An Argument for Mechanical Engineers to Become PEs

I always want to spread the word about the importance of licensure for mechanical engineers and my vision for how PEs of all disciplines can apply their creativity to solving the challenges facing our society around the globe. In 2014, I had a wonderful opportunity to share my thoughts in the Comments section of the May 2014 edition of ASME’s Mechanical Engineering Magazine. I also posted a slightly larger version of the article at EzineArticles. I think the argument still holds up and is just as relevant today as it was four years ago.  - Dr. Tom

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Dr. Tom Has a Plan!

Our plan for your success is based on the Dr. Tom Method, which Dr. Tom developed over his many years helping mechanical engineers prepare for the PE Exam. Here at DTC, we have all worked together to fine tune and develop this method into a highly structured online review that, step by step, helps you develop the skills and resources you need to pass the PE exam. We’ve taken the guesswork out of what to study and what not to study. Follow the plan and you will learn what you need to know and the strategies that will help you pass the exam.



“The organized approach (study schedule, practice problem selection, and reference binder structure) allowed me to focus on learning the content for the exam instead of wasting time trying to figure those what to study on my own”
-Brent V., PE, Houston, Texas

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Targeted Civil and Mechanical PE Exam Reviews that work! 

FREE MECHANICAL VIDEO OF THE MONTH - Dr. Tom’s Most Popular Video of All Time! - Distributed Loads

Dr. Tom has created over 40 videos about Mechanical Engineering Topics that he offers for free on the DTC website and on the DTC YouTube Channel. These videos have become very popular with engineers and engineering students around the world. They also supplement the lessons contained in Dr. Tom’s ME PE Exam Review Courses. 

His MERM Instructional Companion videos address some of the shortfalls of the MERM, particularly in the topics of Statics and Dynamics. The most popular of these videos is his MERM Instructional Companion Video on Distributed Loads with over 49,000 views! It’s generated comments like, “You just made my day. I am having my exam tomorrow and the trapezoidal UDL was killing me :)  Thanks :)” and “Best instruction I've seen on this! Thanks!” and “Thank you so much; you made it easy to me.” Maybe it’s time to check out what all the fuss is about.

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TESTIMONIAL OF THE WEEK - Dr. Tom’s Recipe for Success!

“My biggest concern was where to begin and how to organize all of the information, and relearning the topics in time. Dr. Tom guided us with a cookbook method of organizing the info and provided an Exam Day Companion that concisely summarized most of the reference info in one notebook. He defined for us the number of hours needed for prep. I felt that Dr. Tom saw everything from the test takers point of view. He was always very respectful, dedicated and personable. You will not find anyone else more committed. I would most definitely recommend Dr. Tom's Review to others preparing for the ME PE Exam. It was very helpful, but Dr. Tom can't do it all. If a student wants to pass on the first try, they need to put in the 300 hrs of quality prep time that Dr. Tom recommends.”
- Patrick P. PE, 25 yrs out of college

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Lasers Uncover Lost Roman Roads

Throughout England, laser scanning technology is being used to find Roman civil engineering projects. Aircraft instrumented with laser scanners, specifically LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging), will be recording all 50,000 square miles of England. Archaeologists are using these data to find missing Roman roads, including 10 miles of a Roman road between Ribchester and Lancaster, 10 other routes, and various river crossings. The information will also be used to improve flood risk models, identify illegal waste dumps, and perhaps a variety of currently unknown uses as the agency collecting the data makes it available to the public. The files include 11 terabytes of data and have been downloaded over 500,000 times. - Dr. Daniel Findley, PE - Civil Transportation Instructor

 

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The Time To Start Your Review Is NOW!

Right now is the prefect time to begin your Fast Track Review for the April 2018 PE Exam. If you start now, you will have 10 weeks to get through the course and 3 weeks for your final review. So what are you waiting for? The clock is ticking! SIGN UP and start your review today!



“I lacked organization. We all know the vast material to cover, but I needed someone to help me focus on the major exam topics. Dr. Tom did a great job in addressing the key topics. Comparing other PE Exam preparation courses I have taken, Dr. Tom's course was very organized and concise and focused. I would definitely recommend Dr. Tom's PE Exam Review.”
- South Carolina PE

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TESTIMONIAL OF THE WEEK - Build Your Confidence with Dr. Tom!

