Resource Library - Engineers Looking For Stuff2024-03-29T07:05:43Zhttp://www.engineerslooking.com/resource-library/feed/all2015’s Best Colleges for Online Computer Science Degreeshttp://www.engineerslooking.com/resource-library/2015-s-best-colleges-for-online-computer-science-degrees2014-12-17T06:40:46.000Z2014-12-17T06:40:46.000ZRichard Savoiehttp://www.engineerslooking.com/members/0w2bf9keu4uke<div><p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><font size="2">Computer Science Online, recently published a new guide to online degrees in computer science. The guide begins with a list of 2015’s Best Colleges for Online Computer Science Degrees, which highlights the post-secondary institutions with quality and affordable distance learning options in CS and related fields.</font></font></p>
<p></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><font size="2">For students who need more information about computer science and tech in college, the in-depth guide breaks down degree options by academic level and specialization, and includes research and input from professors at Cornell, Carnegie Mellon and five other top universities.</font></font></p>
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<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><font size="2">You can view both the ranking and the expert-driven CS degree guide at the following location:</font></font></p>
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<p><a href="http://www.computerscienceonline.org/degree-programs/" target="_blank"><font color="#0563C1" size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">http://www.<wbr />computerscienceonline.org/<wbr />degree-programs/</font></a></p>
</div>Basic PCB Design Guidehttp://www.engineerslooking.com/resource-library/basic-pcb-design-guide2014-11-10T22:38:49.000Z2014-11-10T22:38:49.000ZRichard Savoiehttp://www.engineerslooking.com/members/0w2bf9keu4uke<div><p>Thanks to ElectronicDesign.com</p>
<p>Original link: http://electronicdesign.com/embedded/engineer-s-guide-high-quality-pcb-design</p>
<p></p>
<p>Virtually every electronic product is constructed with one or more printed-circuit boards (PCBs). The PCBs hold the ICs and other components and implement the interconnections between them. PCBs are created in abundance for portable electronics, computers, and entertainment equipment. They are also made for test equipment, manufacturing, and spacecraft.</p>
<div class="related-content">
<div class="related-label">RELATED</div>
<p><a href="http://electronicdesign.com/boards/pcb-design-and-its-impact-device-reliability">PCB Design And Its Impact On Device Reliability</a></p>
<p><a href="http://electronicdesign.com/boards/new-tools-help-tame-pcb-design-work">New Tools Help Tame PCB Design Work</a></p>
<p><a href="http://electronicdesign.com/boards/what-s-new-eagle-v6-pcb-design-software-prepare-more-third-party-tools">What’s New in Eagle V6 PCB Design Software? Prepare for More Third-Party Tools</a></p>
<p><a href="http://electronicdesign.com/test-amp-measurement/essential-steps-making-high-quality-electrical-measurements">Essential Steps For Making High-Quality Electrical Measurements</a></p>
</div>
<p>Eventually, almost every EE must design a PCB, which isn’t something that’s taught in school. Yet engineers, technicians, and even novice PCB designers can create high-quality PCBs for any and every purpose with confidence that the outcome will meet or exceed the objective. Also, these designs can be completed on schedule and within budget while meeting the design requirements. Designers just need to mind the essential documentation, design steps and strategies, and final checks.</p>
<h3>Table of Contents</h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://electronicdesign.com/embedded/engineer-s-guide-high-quality-pcb-design#The%20Basic%20Design%20Process">The Basic Design Process</a></li>
<li><a href="http://electronicdesign.com/embedded/engineer-s-guide-high-quality-pcb-design#Bill%20Of%20Materials">Bill Of Materials</a></li>
<li><a href="http://electronicdesign.com/embedded/engineer-s-guide-high-quality-pcb-design#PCB%20Documentation">PCB Documentation</a></li>
<li><a href="http://electronicdesign.com/embedded/engineer-s-guide-high-quality-pcb-design#Schematic%20Details">Schematic Details</a></li>
<li><a href="http://electronicdesign.com/embedded/engineer-s-guide-high-quality-pcb-design#Component%20Placement">Component Placement</a></li>
<li><a href="http://electronicdesign.com/embedded/engineer-s-guide-high-quality-pcb-design#Thermal%20Issues">Thermal Issues</a></li>
<li><a href="http://electronicdesign.com/embedded/engineer-s-guide-high-quality-pcb-design#Component%20Placement">Fine-Tuning The Component Placement</a></li>
<li><a href="http://electronicdesign.com/embedded/engineer-s-guide-high-quality-pcb-design#Summary">Summary</a></li>
<li><a href="http://electronicdesign.com/embedded/engineer-s-guide-high-quality-pcb-design#References">References</a></li>
</ul>
<p><strong><a name="The Basic Design Process"></a>The Basic Design Process</strong></p>
<p>The ideal PCB design starts with the discovery that a PCB is needed and continues through the final production boards <em>(Fig. 1)</em>. After determining why the PCB is needed, the product’s final concept should be decided. The concept includes the design’s features, the functions the PCB must have and perform, interconnection with other circuits, placement, and the approximate final dimensions.</p>
