First flight test

11:57 AM 8/24/2005

Yesterday was a good day, as i initiated my way to drawing. On my
boss's requirement i have to learn solid works. He said in future, i
will need more people to take care of the drawings and so i need and
extra hand and i have to be prepared for it. I guess is genuine and
not a way to let me stick with some thing non essential. Anyway my
benefit will be I'll learn solid works and what the heck. If i had to
do it all by myself then, i don't think i would have touched this
software, anyway great, doing something is better than not doing
anything! And it will add weight to my resume too.

well yesterday was a good day for one more reason. The reason was i
have developed a way to measure my effectiveness in nal. The main
premise is based on the fact that all the time i am in NAl, most of
the time, i am in front of a computer, so i will measure my
effectiveness, on the amount of time that i spend on different
software. This has two advantages, one that i will have a log of what
software and how many hours i have used that particular software and
the other advantage being to have the opportunity to learn the
software. I have selected 8 soft wares that i plan to learn while i
am in NAL, some of which i have started and some i will begin as the
work progress here. So this way my work will be cut out here, if I'm
not working on a project for sir, then I'm completing my computing
hours on a particular software.

I firmly believe that to be a knowledgeable software user, you have to
spend time with her, this is just like us, more we spend our time with
each other, more we discover each other. Same goes for
software's........

By playing with software, i don't mean checking out menus and reading
help, to truly know you need to take live projects and solve them, by
solving problems will you learn.

1:33 PM 8/26/2005
well yesterday was a good day, as my boss praised me. He said he was
happy with my work and i am the right kind of a person he was looking
for. I am glad to hear this. And would like that this should always
be there and i do as expected and better .

Well one thing i learnt yesterday from him, was the value of
accountability and not to bend rules, rules are rules. And today
was good in the sense i saw the flights of 6 r/c aircraft's. Well in
a way it was like my first test flight. only difference being instead
of testing own-build aircraft we were assembled there for a session of
seeing these commercial radio controlled planes fly. The event went
well, with only 6-7 people involved and a total of 12 person present
there at the time of flights , everything went smoothly. First test
flight of a flying saucer type aircraft failed. It couldn't generate
enough lift to be up.After two three miss starts, one particular light
weight plane did the flight we all were waiting for, it soared high
and was up in the sky for 4 minutes, with making several rounds above
us and finally making a smooth real aircraft type landing. It got the
applause we all were ready to release.

The most expected disappointment was the helicopter, it had some cool
advancements, as i learnt latter, but it was flimsy and it paid the
price at the very beginning of the show.

The supersonic stealth fighter type aircraft also impressed, as i saw
sankar narayan sir, taking much interest in it, probably because he
has selected that very triangular wing configuration and also the fact
that this aircraft was much smaller. But this one had an inherent
disadvantage of no rudder and aileron, so all the work needs to be
done with differential control of the aircraft's propellers!!!

An interesting incident happened when radha krish sir piloted the
stleath aircraft and it went straight to the bushes.

One particular thing that i learnt today was about sn sir, he is kis's
boss, it was that he has foresight and he thought of everything and he
was prepared to have a tea biscuit party after the show and it was i
think his.........

oops had to stop some work came by. will chat latter

Some Tips to learn from Tutorials

Never use shortcut when learning a software. My experience of learning a new FEM software that is always popping up and figuring in most of my posts now is a testament of the fact.

Within short time I have learnt a great deal on this software, yes even my collogues wonder that I know more about this software than the person who has been touch with the software for last one year.

Yesterday only the guy came to my desk and saw that I was doing something in the FEM software and he wondered, “hey, can we do this in this software? I didn't knew that ?" This came from a person who for the last 6 months was working on that software. I saw he relied on toolbars while I knew where this commands were in the menus, he usually did those stuff through toolbars

So what are things to watch for. Use menu items than the toolbars. yes toolbars are shortcuts but relying  on menus means you will expose yourself to many other commands. This brings the other options to notice.

Same thing goes for dialog box inputs. In the dialog box don't just blindly fill in the default values explore. Try all the fields. Fill in unexpected values. See the error message the software throws up. understand the meaning of defaults.

Once the tutorial is over don't stop your exploration there. Continue it as you go along. Usually tutorials teach about one aspect of the tool but there is no harm to move ahead.

