Engineering at Warwick

Original post by gold_99

I am a recent mechanical engineering graduate from the University of Warwick. Here to answer any questions you have about the engineering course or the university ahead of clearing/adjustment. I am able to offer up my experiences and knowledge. Just reply to this message.

Where can I find resources to get a head start?

Reply 3

dhireshnathwani

Original post by gold_99

I am a recent mechanical engineering graduate from the University of Warwick. Here to answer any questions you have about the engineering course or the university ahead of clearing/adjustment. I am able to offer up my experiences and knowledge. Just reply to this message.

That's awesome, thanks!
What machines/facilities are available to students at the School of Engineering? Are there any interesting machines other than 3d printing/laser cutting, etc..?
Moreover, how easy it to access these facilities? Do you need to book in advance or is it usually pretty chill?

Reply 4

OP

Original post by Evan Atkins

Hi, I will be joining Warwick in October to study engineering and I'm looking at buying laptop to use for the duration my degree. I was just wondering what kind of tasks you think I would need the laptop to be able to do. Obviously, Warwick has a lot of computers I can use for CAD on site, but do you think its particularly useful to be able to run the professional software on a laptop as well or not?

Hi Evan. I would suggest getting a laptop capable of handling CAD software and MATLAB. These are the main things that you would be using outside of the computer labs in things like assignments where you may not necessarily be in proximity to the engineering dept. For example, I had a MacBook Air 2017 model in the first year. It handled MATLAB well but CAD was a tad bit slower. I then upgraded to a MacBook Pro 2018 in the second year with a few upgraded specs and haven't had problems with it. The CAD that you will most likely use is Autodesk Fusion 360, so maybe you can do some research on what can handle that.

If you are on campus then you can always use the computer rooms on site (they are 24hours). But because of COVID, I am not sure how computer room usage will work in the first term at least. So this maybe another reason to get a professional software capable laptop.

Good Luck at Warwick

(edited 3 years ago)

Reply 5

OP

Original post by blackugo

Where can I find resources to get a head start?

There is nothing really out there that I know will give you a head start because the course is quite broad at first. Maybe brushing up on A-Level Maths and a bit of further maths would be a good start. Maybe you can get a head start on how to use CAD (Autodesk fusion 360) and coding on MATLAB.

Good Luck at Warwick

Reply 6

OP

Original post by dhireshnathwani

That's awesome, thanks!
What machines/facilities are available to students at the School of Engineering? Are there any interesting machines other than 3d printing/laser cutting, etc..?
Moreover, how easy it to access these facilities? Do you need to book in advance or is it usually pretty chill?

So I am not sure if you have visited the school of engineering prior but we have the engineering build space. This is a relatively new build and houses things like the 3D printers and the laser cutter. These are free for use by any engineering student after some training and induction into the build space. There are helpers there to help you use the machines. We've used them for personal projects, group project, assignments, dissertations. For the past three years, it was if there is a printer free then you can use it no booking needed. But because of COVID, there may some restrictions on how the students can access the build space. This is something that they will talk to you about I guess during the induction or you could put the question forward if they don't mention it.

Good Luck at Warwick

Reply 7

Original post by gold_99

There is nothing really out there that I know will give you a head start because the course is quite broad at first. Maybe brushing up on A-Level Maths and a bit of further maths would be a good start. Maybe you can get a head start on how to use CAD (Autodesk fusion 360) and coding on MATLAB.

Good Luck at Warwick

Thanks. I have already used fusion 360 and started on further maths after many many warnings lol.

Is there a free version of Matlab or do we get provided with the licence once we go there?

I've just been waiting for so long to get started on something new. Since March I've been ready to dig into some new content :frown:

Reply 8

OP

Original post by blackugo

Thanks. I have already used fusion 360 and started on further maths after many many warnings lol.

Is there a free version of Matlab or do we get provided with the licence once we go there?

I've just been waiting for so long to get started on something new. Since March I've been ready to dig into some new content :frown:

Haven't been doing much since June so I feel your pain!

You get provided with the license when you start but maybe you could watch some youtube videos and make some notes. Physically writing code I know is a bit dull lol. I haven't heard of any free versions of MATLAB.

Maybe you can focus on developing your differentiation and integration including trigonometry, partial differentiation, hyperbolic functions). Differentiation and integration are key to understand everything else.

Reply 9

Original post by gold_99

Haven't been doing much since June so I feel your pain!

You get provided with the license when you start but maybe you could watch some youtube videos and make some notes. Physically writing code I know is a bit dull lol. I haven't heard of any free versions of MATLAB.

Maybe you can focus on developing your differentiation and integration including trigonometry, partial differentiation, hyperbolic functions). Differentiation and integration are key to understand everything else.

Okay. Thanks for the advice.

Reply 10

Original post by blackugo

Thanks. I have already used fusion 360 and started on further maths after many many warnings lol.

Is there a free version of Matlab or do we get provided with the licence once we go there?

I've just been waiting for so long to get started on something new. Since March I've been ready to dig into some new content :frown:

hey man I didn't know you were planning on coming to warwick too?

Reply 11

Original post by royalty1702

hey man I didn't know you were planning on coming to warwick too?

Oh did you apply for engineering at Warwick as well?

Reply 12

Original post by blackugo

Oh did you apply for engineering at Warwick as well?

no but economics at warwick

Reply 13

Original post by royalty1702

no but economics at warwick

Nice. Guess I might see you there.

Reply 14

Original post by blackugo

Nice. Guess I might see you there.

cool! Was warwick your firm?

Reply 15

Evan Atkins

4

Original post by gold_99

Hi Evan. I would suggest getting a laptop capable of handling CAD software and MATLAB. These are the main things that you would be using outside of the computer labs in things like assignments where you may not necessarily be in proximity to the engineering dept. For example, I had a MacBook Air 2017 model in the first year. It handled MATLAB well but CAD was a tad bit slower. I then upgraded to a MacBook Pro 2018 in the second year with a few upgraded specs and haven't had problems with it. The CAD that you will most likely use is Autodesk Fusion 360, so maybe you can do some research on what can handle that.

If you are on campus then you can always use the computer rooms on site (they are 24hours). But because of COVID, I am not sure how computer room usage will work in the first term at least. So this maybe another reason to get a professional software capable laptop.

Good Luck at Warwick

Thank you! That's really useful to know

Reply 16

Original post by royalty1702

cool! Was warwick your firm?

Yep

Reply 17