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<div class="captioned-image caption-none"><img alt="1. The ideal PCB design flow begins when designers recognize a need that must be fulfilled, and it doesn’t end until testing verifies that the design can meet those needs. " src="http://electronicdesign.com/site-files/electronicdesign.com/files/uploads/2013/07/0613WEBEE_idt_FIG1.gif" title="1. The ideal PCB design flow begins when designers recognize a need that must be fulfilled, and it doesn’t end until testing verifies that the design can meet those needs. " />
<div class="image-description">1. The ideal PCB design flow begins when designers recognize a need that must be fulfilled, and it doesn’t end until testing verifies that the design can meet those needs.</div>
</div>
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<p>Ambient temperature range and concerns regarding the operating environment should be addressed and used to specify the materials selected for the PCB. Components and PCB materials must be selected to guarantee operation under all expected and potential forms of duress the board may be exposed to during its lifetime.</p>
<p>The circuit schematic is drawn based on the concept. This detailed diagram shows the electrical implementation of each function of the PCB. With the schematic drawn, a realistic drawing of the final PCB dimensions should be completed with areas designated for each of the circuit’s schematic blocks (groups of components closely connected for electrical reasons or constraints).</p>
<p><strong><a name="Bill Of Materials"></a>Bill Of Materials</strong></p>
<p>Simultaneously with the schematic’s creation, the bill of materials (BOM) should be generated. The components in the circuit should be selected by analyzing the maximum operating voltages and current levels of each node of the circuit while considering tolerance criteria. With electrically satisfactory components chosen, each component should be reconsidered based on availability, budget, and size.</p>
<p>The BOM must be kept up-to-date with the schematic at all times. The BOM requires the quantity, reference designators, value (numeric value of ohms, farads, etc.), manufacturer part number, and PCB footprint for each component.</p>
<p>These five requirements are critical because they define how many of each part are needed, explain identification and circuit locations while exactly describing each circuit element used for purchasing and substitution, and explain the size of each part for area estimations. Additional descriptions may be added, but it should be a condensed list describing each circuit element, and too much information can over-complicate library development and management.</p>
<p><strong><a name="PCB Documentation"></a>PCB Documentation</strong></p>
<p>The PCB’s documents should include the hardware dimensional drawings, schematic, BOM, layout file, component placement file, assembly drawings and instructions, and Gerber file set. User guides also are useful but aren’t required. The Gerber file set is PCB jargon for the output files of the layout that are used by PCB manufacturers to create the PCB. A complete set of Gerber files includes output files generated from the board layout file:</p>
<ul>
<li>Silkscreen top and bottom</li>
<li>Solder mask top and bottom</li>
<li>All metal layers</li>
<li>Paste mask top and bottom</li>
<li>Component map (X-Y coordinates)</li>
<li>Assembly drawing top and bottom</li>
<li>Drill file</li>
<li>Drill legend</li>
<li>FAB outline (dimensions, special features)</li>
<li>Netlist file</li>
</ul>
<p>The special features included in the FAB outline include but are not limited to notches, cutouts, bevels, back-filled vias-in-pad (used for BGA-type IC packages that have an array of pins under the device), blind/buried vias, surface finish and leveling, hole tolerances, layer count, and more.<sup>1</sup></p>
<p><strong><a name="Schematic Details"></a>Schematic Details</strong></p>
<p>Schematics control the project, so accuracy and completeness are critical for success. They include information that is necessary for the proper operation of the circuit. A schematic should include adequate design details, such as pin numbers, names, component values, and ratings <em>(Fig. 2)</em>.</p>
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<div class="captioned-image caption-none"><img alt="2. Proper schematics, such as this one for the IDTP9021R wireless power receiver’s buck regulator block, include pin numbers, names, component values, ratings, and other vital details. " src="http://electronicdesign.com/site-files/electronicdesign.com/files/uploads/2013/07/0613WedEEidtFig2.gif" title="2. Proper schematics, such as this one for the IDTP9021R wireless power receiver’s buck regulator block, include pin numbers, names, component values, ratings, and other vital details. " />
<div class="image-description">2. Proper schematics, such as this one for the IDTP9021R wireless power receiver’s buck regulator block, include pin numbers, names, component values, ratings, and other vital details.</div>
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<div class="captioned-image caption-none"><img src="http://insidepenton.com/electronic_design/adobe-pdf-logo-tiny.png" /></div>