Explore instead of plotting displacement plot von stress or instead of vector plots try counter plots. Change the direction of load or  boundary conditions. For me the tutorials does not end until I am tired of the model.

Yes all this takes time but even if you don't get anything important out of it but you are always learning and your mind  picks up little pieces that are helpful and It also helps your mind to get used to the tool.

Do you do any of this stuff in your learning of a new tool?

FAQ : What should I do after AeSI exams ?

One of the most frequently asked question among AeSI Graduates is:

- What should I do after AeSI exams?

Though there are many posts in this group which can help you to get the answer of above question. However based on my industry experience, I would like to bring one very important point in everybody's kind considerations.

Yesterday somebody was asking me where should I go to learn Modeling & Simulation. 

- My answer is why do you want to go anywhere and invest your money when everything is available online.
- Take an example of MATLAB : There are so many video tutorials available which certainly are created to meet the requirements of students. Why don't you start spending one hour daily on learning MATLAB from such tutorials. Even you can download the trial version of such software.
- Most of such software organizations also develop their academic communities. Attend those communities and start discussing your projects worldwide.
- BUT does MATLAB means all about Modeling & Simulation ? or Is there any other way to do modeling & simulation. Google it ! and try to get the difference between Causal Vs. Acausal Modeling.
- Google and try to find out what is Modelica?

Examples of few Academic Communities:

1. CATIA V5 and V6 : Visit 3DS Academy at http://academy.3ds.com/
2. Reliability : Learn about reliability. You can also download FREE MTBF Calculator (Reliability Software) at http://aldservice.com/en/reliability-software/free-mtbf-calculator.html
3. MATLAB : Visit http://www.mathworks.in/academia/
4. Modeling & Simulation : http://academy.3ds.com/software/other-products/dymola/
5. FEA Software : http://academy.3ds.com/software/simulia/abaqus-student-edition/
6. ANSYS : http://www.ansys.com/Industries/Academic 

All you need to have is a dedication. 

Dedication about spending two hours daily online to learn and to stay yourself updated about the latest technology. It will not only help you to get updated but will also help you to connect with industry experts worldwide. In fact you could also reference your project and showcase it to the world, invite others to join your project and even find sponsors for your project.
This project work will also help you to do the facial of your resume which indeed will help in million ways at the time of interview. 

In short, It's better to learn these software online rather than finding out a good training center in your community.

Happy Learning !

Learn A software as if it's 20-20

A collegue of mine was recently telling me how they learnt and had the
matlab experience. He was in iit chennai. There one professor, one day
came and said he will give them one test problem and they have one
week's time and all of them have to solve it by using matlab.

Now before that no one had any exposure to that software, they have
never seen it and all of a sudden they have this assignments which
required them to program in matlab to plot the graphs and it was the
only mandatory criteria for the exam. So what do you thing happened?

The whole class geared up and did a quick crash course on the software
by the end of the timeline and everyone had the results ready. From
the professors side there was no restriction for them, they can use
internet or books if they want, all he wanted was the matlab code and
the results. He got all. For the students the challenge provoked them
to learn the software in quick time. Yes they didn't learn it fully
but they got to learnt it so that, if they are asked to do it again
they will be able to produce a result from matlab.

What are the lessons we can learn from this?

Don't bitch around for lack of tutors for a software, even in iit's
it's your initiative that helps you learn, tools come from the
institution but it's the students who have to roll the ball. So accept
the opportunities of learning a tool as you get them, don't wait fir a
teacher or a ready made tutorial!!

This time limit propelled the students to cut the crap and get down to
the core of the software. Since they had results to deliver they
played like 20 20 instead of a test match. So whenever you are
learning a new software tool, Remember 20 20!

That's the fasted way to learn.Concentrate on scoring on each bowl.

For my collegue, as he mentioned, that experience was just the brush
with matlab that he had, but for some, this little exercise stuck and
they went deep into the software to learn to use it more effectively.

So next time you are planning to learn something new, make it a 20-20
rather than a test match!!! Good luck.

Which software to learn?

So many times i get this query from aesi and engineering students.

Which software should i learn?

My answer to them is do whatever you are passionate, if design is what you have a natural bent, then go for a cad program that you can lay your hands on. And if your creative juices flow at the site of analysis software, then go ahead grab the next analysis software that you can and begin.

