$250.00
Breaking the Cycle: A Lesson in Practical Problem-Solving
Breaking the Cycle: A Lesson in Practical Problem-Solving
I found myself yet again working late, waiting for my FEA to finish so I could evaluate the results, make adjustments, and start the process over. This cycle had been repeating for nearly a month with no meaningful progress—just spinning my wheels, stuck in the same spot with nothing to show for it. My boss and the project manager were counting on me to wrap this up so we could move into production, and the pressure was mounting.
That night, lying in bed, I couldn’t stop thinking about the problem. It struck me: “What do the hand calculations tell me?”
I had performed hand calculations in the past, but not for this particular structural joint. The next morning, I decided to go back to basics. I ran some quick, simple hand calculations on the structure and discovered that the design was fundamentally inadequate.
I knew what needed to change. I reinforced the design by adding material in the critical areas, then ran the FEA again. This time, I stayed late—eight hours in total—eager to see the results.
And it worked.
The problem that had consumed an entire month of tinkering and frustration was finally solved.
If you’ve ever found yourself stuck in this kind of loop, you’re not alone. That experience taught me a valuable lesson. I made a commitment to become a better engineer—not just relying on simulations but understanding the art and science of structural design. Over time, I’ve learned how to identify potential issues early and can often predict the outcomes of my designs with confidence before even running the FEA.
It was a turning point for me, and now I approach problems with clarity and experience—free from the endless cycle of uncertainty.
Description
Asynchronous Online Course
Did you know that less than 6% of self-paced online courses ever get completed! The Mentored Engineer isn’t in the business of swindling engineers to buy something we know will never get used. As a result, we reformatted the course to make it an asynchronous class. Now, you will start the class on a specific day with many other engineers facing the same struggles you are. You will have opportunities to ask questions from your peers and the instructors via a forum and “office hours.” Lesson are emailed Monday, Wednesday and Friday for 5 weeks.
The goal is to make sure you know, understand and can apply the material taught.
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Who should take this course:
Everyone who designs weldments should take this course. It can also be quite useful for welders and production managers as well. This course will be a valued asset for years to come for both the beginner and expert. Managers should have their entire team take this class together to solidify their knowledge. If you design weldment, this class is for you.
Subject Matter Experts
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| Corey Rasmussen P.E. |
Class Reviews
…the course challenges people like me to be a better designer. I never (that’s right, never) considered welds in bending. I knew that cracks only start in tensile areas but had no visibility into the welds in bending and being a good spot for cracks to form from the inside out. I have recommended that all of our engineers take the course and that they take it once, taking notes, and then go thru again for answers to notes and also for more clarity and understanding…
C Marvin Franklin – Executive Vice President, Design Wise
We love this course! The two of you are easy to understand and seem to be thoughtful young men who don’t look down on those lower on the proverbial “pecking chain” – the weldor who most times wants to do as best a job as she or he can do for those up the chain as well as most importantly, the customer… The content seems to be what I am looking for just at that time I’m needing to know something, almost like you are reading my mind.. It’s scary but in a very good way – Greg the Elder Welder
Featured Image from PxHere