If you want to sit around and do equations all day then go to a big name school that’s completely hands-off. If you want to learn how to engineer things and design great things then don’t say no when someone says you want to get some Machine Shop time. Those really greasy rough looking guys/gals that spend all day turning cranks and programming CNC machines (CNC stands for computer numerically controlled) could probably design circles around some of the A+ engineers that have come out of top schools like Michigan. If you know a person who works as a machinist, pick his or her brain and try to get them to show you around a mill or a lathe for a bit. It will be the most informative Saturday afternoon you could have.
Don’t be afraid of the tools that are out there. Even if you don’t pick on up know what they are, how they work, and how best to design for them. When I first arrived at Tissue Genesis, Inc I was told to redesign a plastic molded piece that used a heat staker and a sonic welder. I had no idea what these machines were let alone how to design for them. Then I began calling companies, asking for design tips, sheets that showed design tips, googling everything I could, and basically asking as many questions as possible. In the end I was able to redesign the piece (actually 10 down to 7 main pieces) sonic weld 2 pieces onto a larger one and save $15 a disposable in the heat staking procedure. That was all from just asking a lot of questions and learning about all the tools that are out there.
Some great catalogs to get you started are:
McMaster Carr
MSC Industrial Tools
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