But if you don't know where your passion lies then go ahead explore. Try design software that comes your way or grab that analysis software your friend it working on. Whatever you do, get moving and explore all the options that you can find. Who knows what sticks and you finally discover your passion.

But what if you know you want but you don't have access to any software. Well then get excel and learn it. This is one software that you will be using in whatever job you do so get excel and put it to use. You will thank yourself that you did it.

Concentrate on One Main to get maximum out of your training

I few days back i wrote a piece titled 7 simple steps that will help you get maximum out of your training. In it i promised to elaborate the points so here we go.



AS I have said earlier. Training has increased my skills, polished my knowledge and boasted my confidence. Though I was lucky to have DR. Ramamurthy, a hard taskmaster as my guide, I feel this 7 simple tips that follow will be applicable to everyone who is doing training no matter who is his or her guide.

So without further adieu let me begin

Concentrate on One Main Thing.
Concentrate on one main area of work during your training. If you want to be in design and then focus on design and if you want analysis, then focus on analysis. If your interest is programming then focus on that. Now as I have said earlier in this post, one needs to be clear about his motivation before joining training. IF that is clear then you will have no problem in focusing on your job at hand. See when I was in NAL, I have seen few folks not focused on there task and always grudging about the cool task the other person is doing in HYPERMESH. Yes it’s good to be fascinated with the software that your college or friend is working on but don’t loose your focus.

If you are already know what you want out of the training then you‘ll have no difficulty in staying focused.

What are the consequences of not staying focused?

• You loose interest in your main task that you have been assigned.

• Your work doesn’t reflect the true potential that you have.

• Since you began with one topic and now drifting to difference software or task, chances are you have two half-baked software skills. If might look on resume but might glaringly come out when you are in a technical interview.

So what can you do?

3 simple steps.

• Before joining any training know why you are joining? Have a clear goal for your training. If you don’t have a goal, Do it now. See what you want to take away from this training? Write that purpose down. Make it short but write it. In my days of training my focus was to apply my aeronautics knowledge and to create software aerospace or engineering tools. And I concentrated my maximum time on the activities that lead to me to fulfill my focus area.

• Now when you know you are to focus on one area of your training, chalk out the activities that you need to do. Some will be related to the task you are assigned by your guide. Align them to your focus area. One of the tasks I got while in NAL was development of an access database for the account database. So where was my aerospace knowledge here? Since I was assigned to do this work, I learned access to accomplish this and then applied this access learning skills to create a database of all the data of military engines that I had for my work on gas turbine engine of a UAV. So work with your focus area always in your mind.

• Get a small percentage of your time to do that fascinating thing that that your friend on the next computer is doing. Yes programming and making software tools was exciting, but seeing my friend doing magic and creating all those colorful graphs in fluent was also mesmerizing. So everyday I took half an hour and tried my hands on that software if I got the change. This is how I tried so many software including NASTRAN, HYPERMESH, UNIGRAPHICS, GAMBIT etc. Doing this not only gave me a welcome relief from my work but also opened up opportunity to see how my primary focus area skills can be applied to this software.

So these are my thoughts on the training. This post itself got longer than interned. So I’ll be post the other tips for getting the maximum out of your training in my next post.

Related : 3 things i have learnt in NAL during training!

A useful tip that accelerated my design and analysis software learning

In this post I will tell you about one simple useful technique that i have successfully used in learning 3 CAD software's, two analysis software and many other computer languages. The technique that has enabled me to accelerate my learning of design and analysis software at NAL. This is the same technique that I use now as I play with Photoshop.

The concept is simple. Cranking. Cranking means just getting in the software and get started and getting the brain to produce something. you don’t need to have a clear goal or product to build but all you are doing is trying out the tools and just making your fingers move.

Now when I was in NAL after the initial euphoria about the software I was learning, it always happened that I lost the spark and no matter what I do. I was stuck. I felt dis-interested in the software.

so this is is an effective technique if you are learning any CAD or analysis program,m. Its a technique that you can apply to get started and to create that you want. Not only will you learn a thing or two new but also enjoy and see how your brain is producing results when you just cranked it up..

This is like the warning of the jet engine that happens when its still on the runway.. It doesn't do anything useful but allows the pilot to check all the system and at the signal of the air traffic controller  ... and the throttled is pushed... the engine roars to its power and pushes everyone up..