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<td width="459"><a href="http://electronicdesign.com/datasheet/engineer-s-guide-high-quality-pcb-design-pdf-download">Download this article in .PDF format</a><br />
This file type includes high resolution graphics and schematics.</td>
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<p>Embedded within each schematic symbol is the manufacturer part number used to determine price and specifications. The package specification determines the size of the footprint for each component. The first step should be to make sure the exposed copper for each pin is in the proper location and is slightly larger than the component pins (3 to 20 mils) depending on available area and soldering method.</p>
<p>Consider assembly when designing footprints, and follow the manufacturer’s recommended PCB footprint. Some components come in microscopic packages and do not allow room for extra copper. Even in these cases, a stripe of 2.5 to 3 mils of solder mask should be applied between every pin on the board.</p>
<p>Follow the rule of 10. Small vias have a finished hole size of 10 mils with 10 additional mils of pad ring. Traces should be 10 mils or further from the edge of the board. Trace-to-trace pitch is 10 mils (5-mil air-gap, 5-mil trace width, 1-oz copper). Vias with 40-mil diameter holes or larger should have a pad ring added for reliability. An additional 15 to 25 mils of clearance beyond the design rule should be instated for copper planes on outer layers from plane to pins. This reduces the risk of solder bridging at all solder points.</p>
<p><strong><a name="Component Placement"></a>Component Placement</strong></p>
<p>Component placement is next in the process and determined based on thermal management, function, and electrical noise considerations. A first-pass component placement step commences after the outline of component and interconnect position has been assigned. Immediately after the individual components are placed, a placement review should be held and adjustments made to facilitate routing and optimize performance.</p>
<p>Placement and package sizes are often reconsidered and changes are made at this point based on size and cost. Components absorbing greater than 10 mW or conducting more than 10 mA should be considered powerful enough for additional thermal and electrical considerations. Sensitive signals should be shielded from noise sources with planes and be kept impedance-controlled.  </p>
<p>Power management components should utilize ground planes or power planes for heat flow. Make high-current connections according to the acceptable voltage drop for the connection. Layer transitions for high current paths should be made with two to four vias at each layer transition.Place multiple vias at layer transitions to increase reliability, reduce resistive and inductive losses, and improve thermal conductivity.</p>
<p><strong><a name="Thermal Issues"></a>Thermal Issues</strong></p>
<p>The heat generated by the IC is transferred from the device to the copper layers of the PCB <em>(Fig. 3)</em>. The ideal thermal design will result in the entire board being the same temperature. The copper thickness, number of layers, continuity of thermal paths, and board area will have a direct impact on the operating temperature of components.</p>
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<div class="captioned-image caption-none"><img alt="3. IC thermal conduction can be achieved through the use of thermal vias and copper planes. " src="http://electronicdesign.com/site-files/electronicdesign.com/files/uploads/2013/07/0613WEBEE_idt_FIG3.gif" title="3. IC thermal conduction can be achieved through the use of thermal vias and copper planes. " />
<div class="image-description">3. IC thermal conduction can be achieved through the use of thermal vias and copper planes.</div>
</div>
<p></p>
<p>To reduce operating temperatures easily, use more layers of solid ground or power planes connected directly to heat sources with multiple vias. Establishing effective heat and high-current routes will optimize heat transfer by means of convection. The use of thermally conductive planes to spread the heat evenly dramatically lowers the temperature by maximizing the area used for heat transfer to the atmosphere <em>(Fig. 4)</em>.<sup>2</sup></p>
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<div class="captioned-image caption-none"><img alt="4. Effective heat spreading can distribute the heat uniformly from a heat source to all of the PCB’s exposed surfaces. " src="http://electronicdesign.com/site-files/electronicdesign.com/files/uploads/2013/07/0613WebEEidtFig4.jpg" title="4. Effective heat spreading can distribute the heat uniformly from a heat source to all of the PCB’s exposed surfaces. " />
<div class="image-description">4. Effective heat spreading can distribute the heat uniformly from a heat source to all of the PCB’s exposed surfaces.</div>
</div>
<p></p>
<p>With even heat distribution, the following formula can be used to estimate surface temperatures:</p>
<p>P = (heat<sub>Convection</sub>) x area x (ΔT)     </p>
<p>where:</p>
<p>P = power dissipated on the board</p>
<p>Area = board (X axis x Y axis)</p>
<p>ΔT = surface temperature – ambient temperature</p>
<p>Heat<sub>Convection</sub> = convection constant based on ambient conditions</p>
