B.Tech Guide Book for students

The B.Tech Guide Book is about engineering students and engineering four-year degrees in a nutshell. As a student and teaching professional, I have gained experiences on both sides of the world. I am sharing the experiences through my blog 'The Review' online. Now, I am clubbing all my best experiences at college, University & professional teaching in a book form. One can draw useful information from the book, and if implemented fully, one can succeed in life.

Read  specimen chapter 1

Chapter 1: B.Tech Life

"B. Tech 1st year is very taxing. We discussed various traps in the first year and how to avoid it with your intelligence and presence of mind. The second, third, and fourth-year are the formative years. During these years, you build your character and personality. Right from the second year, you need to be alert for internships. According to the new rule, you have to do a minimum of four weeks of internships. The internships are hard to get now a day in Assam. A lot of students from various institutes apply for internships. Therefore, it becomes a nasty affair. While applying for internships one should keep multiple options open for him/her not limiting to one since he /she might not get if they are selected on merit basis. It happens mostly to internships where OIL, ONGC, NRL, etc. are involved. Getting into an internship does not mean that somebody will prefer you for a job in that company. It is just training for a few weeks. You learn and make a report. Finally, you submit your report during industrial viva to be held in the 7th semester, which bears some credit. So, you should apply through proper channel to the organization where you have the best chance of calling, or you will miss without attending any internship. By any means, one should do the internships." You can buy the book here in kindle edition.

Important software for Mechanical Engineering

B. Tech degree has become very much competitive.  Apart from the subjects taught in the course, you are expected to learn on your own some software related to Mechanical engineering. These will help you to be better mechanical engineering in the future. Your resume will have an edge over others. Now a day, the world is shifting towards design, simulation, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, etc. These are new concepts. We have to embrace them for our survival as a mechanical engineer.

1. Microsoft word /Microsoft excel Learning how to operate Microsoft word /Microsoft excel inefficient manner is very important. Many of us know to some extent but we lack skills to write properly that looks good in Microsoft word. For that matter, we can buy some books related to MS word or we can watch YouTube videos related to editing. MS Excel is required for data analysis, drawing graphs, etc. We can perform many useful things with MS word. As a teacher, I have seen students with very low skills with these two tools. We can learn ourselves from various videos or reading materials available online.

2. CAD software:  CAD software helps us to draw 3 D models. Suppose, you are designing various parts of an engine and you are assembling them. Now a day there are lots of 3D CAD tools; Auto cad, SolidWorks, Unigraphics, CATIA, etc. Generally, auto cad is taught in engineering colleges. But, you have to put effort to learn it well.

3. Finite Element Analysis software: FEA is important for structural analysis. Ansys is such software widely used by students and professionals alike. There are very small numbers of experts in this field. If any can excel in the field, there are hundreds of jobs open for him. Moreover, it will be very helpful during higher studies.

4. MATLAB: MATLAB is a programming language that helps in complex numerical analysis. One can do simulation here easily and show results. Moreover, no other software can match the plotting quality of MATLAB. Mechanical engineers use MATLAB for numerical modeling. This is a very vast subject. People with MATLAB skills are highly regarded in the research field.

Workshop viva? How to tackle it?

The workshop is an integral part of engineering. For some branches like mechanical engineering, it is a long affair, unlike other branches. Generally, other branches are done with workshops in the first year. In our days we had to do various workshops on smithy, forging, carpentry, forming, casting, fitting, assembly, machine shop, welding, etc. Now a day, most of the shops are neither in college workshops nor taught. They have been reduced to a few lathe machines, CNC machines, and welding types of equipment. Workshops have lost their charm over time because of fund constraints. Modern-day workshops are mere formality in engineering. The students are required to perform some tasks in workshops. The instructors would demonstrate to you how to produce some job and then, you are asked to perform these jobs. You are to submit these jobs and marks are given according to the finished product. You need to submit a workshop report stating the jobs. In the final exams, you are asked to perform these operations. Now, how do you prepare yourself for the viva? In my days, I used to study a book called ‘Workshop technology by Hazra Choudhury’. This book is very important for all mechanical engineering students. This book clears the concept of manufacturing and production engineering too. Then, you are to focus on the operations you have performed on the jobs and associated theories relating to particular jobs. One should not limit himself to jobs only; you have to have a holistic idea about whole workshop technology. If you as a mechanical engineering student are strong in workshop technology, you can easily tackle interview questions related to machines and practical fields.You can buy ‘Workshop technology by Hazra Choudhury’ from below links.

Laboratory exam & viva. How to prepare?

Engineering is all about laboratory exams. You will have to appear in lots of laboratory exams and viva. The laboratory exams are the easiest in the course. If you prepare it well, you can score some easy points which will help to raise your pointer. Some people ignore laboratory exams totally and when they discover where they are lacking, it is almost late. In engineering, each laboratory generally has 5 to 10 experiments. You have to learn the process to do experiments correctly during the demonstration. If you do not understand, you are to visit the laboratory at the time of less rush under the advice of the laboratory in-charge and practice it. Nobody will say no to your request. Now a day, people are eager to teach but people are less interested in anything related to study. You need to approach the right person with a positive attitude. There are some general things which you should take care of which are listed below.

(1) You have to perform experiments after learning the process demonstrated by the instructor. You have to carefully note down the intricate points told by the instructor and also you have to listen carefully to the theory involved in it.  

(2) You are to make a neat and clean laboratory copy with signatures from your instructor after getting each experiment verified. Laboratory copy bears a good chunk of marks attached to it. This can be scored easily.

(3) For laboratory exams, you have to know to do the experiments along with the theories associated with the experiments. You should be able to answer the questions related to the theory and operations done throughout the experiment. Moreover, one should keep in mind that each laboratory is linked to a particular subject. Therefore, one should be able to answer the questions related to the subject. Sometimes, the invigilator may ask or may not. But, you should be ready for any contingencies. 

Read B.Tech Guide Book for more insights