Same way this techniques of just sitting and opening up catia, or nastran and begin drawing designing or meshing anything that takes your fancy will help you learn more than 100 tutorials that you might have done..

As you progress. Think what is going on but keep the mouse moving, explore, try this menu, that menu, this option that option and see the tasks that you have never done. All this will not a waste as you will discover some gems in the quest and even if the final thing that you came out isn't what you waned but then your mind will be more ready to produce a thing that you want...

try it!!!

Some thoughts on learning catia or other car softwares

What should be your approach when you begin learning a new software
tool or a new language?

Well different people have different goals and ways to approach and
each will have different merits and demerits. In this post, I will
describe what I do when I begin learning a new language or new
software tool.

The first stage is being a sponge, I read, listen and see each and
every material data I get about the tool or the language. I do not
understand everything but I make it's point that I ran it through my
mind once.

During this phase I read, I get the software do what I understand, If
I don't understand, I read, seek other sources and again sit with the
software. This iteration and exploration continues. Once I feel i am
bored with and covered everything there is to read, I get to the
softwate and this begins the curiosity stage.

Here I am just curious and I poke around, any questions that comes to
mind I try, try it then and there. If I learnt one technique, I try to
apply it in more than one way that I know it can be used. If I learn a
function, I try all the possible limits of that to see what happens.
Most of the exploration happens because I ask what will happen if I do
this.

After this stage I ask for help, I get to see the people who are using
this software, if they are not available, I get some tutorials and
releigiously do them step by step. Once I complete the one tutorial I
don't jump on to the next tutorial but instead begin my poking and
exploration on the model or the program I just developed. Twisting,
tweaking and getting all sort of stuff out of the tutorials. I try
random big small values in all the tutorilas inputs , vary and
compltely ignore the few steps and see what happens.

This is the stage when maximum learning happens.

So these are the 3 stages, I have Learnt all the software I know!!
Hope similar a slight midification of this techniques will work for
you when take on to learn catia or any other cae software!!!

Visit http://my-aesi.blogspot.com/search?q=catia

for catia related material on this blog.

Opportunity to Apply your Knowledge is more Important that Learning a new Software

In continuation with my 7 tips on getting maximum out of training for AeSI guys, this is the second tip.

Opportunity to apply your knowledge is more important that learning a software. In my days of training, I was fortunate that after seeing my credentials, I was assigned the work on gas turbine performance. This was much better than working on CATIA or any other analysis software’s, where there was very less chance of applying my knowledge. Though from this task I graduated to learn solid works for my task but I was fortunate that I got the real engineer task of design by formulae’s before getting my hands dirty with the software.



I know many of you will tell me that learning software is more likely to get you a job than applying your skills. Well yes you are true but that’s only for short term. IF you need to excel in long term than you need to build your core skills not nail polish some tricks of in-demand software. IF job is what you desire then go for it but if you have a career in mind then build your fundamental skills first. They are way important than the software skills.

How to do that?

Well its not that everyone gets his or her desired work profile as a trainee But its always true that its your attitude towards the assignment and how you accomplish that that will show where you stand and where you will go.

So whatever be the task you have been assigned, do it with your maximum effort. As stated in the previous post, if you have clear purpose of joining the training then think of ways to align or include your purpose into the work you are doing.

Create mini challenges for you if the task in not challenging enough. I know of a fiend who was given the task of getting the flight test data of SARAS aircraft, now all he has to do it was to input the flight data as it came and then plot the results. He did this all the time and now it was routine. During lunch he always used to say: “yaar, koi accha kaam hi nahi hai” here I would have suggested that guy that when he knows that the work is repetitive and it’s always the same, why not automate it. Excel is great tool. He can create a template so just inputting the data will be enough. Create a challenge that you will optimize the work and get the maximum benefit.

So challenge yourself, to do things that you are to do but with the things that will help your grow. Carry on with your assignments but mix those assignments with the dash of your purpose and how you benefit from the whole exercise.

Best of MyAeSI 2009 – Training and skills

To mark the end of this year, for next few posts, I will list out the best of 2009 posts of MyAeSI . The posts will be arranged in the following categories.

