Arc Reactor and new projects!

I have finally completed drafting the Arc reactor from Iron Man 2 on Microstation! After many hours of mouse-clicking and calculating, I realized that there must be a more efficient way to draft scale models such as the arc reactor. With the assistance of the drafting team at my mentorship, I am currently thinking of new approaches to subsequent C.A.D.D. projects to increase my efficiency and continue practicing my drafting skills.

For example, on my most recent project, I completed a model of a biohazard symbol on Microstation. For this project, I took a different approach by writing down each step as I went. This helped me to increase my efficiency by thinking about each step very carefully, making sure no mouse-clicks were wasted.

Blog 8 - Research and Working EQ

Title:  Blog 8 - Research and Working EQ 

Label:  Research

Due Date: Thursday October 16 by 8AM

1.  What is your working EQ?

My working EQ is "What is power engineering and how does it relate to Caltrans?"

2.  What is a possible answer to your working EQ? Please write the answer in thesis format. 

What is power engineering and how does it relate to Caltrans?

•  The conversion of power into energy, where the main goal is to understand and manipulate currents (e.g. AC or DC) to make them more efficient.

•  The main goal of a power engineer is to deliver reliable, stable sources of power to their customers.

3.  What is the most important source you have used that has helped you come up with an answer to your working EQ?

The most important source I've used that has helped me answer my working EQ is an article by Mary McMahon called What Does a Power Engineer Do? It has helped me identify the main duties, areas of interest, and working environments power engineers encounter on a daily basis. This source has lead me to other questions, such as "What are the applications of power engineering in Caltrans?" and "What kind of work would a power engineer be doing in Caltrans, if any?".

4.  Who is your mentor, or where are you doing mentorship, and how does what you are doing relate to your working EQ?

My mentor is Allen Barreno, a professional project electrical engineer. I do my mentorship at his company, BERG Power Engineers, where I practice drafting work independently. My drafting work relates to my working EQ because the ability to competently do C.A.D.D. (Computer-Aided Drafting and Design) work is imperative in the engineering world, especially in the sub-field of electrical  engineering, where you are constantly using the computer either to design, draft, or communicate with coworkers or fellow engineers.

Blog 7: Independent Component 1 Approval

Due Date:  Thursday, 10/2 by 8AM

What is it?  Independent Component 1 is an opportunity for you to add a dimension of creativity and/or an additional outlet for research. The goal of the component is for you to explore your topic in more depth with this component.  On February 6, 2015, you will be turning in the following to your blog to prove completion of this component:

• Log of time taken to complete assignment Senior Project Hours spreadsheet.
• Evidence of the 30 hours of work (e.g. transcript, essays, tests, art work, photographs) as digital artifacts.
• LIA explanation of what you did.

To get your idea approved now, please answer the following questions:

1.  Describe in detail what you plan to do for your 30 hours.

For my independent component, I plan to practice drafting work at my mentorship (using Auto CAD and Microstation) and document what I accomplish in a composition notebook when I leave.

2.  Discuss how or what you will do to meet the expectation of showing 30 hours of evidence.

I will ask my mentor for permission to do drafting work from previous projects he's done. If he says yes, then I will receive a print from him and will begin working on it ASAP. Assuming each print takes approximately 3 hours to complete, I will have to draft a minimum of ten prints for my independent component. In terms of mentorship time, I predict this component will take me about twenty days to complete since I spend an average of 1.5 hours a week at my mentorship (once every Friday). I will also spend an additional five days (besides Friday) at my mentorship to ensure that my thirty hours are complete. As far as documenting goes, I will take before and after pictures of my drafting work to showcase my progress. In addition, I will also write a small description of what I did and update my Senior Project Hours Log as needed.

3.  And explain how what you will be doing will help you explore your topic in more depth.

Drafting is an important part of the engineering process because the accuracy of a project's designs depend on how accurately they were drafted. The practice of drafting will not only help me develop the skill and competency to work proficiently in an engineering environment, but it will also help me learn about the different drafting standards set forth by various companies (such as LA DWP and Edison) and techniques utilized by drafting professionals to improve efficiency.

