Nightcrawler wrote on Mar 1
st, 2014 at 4:23pm:
What type of products are you developing? What processors are you working with for firmware? I was an electrical engineer for 10 years myself and have since gotten a new firmware only position and left the hardware design and soldering behind. I don't miss it. I much prefer the software realm. Firmware also comes with good job security since you still need the intimate hardware and product knowledge as opposed to general software work which can be outsourced easily.
One product I was heavy into developing was a LED streetlight control and data acquisition backbone system based on 802.15.4. I've mainly used 8051 and PIC (mainly in assembly), but in the last 2 years I've been shifting to 32bit risc MCUs (writing in C). I also write some small programs to handle data processing for test results in C#. I do still perform some hardware design, but it is mostly suggestions made to the actual hardware engineer. I still solder from time to time, but only for small changes in design (like, I wouldn't be soldering parts for a whole PCB board) or fixing a broken board. I do play around with schematic and PCB design software from time to time, however.
Nightcrawler wrote on Mar 1
st, 2014 at 4:23pm:
That sounds interesting. I never really got into any modeling like that. Is parametric modeling a bit in the mechanical engineering direction?
Parametric modeling is very much mechanical modeling in 3D with dimensions and rules. You model stuff in precise dimensions (instead of 'look' alike, you actually have to draw stuff in real length and width) in parts using different rules called constraints (like parallel, midline, vertical, horizontal, intersect, etc), then you can assemble parts together to make an assembly. And yes, making a bike and see how all the gears work when you paddle in real life is entirely possible.
As far as I know, it is used a lot in mechanical product designs (so yeah, it can go very deep into mechanical engineering). Of course, making a valid design (say, an engine, for example) requires extensive mechanical engineering knowledge. Even something say, a hook, requires knowledge in how material work under certain stress. However, making something like a custom plastic case for your electrical product, however, doesn't. So, it really depends on how you use it.
Nightcrawler wrote on Mar 1
st, 2014 at 4:23pm:
How did you like that? I've sampled a number of Ys games, but never quite had the time to really play through them. When I thought about hammering down and starting with Ys 1, I couldn't decipher which of the many versions I wanted to start with! I think Ys has been remade more times than Final Fantasy!
I think Ys 7 is good. I just started playing it (beat like, 4 bosses so far), but it utilized some new systems (like the team system) which I think they also used in the Ys4 remake they released last year. Unlike Ys4, however, the gameplay still looks like the old Ys style (ie. birds eye view with chibi characters).
Here's my brief history with the other Ys games... (it wasn't all good though)
Ys1: I played the PC remake, but then hit a brick wall at a tough boss and never was able to advance. (yes I'm at max levels and still fails, trying to bump into bosses was never a great way to fight)
Ys2: I own the PC remake (from bundle), but I never started the game (I wanted to beat Ys1 first).
Ys3: I beat the game through emulation on the genesis version. I own the Oath in Felghana remake, but the game never was able to start on my Win 7....
Ys4: I emulated the game on SFC with AGTP's translation, but was never able to finish it. (I think I got stuck on something)
Ys5: I beat the game through emulation before the full translation. I wonder if I should try it again with the translation this time XD.
Ys6: I own it on PC but never beat it due to a graphic bug near the later half of the game (and became too lazy to replay the whole game again).
Ys Origin: I own the PC version and beat the game with the female main character.
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Seven and a half years... (Read 5021 times)