“His approach built my confidence steadily from beginning to end. I was getting nowhere trying to prepare on my own. I bought some references and materials and attempted to work through them, but my confidence suffered. I felt like I forgot what I learned as soon as I moved on to another topic. Dr. Tom helped me focus my efforts, cutting out things not likely to impact the test. I truly enjoyed Dr. Tom's online presence and encouragement. He is a gifted and enthusiastic teacher who comes alongside you with empathy and humor. I passed on my first try. Even if I hadn't passed, I was sure that my chances would be good with more effort using Dr. Tom's approach.”
- Andrew Miller, PE

 

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FREE CIVIL VIDEO OF THE MONTH - Geotechnical: NCEES Problem 119 - Retaining Wall Stability

Problem 119 in the NCEES Civil AM Practice Exam is a classic Geotechnical question on gravity retaining wall stability, particularly overturning stability of the wall. It is critical that you be able to solve these types of classical retaining wall problems on the PE exam because you are almost certain to see them regardless of which discipline you select for the exam. This question will help you brush up on some basic geometry, statics, and will touch on very simple soil mechanics of lateral earth pressure, which is all you really need to know to solve retaining wall problems on the AM portion of the exam. However, you need to be efficient at solving these problems quickly even if it looks like they require several steps to get to the end result. Our instructional courses at Dr. Tom’s Classroom provide the most efficient way to get to the solution for common PE exam problems just like this one. Give this problem a try and watch the video to see if you understand all of the steps to get to the end result, good luck! - Mike Batten, PE - DTC Civil Geotechnical Instructor

Mike Batten’s Solution to Civil AM: NCEES Problem 119 - Geotechnical: Retaining Wall Stability

DTC recommends that anyone taking the PE Exam purchase the NCEES Practice Exam for the exam they are taking. It is an essential exam review resource. https://account.ncees.org/exam-prep/

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Snowed In? Perfect Time to Start Your Review

It’s cold outside. The snow is falling. But you can keep warm and busy inside by starting your review for the PE Exam today. And DTC’s structured and targeted FAST TRACK reviews will keep you on track all the way to through the spring thaw until the day of the April exam.



“Dr. Tom's Classroom is ideal for professionals with challenging work-loads. The structured classes that focus only on the information vital to passing the test save valuable time studying topics that are unlikely to be included in the test.”
Nick Viviano, Black & Veatch, Overland Park, KS

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Robot Conducts Orchestra

If you made a list of 1,000 jobs robots will eventually perform, I suspect that orchestra conductor would not be on your list. Yet, this is exactly what has happened. In an ASME article, I learned that ABB, the well-known Swiss corporation, adapted one of its robots to do just that. Its name is YuMi. It would be the first time a robot has conducted a live orchestra. It normally takes someone years to become even a mediocre conductor, however it took YuMi only a couple of days to learn the very complex piece it would conduct. No programming language was involved, mostly what those in the robot industry call "lead-through programming.”  The conductor, Andrea Cassoni, led YuMi through the piece by holding right hands, then did the piece again using left hands. ABB used one of their programs, RobotStudio, to smooth out the movements. As Cassoni reflected, "Robots continue to capture the imagination of artists, the media, and the general public." YuMi has certainly done that. I guess an orchestra of robots lead by YuMi is next. - Dr. Tom

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High Winds and Cranes - A Potentially Dangerous Combination

In September 2017, Hurricane Irma slammed the state of Florida. As vertical construction is underway in several high density areas of the state, construction sites were at high risk to damage from the powerful storm. In Miami, there were over 20 tower cranes fully erected and being used for various building construction projects.  Of those 20, two tower cranes suffered partial collapses during hurricane Irma. A third crane also suffered a collapse in Fort Lauderdale. The exact cause of the collapses has not yet been released, but high winds from Hurricane Irma were a contributing factor. As a recent article in ENR mentions, these hurricane related incidents will result in new attention to regulations relating to tower cranes.