4.  Update your Senior Project Hours log.

Your answers to the questions should be supported with details and examples for the senior team to understand what you plan to do.  

Drafting the Arc Reactor

Over the past few weeks, I have been practicing my drafting skills at my mentorship through mini drafting projects using Auto CAD and Microstation. Some of the things I have created include floorplans of bedrooms, two-dimensional models of inanimate objects, as well as complex shapes and designs. In my latest visits to BPE, I have taken on my most challenging project yet: creating a 2-D model of Tony Stark's arc reactor from Iron Man 2. Having spent a considerable number of hours working on it, I am pleased to announce that I am approaching completion of my most memorable project thus far. 

Blog 6 - Second Interview Preparation

The purpose of the second interview is to justify your mentor as an expert in the field.  Thus, you will be asking them at least 5 questions about their background and/or the background of the organization or company where they work.

1.  Who is your mentor and where do they work?

My mentor's name is Allen Barreno and he is a professional project electrical engineer. He works at BERG Power Engineers in West Covina, CA. 

2.  What five* questions will you ask them about their background?

• Tell me about the most challenging engineering project you've been involved with over the past year.
• Tell me about a time when you became aware of a hazardous workplace condition. How did you handle it?
• Give me an example of when you had to teach a skill to another engineer.
• Tell me about your experience in dealing with routine engineering work. How do you keep from getting bored?
• For what advice or assistance do fellow engineers turn to you?
• Give me two examples of technical decisions you had to make on your last job?
• In the field of engineering, priorities often change quickly. Give me an example of a time when that happened. How did you handle it?

The interview is due 10/25 by 8AM in Q&A format to turnitin.com.

*(an arbitrary number)

Blog 5 - Mentorship Reflection

Due Date:  Thursday September 11 by 8AM

Based on what you have done for your senior project so far, answer the following questions (be specific and use examples).

1. Mentorship question: Describe your experience in how you found your mentorship?  If you haven't found one yet, describe your experience so far in the search of a mentor.

About mid-June, I began my grueling quest for an electrical engineer that would take me under their wing. I spent about 5 days researching and calling different companies (such as Edison, LA DWP, and Cal trans) for a mentorship, but to no avail. On the seventh day (like an act of Providence), my mom gave me a list of phone numbers of engineering firms around my area. I called about ten firms from three different cities before I stumbled upon a company called BERG Power Engineers (BPE). When I contacted the company, I was greeted by the secretary who told me about an electrical engineer named: Allen Barreno and how he could possibly assist me with my dilemma.  After consulting with the secretary, I visited their website to check the resumes of the different engineers that worked there. When I looked over his resume, I couldn't help but grin at how legitimate and well-rounded he was and I decided to make a trip over to BPE to ask him to be my mentor. The next day, I went to BPE, where I met up with Allen to discuss my Senior project and the opportunity to pursue a mentorship there. After a few minutes of discussion, he pleasantly agreed to make me his apprentice. He told me I could start observing and helping him the subsequent Monday. The following week, I began my mentorship at BERG for 14 days before the beginning of the school year. Since then, I have been mentoring there every Friday. 

2. Research question: What has been your most important article you have read so far and why?

The most important article I've read so far is called What are the Different Types of Jobs for Power Engineers? because it has helped me to focus my research on problems encountered primarily by power systems engineers. This article also offers a concise description of many other jobs [as wells as their educational requirements] related to the power engineering field, such as a power plant control engineer, software engineer, and a service & repair engineer.

Free Online Textbook for Electrical engineering!

The other day I was researching some articles for my senior topic when I stumbled upon a diamond in the ruff: a website that offers unlimited access to a series of textbooks on electricity and electronics (AC current, DC, semiconductors, etc.). Aptly named named All About Circuits, this website offers a plethora of other services as well, such as: video lectures, blogs, worksheets, and forums (on a variety of electrical engineering topics for students, hobbyists, and professionals). If you plan to become an electrical engineer, are a professional engineer, or even just a fan of electronics and would like to expand your knowledge, I recommend that you check out this website now!