For the next 5 weeks, I will be busy with EID. EID stands for Engineering Innovation and Design. Within these 5 weeks, students in group of 12 will be expected to come up with a product which improves our daily life. Students are heavily involved in hands on on the making of the product as well as writing out a proper business plan to market. Each group will be given $700. This is going to be a competition as well as completing it as one of the core modules for mechanical engineering. Also, because of EID, that goes my summer holidays.

I have my first taste of what is engineering yesterday. My group has chose to send my friend and I for the module on manufacturing processes. It was a 3hrs session in the workshop yesterday. By the end of the 3 hrs hours, I have made 2 car wheels for toy car. (see the image below.) The aim of this workshop is to get students to be familiar with the operation of the machines.

Made from a solid uniform aluminum rod by the process turning

Although, I managed to survive yesterday battling with the big and bulky machines, I was really desperate and stressful. There are 2 instructors in charge of a group of 6 students and apparently, I was on one to one coaching because the instructor observed that I cannot make it. I am really bad at remembering one whole chunk of information(steps on operating the machine). I think the reason lies in the instructor told us to adjust to this value here and there and start cutting without telling us why we have to do this. Terribly confused, a instructor has to give me instruction step by step. I wondered is it just me or what, the guys seem to be doing fine. Anyway, thanks to the instructor at the end of 3 hours, I understood everything.

By the way, today I will be going back to the workshop again and conquer with the machine for another 2 more wheels. Just wish myself good luck for the day! Jia You!