The Pennsylvania State University
Internet Resource
Guide for Mechanical
Engineering Students
With a focus on Junior Students
Adam Jackson
2/6/2014
Table of Contents
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 1
What’s in the Guide ............................................................................................................................... 1.1
Who the Guide is for .............................................................................................................................. 1.2
What the Guide Assumes Users Know ................................................................................................... 1.3
How the Guide is Organized for Use ...................................................................................................... 1.4
Tips for Using the Guide ......................................................................................................................... 1.5
Resources of the Guide ................................................................................................................................ 2
Bentham Open ....................................................................................................................................... 2.1
The Open Mechanical Engineering Journal............................................................................................ 2.2
Catalog of U.S. Government Publications .............................................................................................. 2.3
Statistical Abstract of the United States ................................................................................................ 2.4
Penn State Undergraduate Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Website .......................................... 2.5
InternMatch ........................................................................................................................................... 2.6
American Society of Mechanical Engineers Digital Collection ............................................................... 2.7
iCrank ..................................................................................................................................................... 2.8
1
Introduction
This Guide is a resource for mechanical engineering students at Penn State, focusing on students of the
junior status. In the rest of the first section of this document, we discuss the contents of the Guide, who
is expected to be using the Guide, and how the text is organized. There are tips for using the Guide
properly and to its full potential. An important part of this section is the assumptions made in writing
this document.
1.1
What’s in the Guide
The contents of this Guide are far-ranging but very useful. Included in this Guide are eight resources
that are helpful for juniors in mechanical engineering. The first four explore periodical literature, a
professional journal, a catalog produced by the United States government, and a database of
information about the United States. The second four are more pertinent for Penn State juniors,
focusing on Penn State department webpages and job and internship search sites. Also included is an
engineering design webpage.
1.2
Who the Guide is for
This Guide is intended for juniors at Penn State studying mechanical engineering. As previously
mentioned, the first four topics encompass a larger amount of topics. Three out of the four in the
second set pertain more to Penn Staters and juniors who are looking for jobs or internships. While the
Guide targets a specific audience, mostly any engineer or student of engineering could use this Guide.
1.3
What the Guide Assumes Users Know
The Guide makes a few assumptions about its readers. The most basic is that they are familiar with
internet browsers and how to open webpages. Included in this is access to the internet. All of the works
referenced are available online (with links included) with only a couple available in print. Throughout
the Guide there are a few words and phrases that are used which are common knowledge for people in
the field. These can be referenced outside this Guide (typically on the internet) if unsure about the
meaning or context. The Guide references pages that are accessed via Penn State accounts and require
Penn State identification. It is possible that these can be accessed via outside sources, but it is assumed
that the reader has a usable account.
1.4
How the Guide is Organized for Use
The Guide has two parts: the introduction and the references. The introduction is a preface to the
references, stating the basics of who is using it, why they are using it, and how it can be used. The
resources follow. The resources are broken down into two groups. The first is for a more general
audience of mechanical engineers while the second set pertains more to Penn Staters and juniors in the
field. The location of each can easily be referenced using the Table of Contents at the beginning of this
document.
1.5
Tips for Using the Guide
Although the Guide is straightforward, here are a few tips for using the Guide.

Use the Table of Contents

The Table of Contents lays out exactly where each section of the Guide is. Use it to
navigate the document and find the section which most pertains to what is needed.

Read the “What the Guide Assumes User Know” section

This section lists what the user is expected to know before reading this Guide. If any of
the information is unclear, read up on that particular subject before navigating the
Guide.