The Construction depth portion of the Civil PE exam often features questions requiring various calculations related to tower crane loading and orientations. Two scenarios are very common for tower crane analysis: the first is the “in-service” condition and the second is the “out-of-service” or “weathervane” condition. In the in-service condition, both wind loads and service loads are applied to the crane analysis. In the weathervane condition, the swing brake is released and the crane jib is allowed full rotation, which greatly reduces the wind loading on the crane’s jib.  - Jason Savage, PE - Construction Instructor

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Is a DTC Fast Track Review Right for You?

If you’re planning to take the April 2018 Exam, we are currently offering the Fast Track version of our Civil and Mechanical PE Exam review. And with our structured approach, it could be just what you need. But we want you to know going in, that it’s a lot of work and a lot of hours. This is not a crash course. We don’t believe in them.

Our Fast Track Reviews are comprehensive reviews that thoroughly prepare you for the exam, with with a method that provides you with targeted assignments, lots of practice problems, a way to organize your references for quick access during the exam, and a strategy for solving problems on exam day. If you dedicate yourself to the plan and put in the time, you will be prepared for the exam by April 13, 2018.

“On my first attempt at the PE exam I gathered all the recommended materials I could find, established a system and devoted 260 hours to studying. I failed. Too much of my self directed study time was spent studying high challenge low probability material or material that wouldn't even be on the exam at all. Dr. Tom provided strategy, guidance and clarity on what to expect on the exam as well as well organized, high quality review material and videos. I re-doubled my efforts and after another 415 hours of studying I retook the exam and breezed through it. My advice, if you are going to devote that much of your time to studying, spend the money for the review course. If I could go back in time, I would spend 10 times the cost of the review course to take it from the start. I have no doubt I would have passed the exam the first time if I had taken Dr. Tom's review course. Don't spend 400 hours kicking yourself for trying to save a few dollars, just take the course. After all, how much is your time worth to you?"
- Brad Townsend, P.E., MAJ USA

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TESTIMONIAL OF THE WEEK - Thumbs Up for the Fast Track!

“I thought the Fast Track Review Course was excellent. It provided the structure, practice, and review that I needed 25 years after receiving my mechanical engineering degree. I loved Dr. Tom's teaching - his style & strategy tips made the learning process very enjoyable. The class format and hand-outs were also excellent.  I  would strongly recommend it to others taking the ME PE exam.”
-Joel Lemke, PE, Emerson, Chanhassen, MN

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Tybot - A Mechanical Engineering Solution to a Construction Need

This autonomous rebar-tying robot is a great example of meshing construction engineering with mechanical engineering. A Construction Equipment article and video outlines how this robot is also helping to fill the void where there is a decline in skilled labor. I believe this type robot will also help to reduce human error, provide more consistent rebar connections and possibly increase productivity as the technology advances. As the skilled labor pool dwindles over time, the push for robotic type workers could very well be trending in construction in the near future. - Jason Savage, PE - DTC Construction Instructor

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Pickle Brine for Icy Roads

Here at DTC Headquarters, and in much of the country, we’re bracing for some wintery weather. This timely article explains how beets, cheese, and pickles are making our icy roads safer and more environmentally-friendly. Who knew?

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Hit the Ground Running with a Fast Track Review

It’s a new year and a new chance for you to achieve an important life goal: becoming a licensed professional engineer. With one of DTC’s Fast Track Reviews and a good bit of focused effort on your part, you can be prepared for the April 2018 PE Exam in just 3 months.

You don’t have any time to waste, and our reviews help you get organized, target your preparation, and learn exactly what you need to know to pass the exam. So Sign Up today and hit the ground running on your way to your PE.

“Dr. Tom's Fast Track Review has an aggressive schedule. However, I worked hard (30-40 hours a week) to "knock off the rust" my skills had collected over the years, tackling it at MY pace and on MY schedule (weekday lunch and evenings, weekends). I can say with absolute certainty that Dr. Tom’s review course was the key to my success. The organized approach (study schedule, practice problem selection, and reference binder structure) allowed me to focus on learning the content for the exam instead of wasting time trying to figure those out on my own. I was doubtful that I could get back up to speed on so many of the subjects that I spent years studying in college, but it worked!”
-Brent V., PE, Houston, Texas

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