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Engineering Students' Limitations to Engineering Software

How to manage it

By Amir JonesPublished about a year ago 4 min read
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It is no secret that engineering requires various software to complete multiple tasks. However, there are some limitations that students face when using these programs. In this post, we will explore what these limitations are and how students can work around them. Stay tuned!

Why Engineering Software is Important?

As an engineering student, you will quickly learn that software is a necessary part of the field. There is a software application for just about everything, from computer-aided design (CAD) programs to analysis tools. Unfortunately, while some are free programs, others can be costly.

The Benefits of Engineering Software

There are many benefits to using engineering software. Perhaps the most obvious is that it can save you time. For example, if you need to design a part, you can use a CAD program to create a 3D model instead of spending hours (or even days) creating it by hand.

Another benefit is that engineering software can help you achieve results that would be difficult or impossible to achieve without it. For example, if you need to analyze a complex structure, you can use a finite element analysis (FEA) program to simulate different loading scenarios. This would be highly time-consuming and difficult to do by hand.

Some examples of engineering software:

  • TIA PORTALS Siemens;
  • STUDIO 5000 ALLEN BRADLEY;
  • MARKVIe General Electric;
  • MATLAB;
  • SOLIDWORKS;
  • AUTOCAD.

Reasons Why Engineering Software is Inaccessible

We know that engineering requires deep theoretical knowledge and practical experience. And as technology advances, the demands on engineers increase. They need to be able to use various software to complete tasks.

However, they cannot access and get hands-on practice with these useful software as they are expensive. Most engineering students can only afford the essential software, which have limited capabilities.

There are a few reasons why engineering students face these limitations.

1. Firstly, the software is quite expensive, and most students are not able to afford it.

2. Secondly, the software is usually used in industry and is not easily accessible to students.

3. Thirdly, the software requires a lot of experience and skills to use efficiently, and most students lack these skills.

Students and Their Access to Engineering Software

One of the difficulties that engineering students, whether they are studying mechanical, electrical, or control systems, are likely to encounter throughout their education is the lack of exposure to engineering software that is specific to their respective professions, which would allow for further practice and would help to hone their abilities.

Some institutions allow students to work with engineering software for short periods through virtual LABs and shared internet connections.

Industrial software licenses for each engineering discipline are very expensive, and it is often not possible for students to purchase the programs outright. Consequently, they must find other ways to gain access to the software, which is not always easy.

Additionally, once they have finally located a source for the software, such as a friend or family member who owns the program, they may find that they do not have the skills to use it efficiently.

Although some engineering software developers offer preview or student versions of their products, these models often restrict users to a subset of the program's features, given that the 2500 USD price tag for a single-user license of industrial automation software is unaffordable. However, students require exposure to a wide variety of software before entering the workforce.

System upgrades, which can happen as frequently as every six months, also require students to keep up with the latest versions, lest they find themselves at a disadvantage when applying for jobs.

Automation Vendors: Aiding or Hindering the Learning Process?

The current state of affairs, in which the primary source of exposure to engineering software for many students is through the use of cracked, pirated, or unlicensed programs, is not ideal.

On the one hand, it allows those who would otherwise be unable to afford the software to gain access to it. But on the other hand, it puts the students at risk of malware and viruses, and it also means that they cannot take advantage of updates and support that would be available if they were using a legitimate copy of the program.

Automation vendors like:

-Siemens;

-Allen Bradley;

-ABB might help the students to practice the use of the software by providing, but the minimum cost of a license to use the software from these providers is about $7000, well beyond the means of any student.

How Can FSExpert Solve This Problem?

Using mentorship platform FSExpert, students can interact with professionals using their software and labs online to gain knowledge and practice themselves. FSExpert is an online platform that will be used, besides the others, to connect students and professionals.

This marketplace will allow the students to find mentors who can help guide them in their studies and use of the software and provide access to various resources, including video tutorials, articles, and projects.

Students can get access to the same high-quality coaching that FSExpert's engineers enjoy, moreover, they'll be able to schedule hours of free sessions with predetermined institute instructors.

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