<p><strong>Fine-Tuning The Component Placement</strong></p>
<p>Components should be placed in the following order: connectors, power circuits, sensitive and precision circuits, critical circuit components, and then the rest. The schematic is built around each part on the PCB and completely interconnected. Routing priority for the circuit is chosen based on power levels, noise susceptibility, or generation and routing capability.</p>
<p>In general, trace widths of 10 to 20 mils are used for traces carrying 10 to 20 mA and 5 to 8 mils for traces carrying less current than 10 mA. High-frequency (greater than 3 MHz) and rapidly changing signals should be carefully considered when routed along with high-impedance nodes.</p>
<p>The lead engineer/designer should review the layout, and physical locations and routing paths should be adjusted iteratively until the circuit is optimized for all design constraints. The number of layers depends on power levels and complexity. Add layers in pairs since the copper cladding is produced that way. The routing of power signals and planes, the grounding scheme, and the board’s ability to be used as intended all influence operation.</p>
<p>Final inspections should involve verification that sensitive nodes and circuits are properly shielded from noise sources, solder mask exists between pins and vias, and the silkscreen is clear and concise. When determining layer stack-up, use the first inner layer below the component sides as ground and assign power planes to other layers. Stack-ups are created in a manner that balances the board relative to the midpoint of the Z axis.</p>
<p>Consider any concerns the PCB designer has during the reviews, and correct the PCB based on feedback generated by the reviews. Create and verify lists of changes during each review iteration until the board is finalized. During all stages of the layout, keep the design error free by using the design rule checker (DRC).</p>
<p>The DRC can only catch errors that it has been programmed to monitor, and DRC rule sets often change based on individual designs. At the minimum, the design rule checking should cover package-to-package spacing, unconnected nets (a unique name identifying each node of the circuit), shorted nets, air-gap violations, if vias are too close to solder pads, if vias are too close to each other, and vertical clearance violations.</p>
<p>Many other important DRC rules can be set to ensure a robust design, and they should be researched and understood. For example, keep clearances at or above 5 mils. Vias should not be located within surface-mount pads (unless back-filled). And, solder mask should be between all solder points.</p>
<p>Cost is often a driving influence behind PCB design, so it is good to understand the cost adders in PCB manufacturing. A typical board is two to four layers, with no drill holes less than 10 mils in diameter and 5-mil minimum air gaps and trace widths. It also should be 0.062 in. thick with standard FR-4 and a copper foil weight of 1 oz. Additional layers, extra thick or thin boards, vias-in-pad, back-filled vias (non-conductive preferred due to conductivity limitations and thermal expansion differences), blind/buried vias, and lead time all substantially add to the overall cost.</p>
<p>Manufacturer capabilities should be understood when the PCB design commences. PCB fabs are routinely contacted about capabilities and cost reduction techniques when designing PCBs for manufacturability.</p>
<p><strong><a name="Summary" id="Summary"></a>Summary</strong></p>
<p>PCB design may be complex, but it is quite possible to design good boards with a little technique and practice. Using these guidelines and adding research when needed, seasoned veterans may continue honing their skills and novice designers may learn to create high-quality PCBs that exceed expectations.</p>
<p><strong><a name="References" id="References"></a>References</strong></p>
<p>1. Cohen, Patricio, <em>Concepts and terminology used in Printed Circuit Boards (PCB)</em>, Electrosoft Engineering, Web, May 25, 2013.</p>
<p>2. Mauney, Charles, <em>Thermal Considerations for Surface Mount Layouts</em>, Texas Instruments, Web, May 13, 2013.</p>
<p></p>
<div class="captioned-image caption-left"><strong><em><img alt="" src="http://electronicdesign.com/site-files/electronicdesign.com/files/uploads/2013/07/0613WebEE_Smith.jpg" /></em></strong></div>
<p><strong><em>Nicholaus Smith </em></strong><em>is an applications engineer at Integrated Device Technology with more than 10 years of experience working on printed-circuit boards (PCBs) and in semiconductor engineering. He was educated at the University of Arizona and San Jose State University while working as a technician and PCB designer. During his career, he has designed and used PCBs for engineering evaluation, customer demonstration, IC qualification, and automatic test equipment. </em></p>
<p></p>
</div>Electrical Engineering - General Resourceshttp://www.engineerslooking.com/resource-library/electrical-engineering-general-resources2013-07-21T11:44:35.189Z2013-07-21T11:44:35.189ZRichard Savoiehttp://www.engineerslooking.com/members/0w2bf9keu4uke<div><p>Feel free to post anything EE-related here.</p>
<p>I just read this interesting explanation about some simple but often misunderstood wiring concepts.</p>
