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ENGL 2100 Project 3

Tim Honing
4/28/15
801-860-4473
timhoning@yahoo.com

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Dear Jim Jefferson
I am writing to you today in regards to the job application you have made available. I found it on
the KSL job list.
I will be graduating in the upcoming may with a bachelor in Mechanical engineering. During my
studies I worked as an intern at a mechanical engineering firm. I also designed parts for myself at home.
I used a 3d printer to test and refine my designs. By doing both of these things I have been able to get a
pretty good idea of what I would need to do and was able to prepare for a real job as a mechanical
engineer.
Through my studies I have developed skill that would be very useful for this job.

Excellent communication skills.

Use of solid works and auto cad.

A drive to achieve and strive in the work place.

Even though it is early in my engineering career I already have a lot of skills required for the job. The
reputation of your company is very impressive and I would most definitely live up to those standards.
I am looking forward to meeting you in person and learning more about your company, its past
successes, and its future goals.
Sincerely,
Tim Honing
Email: timhoning@yahoo.com
Phone: 801-860-4473

Table of Contents
4-5 Technical Description Description of what a lathe is.
6-7 Technical Instruction Instructions for how to properly and safely setup a
Lathe.
8- 13 The life of a Mechanical Engineer What a mechanical engineer does on a
daily basis.
14 References
15 Resume

The Metal lathe

A lathe is a very useful piece of equipment for a manufacturer of metal parts. A
lathe is used to make cylindrical parts. They can be used to make a lot of different
types of parts. Some examples are washers, shafts, threaded shafts, and even other
tools. A lathe is a good tool for hobbyists and professionals alike. They are fairly easy to
use but hard to master. If the time and effort is put in to it, anyone can be an expert at
operating a lathe.
How does it work?
A lathe is similar to a drill press but turned 90 degrees on its side. A piece of
circular metal is put in to what is called a chuck. The chuck key is used to secure the
material in the chuck. A chuck holds the material with arms. It then spins at a high rate
and then can be cut with the bit. The revolutions per minute or RPM can be adjusted.
Different bits require different spindle speeds. A lathe is different than most tools, it
rotates the material and not the tool or bit. The bit is held by the tool post. The nice thing
about a lathe is that there are a lot of ISO standards on the bits. The size of the shaft
that goes in to the tailstock is standardized. This makes it really easy for the user to use
a variety of different bits. The tool post moves with a set of two hand wheels. The bigger
one moves the bit up and down the tool and the smaller for in and out movements.
There is also an auto feed system that moves the tool up the part at an adjustable
constant rate. This is very useful to get a smooth finish on the part. When a part is really
long the tailstock is used to stabilize the part. It simply holds the part at the other end of
the chuck. See Fig 1. For a complete visualization of a lathe.

Fig 1. Lathe Parts

Conclusion
The lathe can be a very good tool to have in any shop, but also can be
dangerous. Here are a few simple things to remember when operating a lathe.
DANGER! Could result in serious injury if not followed!

Always have the safety shield in place.

Never leave the chuck key in the chuck.

Only one person operating a lathe at a time.

If you follow these simple rules you can avoid injury and enjoy the full potential of a
lathe. Consult the owners manual of your lathe to answer any further questions.

How to safely set up the use a lathe.

There are a lot of thing to know to use a lathe. Here are a few things to check first.

No lose hanging clothes

Hair is out of the way

Not jewelry

Work area is clean and clear

Once all of these things have been done you are ready get the material ready to be
worked. Make sure you are familiar with all the parts of the lathe and know their names.
1. First insert the material in to the chuck. Start to tighten the chuck with the chuck
key. Tighten to fairly tight. If tighten too much the material can be damaged, but if
not tightened enough material can come lose.
2. Next set up the bit. Ensure it is sharps and has no defects like cracks. Have point
of bit at the center height of the material. Have the point of the pit angled about
15 degrees towards the material. Ensure everything is tightened down.
3. Before starting the spindle make sure chuck key is not in chuck and all safety
guards are in place. Can cause serious injury if not done.
Lathes with digital read out only.
4. Make cleaning pass on end of part. Repeat until smooth. Stop lathe use a small
piece of paper between tip of the bit and the material and slowly move bit toward
material. Keep moving the piece of paper. Once the paper is slightly movable.

