Not really a quote this time, but a thought, related to engrs knowing how to make stuff.
I’ve encouraged all the engrs I’ve worked w/ (mech or not) to go learn how to make the stuff they’re designing. Perhaps you’d be surprised to know how often this is NOT the case. Happens all the time. I don’t mean that rocket nozzle engrs know how to, w/ their own hands, make a rocket nozzle. That’s a bit ‘bridge too far’. However, if you’re designing a bike frame, you SHOULD know how to build one, as the tools/processes/materials are readily available and cheap enough, that if you have a job designing bikes, you can definitely afford it. An apartment porch is plenty of room to do it (so not having a shop is no excuse). So go learn how to make stuff, even if it’s not the same as your day job. Rocket nozzle engrs can make 3D printed nozzles for model rockets…that’s a start!
Why is this important?
It teaches you to know when to be DONE. If you’re not done w/ the design, of course you cannot make the thing. When are you done? When YOU can make it. Because if you can make it, a professional can definitely make it (far better). Then you can go test. And you can’t learn the good stuff w/o tests.
Alternatively, we’ve all met multiple engrs who will forever tweak dimensions on a chamfer until it’s juuuuust right. Problem is, that when that chamfer is just right, it makes something else look wonky, so they gotta go screw w/ that thing too. Rinse/repeat/over budget/bad performance review/fired/have to update resume/interviews/new job…you get the drift.