<p><a href="http://electrical-engineering-portal.com/what-is-the-difference-between-bonding-grounding-and-earthing" target="_blank">What's the difference between bonding, grounding, and earthing?</a></p>
<p><a href="http://electrical-engineering-portal.com/what-is-the-difference-between-bonding-grounding-and-earthing" target="_blank"><img src="http://electrical-engineering-portal.com/wp-content/uploads/typical-bonding-connection.jpg" width="306" height="177" class="align-full" /></a></p>
</div>Self-Improvement - Becoming a Better Engineer and Humanhttp://www.engineerslooking.com/resource-library/self-improvement-becoming-a-better-engineer-and-human2013-07-13T06:02:50.573Z2013-07-13T06:02:50.573ZRichard Savoiehttp://www.engineerslooking.com/members/0w2bf9keu4uke<div><p>I thought this would be an interesting category for the Resource Library to collect all of the interesting methods, techniques, classes, trainings, and other ways to improve ourselves. We all want to improve the world, our business, our products, whatever - but improving ourselves is a key way to also making those things better. Being able to process, design, analyze, manipulate faster and better. So here are some ways to do it. </p>
<p>The idea came after reading these two articles called "Learning to Learn Faster". There are two parts, and here are some of the highlights followed by links to the originals.</p>
<p><span>“The average person reads 200-250 words-per-minute and spends 3 to 4 hours of their work day reading. That’s more than one-third of their time on the job. If that person makes $60,000 a year, then at least $20,000 of that money is paying for them to read. But proper training can easily double the average person’s reading speed (up to 400-450 w.p.m.). That cuts 3 to 4 hours down to 1 to 2. That’s a savings of over an hour a day. If you do that for 365 days a year, that’s 9 different 40 hour work weeks saved. That’s real time productivity. Imagine what you could do with all that extra time.”</span></p>
<p><span><span>“If Rip Van Winkle woke up today,” says Kwik, “the only thing he would recognize is our education system. It was created for 18th century needs, to train people to work in factories or the farm. Today, we’re paid by what’s between our ears. We’re knowledge workers. We’re paid for our ability to learn. Yet we have an educational system that doesn’t teach people how to learn. How to focus, listen, innovate, think, remember, problem solve. Why do most people have poor reading skills? One reason is that the last time most people took a class called “reading” they were probably five years old.”</span></span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>"... the use of a visual pacer improves reading speeds by 25 percent.  </strong></span></p>
<p>But Kwik tells his students to <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>either use their left finger for that pacer; or hold that pacer (i.e. a pencil) with their left hand</strong></span>—and that’s where this story gets interesting.</p>
<p>Here’s why: The left side of the body is controlled by the right side of the brain. While brain function is not evenly lateralized, the right side is far more creative than the left. When we control a pacer with our left hand, we are actively engaging these same creative process. It happens subconsciously, it happens automatically, but by engaging the right side of the brain we’re firing up the imagination which, in turn, fires us sense memory..."</p>
<p>"<span>human performance is hackable. Learning is hackable. The brain is hackable. Literally."</span></p>
<p>"...the conscious mind processes roughly 40 bits of information a second. The subconscious, though, can handle 20 million bits of information a second."</p>
<p>"<span>This is also why taking a shower or driving a car is such an effective problem solving hack. When we engage in lightly stimulating activity—activity that requires mental processing, but not too much of it—we are occupying the conscious mind with a task, and allowing the subconscious mind to take over information processing responsibilities."</span></p>
<p><span>Interested in learning how to take advantage of methods such as the "McGuyver" technique to greatly increase your problem solving ability? Check out the full story in the great articles below. I'm hooked.</span></p>
<p><span><a href="http://singularityhub.com/2013/06/18/learning-to-learn-faster-the-one-superpower-everyone-needs/">http://singularityhub.com/2013/06/18/learning-to-learn-faster-the-one-superpower-everyone-needs/</a></span></p>
<p><span><a href="http://singularityhub.com/2013/07/11/learning-to-learn-faster-part-ii-harnessing-the-subconscious-for-accelerated-performance/">http://singularityhub.com/2013/07/11/learning-to-learn-faster-part-ii-harnessing-the-subconscious-for-accelerated-performance/</a></span></p>
</div>Great Engineering Quoteshttp://www.engineerslooking.com/resource-library/great-engineering-quotes2013-07-11T02:01:05.942Z2013-07-11T02:01:05.942ZRichard Savoiehttp://www.engineerslooking.com/members/0w2bf9keu4uke<div><p>We could all use a little inspiration now and again. One of the best forms is when a great thinker has put an idea, concept, feeling, or other sentiment in to the perfect words, so here is a listing of some of my fav engineering or science related quotes. Feel free to add some that inspire you and share them around.</p>