Zero out that axis. Then move toward the material .003 inch (about the thickness
paper). Then zero out again.
5. Make a cleaning pass on the outside of the material. Repeat until smooth then
zero out that axis.
Here is an example of a display readout or DRO. (Yours may look different)

6. Make the necessary cuts to produce the desired part.

The life of a Mechanical Engineer

Tim Honing
ENGL 2100-003
February 4, 2015

Abstract
The purpose of this report is to analyze and determine the organizational culture found in the
field of Mechanical engineering. Being a mechanical engineer is quite different than most
careers. Mechanical engineering is a very broad field. If there is something that has moving
parts, a mechanical engineer had a large part in making that. A Mechanical engineer can do a
lot of different things, they make designs that are very advanced, like airplanes, and simpler
designs, like toasters, and everything in between. Creativity and self-motivation is a huge factor
in being successful as a mechanical engineer. If they had to follow strict ways of doing things
nothing new would be created. Of course they have certain rules and stipulations they have to
follow but those are more about things like safety. Life as a mechanical engineer is filled with a
lot of hard work and dedication but can be very rewarding.
Keywords: Mechanical engineering, engineering, organizational culture,

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The life of a Mechanical Engineer

Introduction
What is a typical day like when working as a mechanical engineer? What do they do?
Who, if anybody, do they work with? These are all good questions to ask if you are interested in
becoming a mechanical engineer. These are all part of something called organizational culture.
This is a term used to describe what kind of rituals and practices happen in an organization. This
includes things like what kind if attire is worn, what kind of personal items are on desks, are
there any company rituals like picnics or sports teams. These are all part of organizational
culture. The purpose of this report is to analyze and determine the organizational culture found
in the field of Mechanical engineering. This is very important for someone to know if they plan
on becoming a mechanical engineer. By finding out what the organizational culture of a
particular career you will know what career you will enjoy and which ones you will not.
Mechanical engineering is a field that requires a lot of hard work and motivation. This is
not for a closed minded type of person. It requires the ability to think outside the box. Think of
things no one else has before. Mechanical engineering is heavily based around math and
science. Most mechanical engineers are people who are really good at math. Almost everything
a mechanical engineer does has some sort of math associated with it. A mechanical engineer, in
particular, has to do with designing and manufacturing things that have moving parts. This add
a whole other layer of difficulty.
To get some more information I set an interview. The person I interviewed was Jeff
Seare. He is the one of the owners of an engineering consultancy called Olsen & Peterson
consulting engineers, Inc. Hes been working there for about 36 years. He went to the
University of Utah and got a BS in mechanical engineering. This is the only company he has
worked for as a mechanical engineer. Firstly the manner by which I got this information will be
discussed. What strategies worked and which ones didnt. Followed by the results from the
research and discussing the findings of the research. Then the results are presented as in what
the information means.
Methodology
The first thing I did to research the organizational culture of mechanical engineering
seemed simple. I went to google and entered organizational culture of mechanical
engineering. The only thing that was coming up was Books about organizational culture in
general, and not specifically for mechanical engineering. Some other things I found where
about how organizational culture could help your company or one hundred plus page reports
on organizational culture. I then tried switching the words around to see if I could find other
options. I searched for mechanical engineering organizational culture. This brought me to an
article about the comparison of the organizational culture of manufacturing and construction.

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Then I started to research companies in Utah that employed mechanical engineers. First
I searched for student internships in mechanical engineering to see which companies had them
and found their contact information. I attempted to get in contact with a few other companies
too. I found a company called DJH Engineering. I went to their information section and
learned that most of their work is outsourced to another country. I called DJH Engineering as
well, but got no results. I then did a search for jobs for mechanical engineers is Utah. Next I
searched for mechanical engineering firms in Utah. I found a few more places. I called a
company called Millcreek Engineering. I gave them a call. I gave them my contact information
and was told a mechanical engineer would get in contact with me. When I got to the web site
of a company I found some were difficult to get in contact with, while others made it really
easy. I tried calling the companies. Most led to nothing so I continued to call.
To try to get hold of some other local companies I had to change the terms I was using.
Searching for mechanical engineering in Utah gave me some more options to look in to. This
let me to a local company where I was able to get in contact with a mechanical engineer and
schedule an interview. I asked Jeff Seare questions about the organizational culture where he
works. He is one of the owners of a local engineering firm. I asked some questions about the
organizational culture at his engineering consultancy.
Results
The article that was comparing construction and manufacturing gave me some
information. I leaned from that article that in manufacturing there is more of a focus on work
than the construction. There was also a difference in knowledge, the manufacturer is very
aware of new technologies and processes of doing things. The hierarchy is flat. There arent
very many levels of management. Everyone knows what they are supposed to do and how to
do it. When searching for companies I started to find more helpful information.
The interview was the best source for information about organizational Culture in
mechanical engineering. According to Seare there is a lot of writing in mechanical engineering.
Some of those are site reports, site evaluations, inspecting existing systems and writing reports,
and editing mechanical specifications. There is a fairly high amount of verbal communication.
Constantly working with architects, manufacturers, project leads, and others. Meets are also
held every week to get an update on the work that everyone is doing. These are to insure
everyone knows what they are supposed to do and help the project leads determine if they are
on schedule.
Seare also told me that there are a lot of rules and regulations, known as codes. There
is a code for almost everything a mechanical engineer makes, such as fire code and plumbing
code. These codes are very firm and must be followed. If they are not followed then the project
wont be approved and wont be completed. The amount of time that is allowed for a project is
usually determined by the owner of the company or the architect. Most of the time the
mechanical engineers are playing catchup with the architects. They dont always realize how