• Study related
• Training and Skills
• Career and Job related

This one deals with Training and Skills. Please enjoy the posts

1. How I learnt ANSYS, NASTRAN or Solidworks?
2. Take up a Tool early on in your AeSI days
3. UG
4. Training is all about your Mentors work
5. 25 Very Useful Excel Keyboard Shortcuts
6. AeSI Training: 11 questions to ask yourself before...
7. Some Tips to learn from Tutorials
8. When is AeSI training not worth doing?
9. Software,Training and AeSI graduates
10. Matlab to start yourself to programming!!
11. Want a job write a presentable resume
12. Get proper experience in AeSI training
13. Stipendiary training programmes in NAL
14. Catia and solidwork
15. Transferable skills and core knowledge
16. Which Programming languages to learn?
17. Some thoughts on learning catia or other car software...
18. Three software's that I would recommend
19. Which software to use? Advise to AeSI aerospace st...
20. Which version of CAD or CAE software should you us...
21. Fastest way to learn a CAD software
22. 7 things to take note while learning an analysis program.
23. Riding bike and learning catia what's the connection?
24. Cinema, funcity and NAL training! - What's the connection? 
25. Two ways to get maximum out of any training
26. What my learning of excel can teach you in learning other CAE software?
27. What AeSI graduates should learn instead of CATIA?...
28. List of 50 common excel worksheet functions

Bonus

• Miss Pooja

If you think someone else will benefit from this, then go ahead forward this to them.

Subscribe to MyAeSI via  rss or email http://feeds.feedburner.com/myaesi

Six things to do if you are learning a software tool

Learning a new software tool is a big part of being in an engineering
profession. They have become indispensable items that you need, to be
successful in your career. So learning a tool should always come into
your mind, when you enter section-B.

As I posted in a previous entry, if you are in section A, don't
bother. Study hard and enjoy and expose yourself to different stuffs.
But in section B, get serious and spend at least an hour a day in your
chosen tool

So here are 6 things you should do if you are learning a software tool.

1. Practise or work on the software tool once everyday.

2. Join a community where the tool and it's working is discussed.

3. Read and subscribe to blogs related to that software tool.

4. Don't just explore tutorials. Take up small projects involving the
tool.

5. Create and share the stuff you do in the
software.

6. Use all opportunities to teach what you know about the tool to
others.

Explore more articles on tool learning by visiting this link http:///my-aesi.blogspot.com/search?q=tool

Software vs software

Now the debate is on software vs software! I've observed that if you are not using a high end software people don't seem to think you work. For example working on Catia drawing a lousy Bolt attract more appreciation than developing a new software in C or MATLAB!

How I learnt ANSYS, NASTRAN or Solidworks?

Last week at my office I was given an entirely new fem tool to work on. I have already have experience on working on ANSYS and Nastran but this tool that I was assigned to work on was entirely new and it was the first time that I have seen that tool. So I applied all the techniques that I applied learning ANSYS and Nastran to get a head start into this tool.

As expected since the tool is in-house it has its own conventions and was out of sync with the other fem or analysis tools I have worked on. Moving , panning and zooming the models were all different, laying out of the GUI was different. In fact now as I write this I thing the layout of the tool was much better than hyper mesh, which uses radically different GUI…  anyways since this is the software I had to work on for a couple of months now so I decided to dig in.

Before even touching the software, I took up the help notes and tutorials that were made available to me. I went of reading them, not line by line but reading through and stopping only were it mentions overall details. skipped anything explaining details. Took up all the tutorial and other materials that I had and scanned it. The main aim here was no bother about the specifics, but to get the big picture of the software, I learnt, the fem tool can be used for mechanical, thermal, vibration etc calculations. I leant about basic menu structure, what domain control is and how to set up mesh control. all of them by just reading through. I got a feel of the menu where each commands might be.

The next stage was to actually open the software itself and familiarize myself with the menus. Due to my previous exercise i remembered some phases for menu, dug them up.

After this took went to the open command and opened an actual model and tried rotation it…. tilting and checking it.

After having had a feel of the tool, getting a general sense of the menus, I called  up my colleague who was already working on the program. I asked him to just give me user demo and do a small analysis.

Well the guy began and due to his eagerness he started explaining me minute things, some more in details, since my aim was to get a general feel and not  to learn the details I asked him to just carry on the analysis without explaining. he went on while I sat behind and saw, and only interupted him at places where a menu command looked interesting or unfamiliar. This allowed me see how he began the analysis, what were the general conventions that any book or tutorial can’t mention and people working on the tool usually pick up.