<p><span>“When you want to know how things really work, study them when they're coming apart.” </span><br />
<span>― </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9226.William_Gibson">William Gibson</a><span>, </span><i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/10567916">Zero History</a></i></p>
<p>“The trick to having good ideas is not to sit around in glorious isolation and try to think big thoughts. The trick is to get more parts on the table.” <br />
― <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1563.Steven_Johnson">Steven Johnson</a>,<i><span> </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/12645873">Where Good Ideas Come From: The Natural History of Innovation</a></i></p>
<p>“All we know about the new economic world tells us that nations which train engineers will prevail over those which train lawyers. No nation has ever sued its way to greatness.” <br />
― <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/334156.Richard_Lamm">Richard Lamm</a></p>
<p><span>“The problem in this business isn’t to </span><span>keep people from stealing your ideas; </span><span>it's making them steal your ideas!” </span><br />
<span>― Howard Aiken</span></p>
<p><span>"Engineering is the art of organizing and directing men and controlling the forces and materials of nature for the benefit of the human race".  --</span><a href="http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Henry_G._Stott/" style="font-size: 13px;">Henry G. Stott</a><span style="font-size: 13px;">,</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span><span>“[John] Kobak explained, 'The way you learn anything is that something fails, and you figure out how not to have it fail again.” </span><br />
<span>― </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4937663.Robert_S_Arrighi">Robert S. Arrighi</a><span>, </span><i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/23631277">Pursuit of Power: NASA's Propulsion Systems Laboratory No. 1 and 2</a></i></span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>“The fewer moving parts, the better." "Exactly. No truer words were ever spoken in the context of engineering.” </span><br />
<span>― </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3492192.Christian_Cantrell">Christian Cantrell</a><span>, </span><i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/12756847">Containment</a></i></p>
<p>“We don’t care about what you did yesterday—we care about what you’re going to do tomorrow.” <br />
― <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/12581.Cory_Doctorow">Cory Doctorow</a>,<i><span> </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/6611457">Makers</a></i></p>
<p>"The ideal engineer is a composite ... He is not a scientist, he is not a mathematician, he is not a sociologist or a writer; but he may use the knowledge and techniques of any or all of these disciplines in solving engineering problems." -- <a href="http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/N._W._Dougherty/">N. W. Dougherty</a></p>
<p><span>“Chance only favours the prepared mind.” - Louis Pasteur</span></p>
<p><span>"Genius is one per cent inspiration and ninety-nine per cent perspiration." - Thomas Edison</span></p>
<p><span><span>“I derive satisfaction from doing something that is useful for other people. I enjoy what I do, I was born to be an engineer.” - B. Gordon, Founder, CEO Analogic</span></span></p>
<p><strong><i>Einstein Quotes:</i></strong></p>
<p>“I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.” <i><br /></i>― <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9810.Albert_Einstein">Albert Einstein</a></p>
<p>“If you can't explain it to a six year old, you don't understand it yourself.” <i><br /></i>― <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9810.Albert_Einstein">Albert Einstein</a></p>
<p>“Creativity is knowing how to hide your sources” <i><br /></i>― <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9810.Albert_Einstein">Albert Einstein</a></p>
<p>“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” <i><br />
<span>―</span></i> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9810.Albert_Einstein">Albert Einstein</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>“Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.” <i><br />
<span>― </span></i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9810.Albert_Einstein">Albert Einstein</a></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>“Never memorize something that you can look up.” </span><br />
<span>― </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9810.Albert_Einstein">Albert Einstein</a></p>
<p><span>“If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?” </span><br />
<span>― </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9810.Albert_Einstein">Albert Einstein</a></p>
<p><span>“Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.” </span><br />
<span>― </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9810.Albert_Einstein">Albert Einstein</a></p>
<p></p>
<p><i>Sources:</i></p>
<p><i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/engineering">http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/engineering</a></i></p>
<p><i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/9810.Albert_Einstein">http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/9810.Albert_Einstein</a></i></p>
