The Blog is the heart and soul Mentored Engineer. Come see the hundreds of articles and videos that have shaped the minds of many young engineers.
New Course! – FEA Best Practices for Beginners
Welcome to Finite Element Analysis (FEA) with SOLIDWORKS Simulation for Beginners. This course is designed to take you from zero to confident in running meaningful FEA studies using SOLIDWORKS Simulation.
Intense Launch on Backyard Coaster with Ejector Airtime Insanity
Buckle up for the wildest ride in the backyard coaster universe! Tilley’s Terror has leveled up with a 20 MPH launch that hits hard and not one, but two ejector
First Ride on Tilley’s Terror! Packs a Punch!
After months of design, building, and testing, we finally took the first ride on Tilley’s Terror, our backyard launch coaster! Powered by a custom launch system, this ride already hits
How to Meter In/Out Pneumatic Cylinders + Mid-Stroke Stopping Explained!
In this video, we explore how to control the speed and motion of pneumatic cylinders using meter-in and meter-out flow control techniques. You’ll learn the key differences between these two
Coaster Kinematics Webinar (The Science of Smooth Thrills)
Originally live on Sunday, June 1st, 2025 at 2:30 PM EDT Ever wondered how roller coasters pull off thrilling loops, smooth turns, and jaw-dropping drops? In this fun and interactive
Tilley’s Terror: Backyard Launch Coaster VFD Burns Up During Braking!
In this episode of our DIY backyard launch coaster project, Tilley’s Terror hits a major snag—our Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) keeps internally blowing up during braking! The inverter-based braking is
Some subjects, just need to be explained with more than words. Watch on YouTube. Same great content, but easier on the eyes.
Roller coasters have always intrigued me. The hills, turns, loops and drops leave me breathless, so I decided to design and build my own. See how I did it so you can make your own.
Ultimate Beam Calculator
Apply multiple loads to a beam and get the shear load, moment and deflection at all the critical points.
Cylinder Calculator
Calculate everything you can imagine on a cylinder: force, area, port size and buckling
Single Shear Pin Calculator
The simplest of all pinned joints, commonly used in the construction of buildings, bridges and other structures.
Hydraulic Hose Size Calculator
High back pressure? Working in cold weather? Find out how much energy you are wasting by not having the right hose size.
Double Shear Pin Calculator
Common in pivoting applications, the double shear joint eliminates moment in the axial members, making it better than single shear joints.
Pump / Motor Calculator
Need to size a hydraulic pump or motor? Enter what you know: pressure, flow, displacement, speed and torque; we'll calculate the rest.
Pin with Two loads
Many pivoting applications, like a crane pivot, are needed to withstand side moments. This calculator applies two loads on the pin.
Press Fit Calculator
Got a spherical bearing to press on a shaft? Make sure that you have enough force to install and pressure to keep it from rotating.
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Areas of Expertise
- Mobile Equipment Design
- Hydraulic Design and Troubleshooting
- Hand Calculations
- Process Automation
- 3D Modeling
- Linear FEA
- Structural Design
- 3D Printing and Prototyping