young teenager, I inherited an old but still working reel to reel tape deck from my uncle. I was fascinated that it could record Jimi Hendricks off the radio without much loss in quality.

I play guitar, so the next logical thing I did was to record songs that I played. I was thrilled.

Fast forward a few years, and I bought my first multi track recorder - a Tascam Portastudio that recorded 4 tracks on high speed cassette, allowed me to bounce tracks, punch in sounds, etc. It was my most precious possession!

One thing led to another and I got involved with video, multimedia and of course, audio.

In 1994, I stated a company that provided video and audio production services. My passion was still in audio and that kinda led to jobs where I provided a fair number of voice over recording services. I loved doing he recordings, sweetening them, taking away unwanted noises, etc.

We later progressed to doing radio ads and that kinda opened a new challenge for me - with sound effects, background music, and even writing the script.

You can say I was fortunate.

And the message here is that if you have the PASSION for it - just go for it while time is still on your side. There are now many fine sound engineering schools, not just in the US, but across the globe as well.

With the internet, getting the necessary info on the latest equipment, trends, techniques, is a no brainer. But that of course also opens up the competitiveness of the marketplace.

But do not worry. If you have the drive, interest and perhaps the natural talent for audio, you will soar and build yourself one of the most satisfying careers possible.

It allows you to be creative, adventurous - and when you here your mix on the radio, it's euphoric!

Get involved in sound everytime you can. If you go to church, join in the sound ministry. Churches are some of the biggest customers of sound reinforcement companies - just because there are so many churches.

If you're fortunate enough to be in a large church, you probably have an opportunity to build up you live mixing chops - which is quite different from studio work.

So I'll say it again - if you have the fire... go for it.

So there you have it - I hope you have the same fortune I have in having a business and career which is also my passion.

I never work. Everyday, I am engaged in my hobby.

Don't you want to do that too?

So take the first step if you know deep down that this is for you. You'll never regret it.

About the Author
Jim runs his own small recording studio and gives advice and recommendations to persons who are interested in an audio career. More information at http://www.recording-studio-info.com

Back to Top

Article Source: iSnare.com

---

Career Track: Becoming An Engineer

Submitted By: John Daye

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics defines engineers as those who “apply the theories and principles of science and mathematics to research and develop economical solutions to technical problems.” In other words, engineers are the ones who solve complex problems for the rest of us.

There are approximately 1.5 million engineers in the U.S. today. Engineering is a challenging job with decent pay (an engineer’s pay is higher than most with just a bachelor’s degree). In fact, the average salary for an engineer was reported at just slightly over $65,000 in 2002. The top 10% of all engineers earned more than $90,000. Of course, an engineer’s salary ultimately depends on their location and specialty.

Engineers find employment virtually anywhere innovation takes place. Engineers design and manufacture machines, processes, systems and even economical structures. They commonly work in the government, research, industry, military, teaching, management or consulting sectors.

There are more than 25 recognized career tracks for the engineer. And you can rest assured that as technology advances, engineering specialties will only grow in number. A few of the major engineering specialties include; aerospace, chemical, civil, electrical industrial, materials, mechanical, and software engineering.

You will at least need a bachelor’s degree from a university engineering program to qualify for an engineering position. The degree must be from a college or university accredited by the ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology).

To get into most college engineering programs, a student is expected to have completed two years of high school algebra and one year of trigonometry. They should have also completed one year of both chemistry and physics.

As you’ve probably heard, engineers are typically very good at math and science. So if the thought of algebra makes you squirm, this career may not be the right one for you.

The best engineers enjoy complex problem solving, and are true inventors at heart. If you choose engineering as a career, you can expect to be right on the cutting edge of technology. You will turn ideas into reality and solve problems that better society.

About the Author
To learn more about becoming an engineer, please visit Engineering Career Secrets or Mechanical Engineering Career

Back to Top

Article Source: iSnare.com

---

The Road To Becoming A Licensed Engineer

Submitted By: John Daye

Licensing is necessary for an engineer to prove they maintain the expected level of professional competency. A degree alone is not enough. Practicing as an engineer involves important safety and public health issues. For this reason, licensing is required as proof that the individual understands the concepts, their applications and the code of ethics behind working as an engineer.

The National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) governs the licensure of engineers. They prepare all the engineering licensing exams, regardless of the state the exam is taken in.

There are many advantages to becoming a licensed engineer. For one, only a licensed engineer may use the initials P.E. after their name (Professional Engineer). In addition, only a licensed engineer may use the title “engineer” to the public and become a private practitioner.

As you probably already recognize, with the uncertainties in this day and age, the more credentials you have, the better your chances of finding employment are. Therefore, becoming a licensed engineer only makes sense.

To summarize the steps to gaining your Professional Engineers License, most states require the completion of an engineering degree and the passing of an 8-hour Fundamentals of Engineering exam. Upon completion of the degree and the passing of the FE Exam, you will qualify for the EIT certificate.

Once you complete the engineering experience requirements (usually 4 years of experience is required) and an 8-hour Principles and Practice of Engineering Exam in the your specialty, you will qualify for official certification as a Professional Engineer and may use the initials P.E. after your name.

So once you graduate, make sure you start the licensing process (if you have not already done so) by gaining the pre-license certificate known as the Engineers in Training (EIT) certificate. Then begin gaining your experience. Be sure to tell your employer that you plan to become a licensed engineer. They will usually be happy to ensure that your work experience meets the criteria for licensing.

About the Author
To learn more about getting your engineering license, please visit Engineering Career Secrets or Mechanical Engineering Career

Back to Top

Article Source: iSnare.com

---

What’s A Career As A Mechanical Engineer Like?

Submitted By: John Daye

Many engineers specialize in mechanical engineering. This subset of engineering revolves around the application of physical principles for mathematical analysis, design, manufacturing and maintenance of mechanical systems. The industry is divided up into smaller areas of focus: mechanics, kinematics or movement, and the energy of physical objects. Let’s take a look at what makes a career as a mechanical engineer so rewarding.

Challenging Work

Mechanical engineers use their knowledge of force, heat, mass and energy in design structures. They help research, design, test, create, maintain and monitor heating & cooling systems, vehicles and aircraft, bridges, buildings, machinery, industrial equipment and more.

A key focus in mechanical engineering is optimization. Work as a mechanical engineer focuses on optimizing ease and durability in projects, costs, safety and usefulness. Some tools frequently used by mechanical engineers for manufacturing projects are: CAD/CAM, CFD, FEA, milling machines, robots, CNCs and lathes.

Career Tidbits

The following list includes a few bits of interesting information about the field of mechanical engineering:

- Work as a mechanical engineer is generally 40 hours per week, but may be more, especially under tight deadlines and heavy workloads. The daily tasks often involve working outside an office and in the field.

- The best mechanical engineers enjoy solving complex problems. They are true innovators.

- You will need at least a Bachelor’s degree to qualify for a position as a mechanical engineer. Most accredited colleges and universities offer specialized programs in mechanical engineering.

- Job opportunities for mechanical engineers are projected to increase at a faster than average rate through 2014.

- The average salary for engineers in 2002 was reported at $65,000. Top engineers earn over $90,000 per year. A mechanical engineer just out of college would earn an average of $40,000 per year.

- Mechanical engineers commonly wind up working in corporations or for the government.

Mechanical engineering is one of the broadest and hottest specialities in the engineering field.

About the Author
Check into mechanical engineering opportunities for yourself today. Visit http://www.mechanicalengineeringcareer.com online and learn about this exciting career field.

Back to Top

Article Source: iSnare.com