<p><i><a href="http://www.quotationspage.com/subjects/engineering/">http://www.quotationspage.com/subjects/engineering/</a></i></p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p><em><a href="http://www.slideshare.net/tmcboston/great-engineering-quotes">http://www.slideshare.net/tmcboston/great-engineering-quotes</a></em></p>
</div>Online Science and Engineering Magazines (not blogs)http://www.engineerslooking.com/resource-library/online-science-and-engineering-magazines-not-blogs2013-07-08T11:59:22.059Z2013-07-08T11:59:22.059ZRichard Savoiehttp://www.engineerslooking.com/members/0w2bf9keu4uke<div><p>This discussion is for all the best online STEM magazines, i.e. sites that have full length features, multi-media articles, and generally more than your typical blog. They tend to go in depth into subjects much like a print magazine, but aren't necessarily associated with one.  I'll drop a couple that I like, but please do add your own to the discussion!</p>
<p><a href="http://www.newscientist.com/" target="_blank">New Scientist</a></p>
<p>I like New Scientist because they often do in depth analyses on controversial issues that impact society, not just the environment, health or technology. There is a heavy psychology bend to their pieces that I really enjoy. They also tend to be skeptical and well-balanced, not the type to jump on the bandwagon even at the risk of being unpopular.</p>
<p><a href="http://discovermagazine.com/" target="_blank">Discover Magazine</a></p>
<p>Still my favorite hardcopy mag to take on a plane, and the web version doesn't disappoint. Probably on the opposite end from New Scientist, i.e. popularist, left-leaning environmental idealism and alarmism, heaps of stories about robots and space, and just generally a fun magazine with less focus on the science and more on the cool. Basically like PopSci but more stuff about space.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.bangscience.org" target="_blank">Bang! Science</a></p>
<p>A magazine by Oxford University, and easily the most aesthetically appealing science magazine on the web. Fun to read, with great illustrations and reasonable analysis. The stories are a bit more bloggish, but I'd still consider it a magazine.</p>
<p>So there's three. What STEM magazines do you read online?</p>
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</div>Engineering Bookshttp://www.engineerslooking.com/resource-library/engineering-books2013-06-29T13:05:48.285Z2013-06-29T13:05:48.285ZRichard Savoiehttp://www.engineerslooking.com/members/0w2bf9keu4uke<div><p id="docs-internal-guid-65e70213-9009-c147-e084-b15d305ae7a3" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;">I don’t know about you, but I still enjoy the tangible feeling of a book in my hands, flipping through the pleasantly static-clung pages, using the index over and over until it’s practically memorized.  So here are some great sources on the web to get everything from Fundamentals of Calculus to more specific texts in your discipline (or another).</span></p>
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<p style="line-height: 1.15; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;">http://www.amazon.com/Engineering-Professional-Technical-Books/b?ie=UTF8&node=173515</span> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;">- Amazon.com has an insane selection of great used and new enginering books. Start at this link and dig in. If you’re looking for something specific, you’re almost sure to find it, and if you’re just looking to browse, it’s great for that, too.</span></p>
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<p style="line-height: 1.15; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" dir="ltr"><a style="text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.biblio.com/bookstores/engineering/768"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;">http://www.biblio.com/bookstores/engineering/768</span></a> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;">- A great index of bookshops specializing in enginering texts. A great place to find a brick and mortar shop local to you that might be worth a visit, or to hunt down a particular rare gem that you’ve been looking for.</span></p>
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<li style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; list-style-type: decimal; background-color: transparent;" dir="ltr">
<p style="line-height: 1.15; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" dir="ltr"><a style="text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.ebooks.com/subjects/academic/engineering/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;">http://www.ebooks.com/subjects/academic/engineering/</span></a> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;">- Out of print is the specialty here, so if you can’t find it anywhere else, try this one.</span></p>
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<p style="line-height: 1.15; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" dir="ltr"><a style="text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.powells.com/section/textbooks/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;">http://www.powells.com/section/textbooks/</span></a> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;">- More generalist in content, but much more fun to browse than the previously mentioned sites. Lots of used titles as well as new, and a fun book browsing experience.</span></p>