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long things take making it hard for the designers sometimes. Deadlines are important and if not
met will cause a lot of problems.
As the owner of the company Seare said individual initiative is highly encouraged. They
dont want to hold back their employees. They want them to be able to grow and experiment
with techniques. As long as the job gets done they dont care. There are some awards given in
the form of bonuses. Everyone gets a Christmas bonus but if a particular employees performs
above and beyond what is expected he will be given bonus. If they have a lot of overtime they
could get one too. It depends a lot on what the project is. If they deserve a bonus they get it.
Seare went on to say that there are few joke around the office and no pranks what so
ever. People are at work to do their job and not play around. There are occasional parties like
company lunches and Christmas parties. Each person had their own office. The personal effects
on the desk is not important to management. As long as the job gets done its not a problem.
Daily attire is casual. On days that there are meetings business casual is worn. Things like
gender and race are not an issue. Politics are also not important. Things are kept professional to
maintain a positive work environment. It is not important, it has nothing to do with their work
so why bother worrying about it. There is a slight hierarchy, on the top is the owner and then
the professional engineers. Next is the designer followed by the drafter.
Discussion
The life of a mechanical engineer is a hard one. There is little room for play. The good
thing with mechanical engineering is that you can do some many different things with this. If an
engineer has a dream and they want to see that dream become reality, they can make it
possible. The fact that there is very little messing around was not a surprise to me. The work
that a mechanical engineer does could be very important. Also, like all jobs in this world its a
business and projects need to be finished quickly and efficiently to be able to be profitable. The
company that Jeff Seare works for mainly does HVAC systems, water heating and cooling
systems, and fire protection systems. This is not the field of mechanical engineering I would
want to go in to. The field that interests me is robotics and aerospace. These seem very
interesting to me. The organizational culture of these fields are probably very similar. The
process is the same no matter what is being worked on. There are still a lot of regulations to up
hold but the general structure of the organizational culture would be very similar. Minimal
micro managing, creativity, and individual initiative would still be a large importance. There is a
clear focus on the work that is getting done and not how it is getting done. An example of this is
the daily attire. The casual attire says to me that the actual work is the most important part.
Most of the writing that is done as a mechanical engineer are evaluations like site evaluations
and inspections on existing system. It was nice to hear for Seare that there is no issue with race
or gender. Those types of things dont matter. Again, all that really matters that the work gets
done. Seare also said that all of his employees get their own office. This probably does not
reflect all companies but that would definitely be a good thing for most places. A place where

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someone can work alone without distractions would be a very good thing. The kind of work
environment that they provide is a good place to get a lot of work done.
Conclusion
In conclusion the structure of a mechanical engineering job is very well defined. There is
little room for things that arent work. The client expects things to get done in a timely manner
and it is cheaper for things get done faster, so that is the number one priority. As a mechanical
engineer you must be good at math and science. The life of a mechanical engineer is one of a
lot of hard work and dedication. They must be able to think in a different way than most other
jobs. They need to be able to think in three dimensions and how things will interact in that
space. Mechanical engineering can be a very rewarding job. To see your ideas go from an idea
in your head then to paper, and finally to see the final product completed must be an amazing
feeling. It requires a lot of hard work and motivation but in the end it would be worth it. With
this information I know now that this is what I would want to do. If you are interested in this
kind of career, try and contact a mechanical engineer in your area and get some more
information. Before doing this report I didnt really know what a mechanical engineer did.
Writing this report has been a really good learning experience for me and will use this
information in the future.

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References
Digital image. Strappe. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2015. <http://www.strappe.com/dro.html>.
Metal Lathe. [Digital image]. E-8 Tool. Harvey Mudd College. 2015. Web. Accessed 12 Apr.
2015. <http://www.eng.hmc.edu/E8/Shops/Machine/Lathe.htm>.

Birkholz, A. and Brockmann, C. (n. d.) Industry culture in construction and manufacturing. Retrieved
from https://gpc.stanford.edu/sites/default/files/cp024_0.pdf

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Tim Honing
14049 Old Saddle Road.

Home: 801-576-0899

Draper, UT 84020

Cell: 801-860-4473

Education
Salt Lake Community College, Expected graduation may 2016
Major: mechanical engineering

Work Experience
Entre level work. 2012- October 2014
Manager on Duty October 2014 current
Treehouse Athletic Club, Draper, Utah

First person in the club when opening or last person out when closing.
Ensured functionality of facility.
Ensure all employees are preforming as expected. Fill in if needed.
Open and close Cash tills

Skills
Computer skills: Excel, PowerPoint, MS Word, Autocad, and Solidworks
Machinery: metal lathe, CNC machine, and basic welding.
Language: fluent in Dutch and English.

References Available Upon Request