After this tour, I stopped the work on the tool and took a 2 hrs break not touching the tool or any material regarding the tool. This allows the brain to refine the information that you already have provided it. It allows it the time to soak in the necessary info and identify the gaps that are still there.

So after the break I took one tutorial and began following it from step and low and behold within 25 mins I had completed the exercise with the same colored contour maps that are so common in fem software's. If I hadn’t done the previous one hour information soak and the required rest, this time to completion would have been higher and I would have stuck at many places..

After the results I didn’t stop there although the tutorial ended there. The exercise was over but the detailing following of excise prompted and introduced me to new menu items that I wanted to check so I went into the explorative mode and began exploring different results options that were there. Drawing graphs, seeing different contour maps, mapping streamlines, getting vectors of heat flow and many such. This exploration again expanded the knowledge and helped me in getting more of the next tutorial  that I will do on my next meeting with this tool.

So what’s the take away from this whole exercise, if you want to learn a analysis or design software quickly then I guess this experience of mine will be great for you. Its not the first time I have applied this techniques but have used it to learn ANSYS, solidworks , Nastran, and VB. so take whatever you like and apply it in your own learning. good luck!!

Related : My 10 hours with ANSYS

Catia and solidwork

These are two cad software that i have extensivled covered in this
blog. I became aware of them only when I was in my last semester of
aesi and only saw solidworks for the first time when I joined NAL and
actually used catia 6 months latter.

I have worked with solidworks to design and cad model India's first
mixed flow compresor!

At present, I don't use any of this software. And I am doing fine in
life, in my career. So what the point in all this

The point is do whatever software that comes your way, because
ultimately many more software will flow in to your life. It doesn't
matter what software you get in training or what project you work on.
The point of software is they are just tools to an end. They are good
to have but they only work when you can apply them.

So whatever you are doing don't be bothered about these tools, there
are many and you don't have to learn all of them. Just carry on the
ones you enjoy and work on.

In the end it's your knowledge, wisdom and judgement that will matter
not the tools.

My ten hours with ANSYS?

 

Well, for MATLAB, i can say its help is great, i mean great. And i have only used it for 5 hours till now in my life and i can say confidently that given a chance, i will learn the software easily and can make it work the way i want.

But, unfortunately, ANSYS, doesn't come a wee bit closer to it, in terms of friendliness to use.

In my ten hours of its use, i have just now begin to get comfortable with it. The menu's are different, the help is cluttered, commands not presented all at one place and difficult to begin with, are few of its shortfalls.

Unlike matlab's  help, which expects you to be novice to it and takes you to the guided tour, ansys, lacks the lucidness, clarity and the initial interest factor for a beginner. Its  much easier to begin and learn as you go in MATLAB than this software.

 Few enhancement it could include are the first few chapters should be uncluttered, not much links should be provided and in the middle of the chapters do not provide information, not required now, put them at he end.

Well, a striking difference that anyone tinkering with this software will feel is  that its passive for most of the time.

This was a striking thing that hit me while using ansys, which in case of matlab is exactly opposite. Matlab it active and very interactive.

Well, not everything was negative in my experience with ansys. Something  were very intuitive like using this software it feels like you are setting up a display with all careful, definition and modelling and meshing and the final show is when you see the result. It feels  like  you are preparing for a magic show, with all those pre-possessing , defining and patient modeling.

The fact that i used, possions ratio, Young's modulus, coefficient of expansion and so forth and actually applied them in  a  software for analysis was another good thing i enjoyed. I always  thought  this  was the stuff for books to scare us !!!!  ( just kidding)

But the ultimate pleasure with this software is when you see your work, hours of modeling and meshing, give you the solution and mostly the animation that you can see.

Imagine making a truss and finding loads in each members automatically and moreover seeing actually how the structure deforms is a pleasure that you need to see to enjoy.

My ten hours in ansys were slow, but after getting results, i know  every seconds i spend on it was worthwhile. 

 

COLLABORATIVE STUDENT RESEARCH PROGRAM (CSRP)@AeSI-AA

Dear Students/Alumnus,

This is for all those who are really interested in going extra mile for the purpose of learning. We (AeSIAA) are launching a innovative and unique learning opportunities for both students and alumnus called COLLABORATIVE STUDENT RESEARCH PROGRAM (CSRP).

