examorph

It's just because I was told that finding a job these days is very hard and if you specialize in something at an early stage you have better job opportunities in that field. EDIT: Since you say it is better to do a honors/bachelors degree in a broad field would mechatronics be a good thing to go into? Thanks.

I am just still confused on what to study, I don't want to go into such a broad field like mechanical engineering and the automation/robotics looks like it would be good since I enjoy studying things like CAD/CAM, Solidedge/other design software, PLC's, CNC, I am told you study all this in a course like robotics/automation, what else do you think I would study in a course like this? Also, I have read that the course will probably contain a lot of electronics also, I have never really done much in electronics in the past, what sort of things do you think I would study?

So far I have learnt that automation engineers replace man power with machines/robots, does this mean automation engineering is the same thing as robotics engineering? I have done some research and found they done the following: -CNC -CAD/CAM, Design Software such as Solidedge -PLC -What else do they do? I heard they also do electronics, what type of things would they learn? Also, is this more geared towards electrical or mechanical engineering?

It's a type of engineering that covers things like oil & gas and off-shore, things like ROV's, so yes, I think it is the same as marine engineering, the degree covers the following: - Subsea Industry & Engineering Systems - Pipeline Fundamentals & Umbilicals - Riser & Topside Interfaces - CAD/CAM - Project Management - Subsea Control Systems - Science & Mathematics - Maintenance Techniques - Engineering Design - Quality Systems - Health and Safety - Personal and Professional Development - Work Based/Work Related Project I have heard that subsea engineers are in demand because of the prices of oil rising and companies needing more efficient tools and equipment to extract oil, I am not sure if this type of engineering will still be good in the future, from what I have read it sounds like it will be but I am not sure, out of all the engineering courses I find this the most interesting but I am not sure if I will be able to get a job after I finish my studies.

Do you think sub sea will have better job oppertunities compared to the renewables? I ask because these two are the two I am confused about. Thanks

That was actualy my initial plan, I wanted to go straight into mechanical engineering and go from there but from researching I found many people saying that times are hard now and finding a job with mechanical engineering is hard, also said that specialising on something would give you a better chance of geting a job in the future. This may all be incorrect, I am not sure it is just what I read over researching over the internet and talking to people I know who have seen this happen to others. Also, do you know about skipping the foundation degree if you do well at college? I am just wondering because that is what I heard, been told that if you do very well in college you do not need to do a foundation degree and can go straight into honours I think. Also how long does a honours degree usually take to complete? Thanks

Thanks for the reply. I am just confused on what to do in the future, I was thinking about sub sea engineering and then started looking into renewables and it looked interesting, I am researching it at the moment and thouhgt what better place to ask than on here... I wanted to get into something that is in developement and from what I have read I have seen that renewable energy is a type of engineering that is being developed, for example, finding ways of geting maximum power from the turbine blades, again I have just read about this and have very little experience and knowledge so please correct me if I am wrong. Like I said above I am not sure what would be the best option for me, either start of with a degree in sub sea, renewables or just go straight into mechanical engineering, the renewable energy course covers the following: - Geothermal Energy - Forces and Motion - Interfacing Devices - CAD/CAM - Project Management - Process Control - Science & Mathematics - Maintenance Techniques - Engineering Design - Quality Systems - Health and Safety - Personal and Professional Development - Work Based/Work Related Project There is still over a year until I start on the course I chose but I would rather do all my research now and start learning about it before so I know exactly what I am geting into. Thanks EDIT: the college I am at offers a 2 years foundation degree and then a 1 year top up on either mechanical or electrical honours degree (I prefer mechanical) and then I would like to progress to a higher level degree (masters) which will also probably be in mechanical engineering or a degree more concentrated on the field I am studying (in this case, renewables, but I am not sure if this type of degree even exists). EDIT: Since I am asking about all this, I have been told that a foundation degree is only really just the basics of what I would have allready probably learnt in my college course, I got told if you do very well in college (get distinctions throughout the full course) you can skip the foundation degree and go straight into honours, is this true?

I am currently studying engineering at a college level and am thinking of moving into renewable energy at a degree level in the future. I am here because I have read a lot on this forum and realised many people on this forum have very good knowledge about renewable energy, I just wanted to see your opinions on what you think he future is like for renewable energy (concentrating more on wind power) and am I making the right decision going into this sort of engineering? I am planning on doing a foundation degree in renewables and then moving it on to a honours in mechanical engineering, after this I plan on taking it further to a masters degree level and am confused if I am doing the correct thing. Obviously you havent got a crystal ball infront of you and cant read the future and tell me what will happen (although I have seen some replies on here which make me think you are so clever you could probably do such a thing ) what is your opinions on this? Thanks Also, I concentrate on wind power because I am from the UK and have heard there will be a lot of imporvment on wind power in the UK.

Ok, that question is also solved after a lot of researching.

Ok sorry, I just didnt want anyone to get confused.

EDIT: This problem is now solved after LOADS of searching but I have a new question below. Also, just wanted to say sorry for all the questions I have been asking lately, I have been trying my best not to annoy you all by doing silly things like bumping my thread to say something not very important but you all have just helped me so much I just keep coming back for more Thanks. Question: Now I know about the ductile deformation is because of the dislocation of the chrystalographic planes slipping but what is brittlenes about, is this the opposite? Are the crystal planes harder to dislocate?

After researching on control valves, I saw stainless steel springs being used in many examples I read about, this made me think that maybe it has properties that would be needed for the control valve but after reading your comment I am also confused on why stainless steel is used...the only thing that should make contact with the fluid is the diaphragm. I cant find the website I read it on but I remember reading it and making notes on it. Since stainless steel is not required what would you say is the most apropriate material for the spring?

Dont want to bump this thread and annoy other users, so if your are reading this, thanks.

Sorry just didnt want to bump the thread for saying thank you, but I have a new question. The grade I am thinking of is GW, would this be a combination of both G and W properties?

Thanks for the help.