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<p style="line-height: 1.15; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" dir="ltr"><a style="text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.ecampus.com"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;">http://www.ecampus.com</span></a> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;">- Specializing more in undergrad texts required for your courses, but has some other more obscure stuff if you’re persistant!</span></p>
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</div>Engineering Calculators - Web and Mobilehttp://www.engineerslooking.com/resource-library/engineering-calculators-web-and-mobile2013-06-29T12:40:31.937Z2013-06-29T12:40:31.937ZRichard Savoiehttp://www.engineerslooking.com/members/0w2bf9keu4uke<div><p id="docs-internal-guid-65e70213-8ff2-c7b9-a01f-5c77d09cbdc7" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;">Here is a roundup of some popular and useful calculator sites on the web. Most of them are java based except for the Android and Apple ones for your mobile devices. It’s great to calculate on the go, or in the office, so here are some solutions for both.</span></p>
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<p style="line-height: 1.15; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" dir="ltr"><a style="text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.calculatoredge.com/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;">http://www.calculatoredge.com/</span></a> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;"> This site has a plethora of simple engineering calculators for basic things like angle conversions, pressure, time, chemistry, and other general purpose things. Perfect for students doing assignments or engineers wanting a nice one stop shop. They also have a bookstore and job portal.</span></p>
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<p style="line-height: 1.15; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" dir="ltr"><a style="text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.engineersedge.com/calculators.htm"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;">http://www.engineersedge.com/calculators.htm</span></a> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;">Mechanical design, tolerancing, geometry, and more. The selections are VERY specific and granularly listed. Perhaps an ME would get more out of them, as most are Greek to me (so to speak), but there certainly lots of them!</span></p>
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<li style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; list-style-type: decimal; background-color: transparent;" dir="ltr">
<p style="line-height: 1.15; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" dir="ltr"><a style="text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.calculator.org/default.aspx"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;">http://www.calculator.org/default.aspx</span></a> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;">A popular alternative to a handheld engineering calculator, although they’ll be hard pressed to get me to give up my TI-85, sticky buttons or not. Looks pretty good, and has a wide range of function, so could be a great alternative for someone used to a traditional calculator and not ready to get into Matlab, etc.</span></p>
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<p style="line-height: 1.15; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;">For Android and Apple:</span></p>
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<p style="line-height: 1.15; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" dir="ltr"><a style="text-decoration: none;" href="https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/engineering-calculators/id592006055?mt=8"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;">https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/engineering-calculators/id592006055?mt=8</span></a> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;">- A popular iPhone scientific calculator</span></p>
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<p style="line-height: 1.15; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" dir="ltr"><a style="text-decoration: none;" href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.nickfines.RealCalc&feature=search_result"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;">https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.nickfines.RealCalc&feature=search_result</span></a> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;">- The most popular Android scientific calculator</span></p>
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<p style="line-height: 1.15; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" dir="ltr"><a style="text-decoration: none;" href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.herbertlaw&feature=search_result"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;">https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.herbertlaw&feature=search_result</span></a> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;">- A popular graphing calc for Android</span></p>
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