Alumnus as mentors will be guiding students on carrying out research in areas of mutual interest in collaborative framework seeking help from fellow mentors as well. This helps partnering mentors in broadening their knowledge base while working students are exposed to learning opportunities.

The measure of success of these collaborations are expected to yield research papers in its simplest form however opportunities are plenty. We will have formal launch of this program and further discussions on this during our annual alumni get-together 2015, expected in a months or two.

Open source tools and softwares will be used and also developed under this. Wherever we get partners for supporting the program their software or services will be utilized with due credit. Hence all are welcome to partner in this.

Seeking information and inviting to

Alumnus:
To identify topic of mutual interest to get going, we are seeking the details of expertise from partnering alumnae having interest and time to pursue his or her ideas. I am sure we all have ideas but due to some constrains never worked on that. Let some students help you to realise your dream and learn things together.

Students:
Identify the area in which you wish to cruise your career. The control and guidance is our responsibility. We alumnus as mentors will help you to do things in guided mode in order to have mutual growth in respective career.

If you are not sure of your pursuance of area of research/domain of building expertise, let us leave this on us. We will help you choose. For that please send the details of papers cleared along with marks obtained and paper attempted this time. Also while sending information for mentorship and collaborative learning, ensure that your resume and contact details in that are updated. Also mention the elective subject taken and training attended if any.

Helpline for seeking more information:

For collaborating students- Shri Rahul Verma.  M: 97432 27305

For partnering alumnus-     

Shri Sukhbinder Singh M: 97403 20715 ( between 7-10pm only during weekdays and Saturday, anytime on sundays

For partnering firms-            Shri Rakesh Kumar, email: aerorakesh@gmail.com or anilkr.ammina@gmail.com or Lalan.singh@ansys.com

For all other queries please contact secretary either on  secretary.aesiaa@gmail.com

This program has got in-principle support from following firms

GTEnterprises-for MATHEMATICA Software student version
Axiomatic software India Pvt Ltd- for CFD++ SOFTWARE
Contravolts- for SCTetra  software training & support
Jetwings- for all in house software including ANSYS fluent & lab facility.

+ many more interested experts in various domains and verticals.

Get inspired and do join hand for mutual growth & lifelong learning's.

Regards,
For Hon. Secretary, AeSIAA

 

Which version of CAD or CAE software should you use?

Just after posting the previous post on using CAD CAE softwares, i
realized that I haven't tackled the question of which version of
software to use.

There are innumerable software and each have innumerable versions
available. So which one should you use? Is catia v15 better to catia
v10, or msc nastran is better than nx nastran?

I have seen students of aesi fret over version for days. They just
wait for the latest version without begining. They will wait 30 days
in the hope of laying hands on catia v15 than begining with catia v10
that is already installed.

That is wrong strategy. Begin with whatever version you have. In fact
starting with a lower version is better.

Newer version are always invariably easier to use, easier to work
with. And they have layers of abstruction to the end task, hiding
important details that might enable you to learn the process behind
the model.

GUI improves most in the latest version but you aren't learning a cad
or cae tool to judge a beauty content. You want to learn it to enable
you do the design and analysis.

So if you want to learn a software, begin with the version you have.
Lower the version, the more opportunities you have to understand the
process. Lower the version, the higher the chance of making human
errors, mistakes and thus higher the chances to learn. The more
mistakes you make, the faster you will learn!!

So start today. Start now with whatever version you have!!

Be educated not trained!! :)

Read all posts regarding software learning by following this link.

Http://my-aesi.blogspot.com/search?q=software

Don't forget to use the new search functionality in the blog!!

FEA

Please find the following requirement for FEA coder, if you are interested in the following requirements, please forward your résumé to the following email address sukhbinder.singh+job@ gmail  

Requirement: FEA Software Developer 

Experience: Min: 02.00 yrs Max: 05.00 yrs

Requirement Locations: Bangalore

 

Job Description:

• This role will encompass the development of SC03 Finite Element software, and plug-ins to deliver interface, vibration & lifting functionality to a global user base.
• It will involve liaison with the customer to develop and agree the software requirements, specification and software verification test suite.
• The role includes development, validation and verification of the software on all customers platforms and the production of the complete software documentation including theory and user guide.
• Essential Skills Coding experience in mixed language programming (Fortran, C)
• Knowledge of various development platforms and environments
• Sound knowledge of Finite Element Methods and Structures

