"The first thing I ever designed on my own was a robot in a high school class. I successfully created a robot that could throw a piece of garbage in the trash can. My robot actually won an award at the end of the year and my robotics teacher kept it to show future students."

"One of my greatest skills as a Mechanical Engineer is my creative side and ability to come up with innovative ideas. I have a unique way of thinking that allows me to design and develop inventive projects. My innovative way of thinking helps me streamline processes and work more efficiently as well. I also have strong attention to detail and the ability to focus, which helps me on all of my mechanical engineering projects."

"Over my five years as a Mechanical Engineer, I have used several computer programs. I use Fusion 360 and Solid Edge to create 3D models and designs. For equations and numerical analysis, I use MATLAB and Mathcad. When performing structural analysis, I use Robot Structural Analysis Professional. I also use Microsoft Excel to keep track of all my projects. I'm a quick learner and would be happy to learn how to use any other programs or tools."

"To stay up-to-date with current mechanical engineering trends, I enjoy reading magazines. Some of my favourite mechanical engineering magazines are Power Transmission Engineering and Machine Design Magazine. These always provide fun and easy-to-read articles that help me stay updated. I'm also a big fan of Twitter, so I follow a few engineering accounts like Engineering.com and Popular Mechanics. This way I see news or trending stories in the industry quickly."

"When explaining complex designs or processes to non-engineers, I find using visuals very helpful. For example, if I'm explaining how a car's axle system works, I'll show them a video or diagram of the system in progress. I then explain the design or process without using technical terms. I try not to oversimplify things though because I don't want to appear patronizing. I always encourage people to ask questions to ensure they fully understand the concept."

"I became a Mechanical Engineer because I've always been interested in how things work. Combined with my passion for saving the environment, mechanical engineering seemed like an obvious choice. It allows me to create new things to save the environment, such as solar panels and windmills. I'm constantly learning in this career as well, which is something I really enjoy doing."

"At my previous company, we were looking for solutions to a dirty, crowded cafeteria as cleaners had a hard time keeping up with the demand. I had the idea to design a tray collecting robot that would roam around the cafeteria, allowing people to insert their dirty trays more conveniently. When the robot was full, it would take all the dirty trays to the back for a cleaner to empty. After a few months of using the robots, the cleaners and patrons were thrilled with the results. I consider it my most successful project as I came up with the idea, led the team and saw my vision come to life."

"One of my projects failed after the first trial because two of my calculations were slightly off. Once I fixed the numbers, the machine worked perfectly. Going forward, I started to double- and triple-check all of my calculations."

"As my work requires precision and relies on so many minor details, I always examine my work closely. I use computer programs, such as Mathcad to perform the calculations, but I always double-check the numbers I input. When a project is complete, I test it out multiple times and get a colleague to test it as well. I then check for functionality and safety before presenting it to anyone else."

"As I often work on multiple projects at a time, I input all of my project deadlines into one calendar. This allows me to refer to my schedule constantly and quickly. I also make a weekly to-do list with all the projects I need to complete in order of their deadline. This ensures I stay organized and meet all deadlines."

"A process flow diagram is a type of sketch that describes a product'sflow, equipment, connections, and the relationship between its components. It uses symbols to describe these components and outline the primary flow course. As mechanical engineers, we use process flow diagrams for several reasons, including documenting a process to analyze or optimize it."

"Tolerance is extremely important in mechanical engineering. Considering the tolerances between materials and components in every project is vital to its design. It allows you to forecast how well parts will fit together and analyze the margin for error. You can also use tolerances in the quality inspection stage to reduce costs and facilitate manufacturing as they project a product's reliability."

"There are three distinct groups of fits: clearance, interference and transition. A clearance fit is the clearance between two parts. An interference fit is the size of two mated parts. With this fit, the hole tolerance zone is less than the shaft tolerance zone. A transition fit is a mix of both fits as the components of both overlap."

"A universal coupling is a part that connects two rigid rods or shafts. We called it by its other common name, a universal joint, in my last position. It consists of two hinges and a cross shaft. The universal coupling allows two objects to rotate. For example, a car uses a universal coupling to connect the driveshaft to the rear axle."

"When engineering a new device, I prefer to use a pneumatic control system over electromechanical or hydraulic systems. This is because pneumatic systems are cheaper, faster, more efficient, less complex, and cleaner in case of a leak."