 

Software,Training and AeSI graduates

Someone from Hyderabad AeSI had the following queries

hello sir ,

I have just completed my AESI, IN HYDERABAD I came to know about this site and registered myself today. I have not received my final marks list  yet. I have seen that you have done many programming languages . I haven't done nothing other than the course. I don't have any proper guidance here in Hyderabad. so please tell me should I learn any soft wares ?.and  some of my friends told that we would get an apprentice training letter after completing the course,is it true.And do companies take AeSI fresher? are their jobs for AeSI graduates. I have so many doubts,please give me guidance. hoping that you will send a reply soon

Instead of replying to his question in an individual email I thought its better if I answer them here so others too can join in the discussion.

Please tell me should I learn any softwares ?

By all means learn software, they are the tools of the trade so one shouldn’t be shy in learning them. So what are the software that AeSI graduate should learn. I have already mentioned software tools used by aeronautical engineers list, you can start with these. For computer language please do go ahead and at least have one language under your belt. Here in the post titled SUCHANDSUCH where I elaborated why you should learn a programming language.

If you don’t have access to any of the software tools mentioned and are apprehensive of any programming language then by all means take up excel as this is the most used tool in the engineering domain. This is one of the software that will be very much be a part of your work life so learn it, excel in it.

 

Some of my friends told that we would get an apprentice training letter after completing the course,is it true

Yes its true, You might want to see the notification on AeSI’s website at aerosocietyindia.com for information in this regards. Moreover having certificates and training before getting a job is always a good thing, They are some of the things that a new graduate of AeSI can highlight in his or her resume apart from the educations. This is also an opportunity when you acquire skills required for the industry.

 

And do companies take AeSI fresher's?

Yes they do. Just as any other engineering graduate you have a chance to be a in any company. In all aerospace companies that are in India, you will at least find one AeSI engineer. So take heart and go ahead. All you need to get a job after AeSI graduation is confidence+skills. Here’s a list of companies that I have in this blog where I mentioned some of the companies AeSI graduates are working in. Its bit old and need updating, but I am sure it will give you and idea about the spread of AeSI graduates in the Indian and world aerospace industry.

 

Are there jobs for AeSI graduates?

By all means, jobs are available for AeSI Graduates. You do have the best knowledge, you just need to add on the other skills to get off to a great start. I will recommend reading this series that I had a while back to set yourself to a great start in your career. As I have already sated ideally landing in a job just after your graduations depends on what you do in the your last semester. So read it here.

Well this were some of the answers that  I knew answers too, I have barely scratched the surface, I am sure many of senior AeSI graduates will have there own inputs so sing them here in the comments. What do you think? How is the industry receiving AeSI graduates?

 

• What should you do about gaps in your resume?

Subscribe to AeSI by Email

Be educated not trained.

In all the software that you will pick up in aesi, aim for education
rather than being trained.

What does this mean?
Education means knowing what you are doing and knowing the why of
what's happening while training is just knowing how to use a
particular softeware.

You don't want to be cad operator after aesi, nor do you want to just
mesh model all your life. So when working with a software learn why
and what is actually happening inside rather than focusing on the how's!

Yes how are important but more stress should be put on the why. Once
you understand why and what is happening, you will easily figure out
the how.

So what can you do?

1. Do hand calculations. It will awaken the concepts of what you are
doing in nastran or ansys.

2. Ask why those innumerable options are there. Just entering values
mechanically isn't enough, know why and what this values represnt in
the whole process.

3. Try non defalult values. Try extreme limit vales in the options and
find out what happens.

4. Aim to fail. Failure to mesh, failing to revolve, failing to
analyze will help you more than success in any of this. Failure will
prompt you to look deeper. This is when you will learn what's going
inside the hood. So fail often!!

So these are some steps you can adopt to be educated in a software
rather than being trained.

So look inside the hood. Don't let the software to be just a blackbox,
where you give certain input and you get certain results. Know what's
happening inside.

You might want to check other software related posts by clicking the
following link

http://my-aesi.blogspot.com/search?q=software

And if you are reading this in an rss reader or email you might want
to check the new search feature available at www.my-aesi.blogspot.com
This will help you find any other related content you might want.