Browse around on the websites

This is listed on most of the tips for the second set of abstracts, but it holds true for all
of them. While the most relevant information is directed into this Guide, other useful
information can be found all over these sources.
2
Resources of the Guide
Eight resources are examined below. They are broken up into two sets. The first set is broader and can
be used by more people. We will focus on how mechanical engineering juniors would be using these
sources. The second set emphasizes resources for Penn Staters and juniors in mechanical engineering.
These pertain to jobs and internships as well as academic guides.
2.1
Bentham Open
http://www.benthamscience.com/open/
Index to Periodical Literature
Bentham Open publishes over 200 peer-reviewed journals which are all free to view. When the site is
accessed, users are immediately brought to a page where a wealth of information is available. The
journals can be accessed via a tab on the page, listing them alphabetically or by subject. These journals
can be viewed online and printed, all for free. Many technical documents can be found here and appeal
to science as a whole. This index is trustworthy; the site states its policies on publishing articles and
they are stringent. Each article is reviewed but no less than three peers and is cross-checked for
plagiarism. This is an excellent source to conduct preliminary research on a topic.
Tips

Check out the “Journals by Subject” section – Each subject is fairly broad and can help narrow a
search. If there isn’t a specific journal in mind, this is a great starting place.

Look at the “Editorial Policies” – This is the place that confirms each journal or article is accurate
and complete. It shows the process for getting works published.

Go to The Open Mechanical Engineering Journal – This journal has yearly journals posted with a
variety of topics relating to mechanical engineering. Be prepared for highly technical
information when accessing this journal.
2.2
The Open Mechanical Engineering Journal
http://benthamscience.com/open/tomej/
Journal
This journal focuses articles and reviews on mechanical engineering as a whole. It is peer-reviewed and
has a wealth of information on current topics and developments in mechanical engineering. The
purpose of this journal is to push quality articles quickly to the masses. There are currently seven
volumes available, one being published each year since 2007. Each published journal contains many
different articles, each of which have an abstract and full version available for download. This would be
very beneficial for conducting research, with the downside being the difficulty to find specific
information easily.
Tips

Look at “Aims & Scope” – Aims and Scope states exactly what the journal is and what the user
should expect out of it. It tells where emphasis is placed and where information comes from.

Open one of the volumes and look at the abstracts – This is a good starting place when
determining if each volume will be useful for research. The abstract gives a short explanation of
the full article.

Don’t be afraid to browse – While some documents are very technical and overwhelming, there
are a few that can be understood at a junior mechanical engineering level. These are good
resources and allow the reader to learn loads of information about several topics.
2.3
Catalog of U.S. Government Publications
http://catalog.gpo.gov/F/998GHC2962C8Q7PPU3F9B8FR4F12Q5LIFYUBIQMYVI9FIPTNB955213?func=find-b-0&local_base=GPO01PUB
Catalog
This catalog is used to locate government publications. According to the Penn State Library, the
information available here is from 1990 to the present. When accessing this site, the search page is the
default. When coming to this site, it is beneficial to know what information is sought after. The search
can be broadened or narrowed using the tabs at the top. This resource is very basic and
straightforward, but is not user friendly. Unless there is a specific document in mind, this source may be
difficult to use, but the extent of information makes it hard to omit as a legitimate source.
Tips

Have an idea in mind – The site isn’t meant for browsing. With a search only based way to find
U.S. publications, it is hard to look around and find the required information.

Use “Advanced Browse” – Since the site is search heavy, it is recommended to use the advanced
search to narrow the results. This makes research more effective.

Look at “New Titles” – This section shows publications posted over a range of recent times (from
7 days up to 3 months). It is a great way to keep up with publications by the Government,
especially if it is known that new decisions have been made in certain areas of interest.
2.4
Statistical Abstract of the United States
http://statab.conquestsystems.com.ezaccess.libraries.psu.edu/sa/?id=8331a92c-2583-40d0-806881a3570d31f7#
Database
Published by Proquest and accessed using a Penn State ID through Penn State’s Library, this is easily
accessible. Of the many sections selected, most had publications reaching back to the 1960s. When
each section is accessed, there is an option for subjects under that section. This makes the database
very easy to navigate. With the ability to search, it is easy to find information pertaining to any field in
the United States. For example, if searching for engineering accidents, a document returns. Workers
Killed On The Job By Industry and Occupation: 2011. This is useful information for someone looking up
death rates for engineers and it can be compared to other occupations.
Tips

Use the Table of Contents – This does an excellent job in organizing the information available.
Use this to guide the search, starting with the general topic and narrowing it down from there.

Come back to the Table of Contents – The site is user friendly in most aspects, but when a
section is selected, the Table disappears to be replaced by other conditions such as year or
subject. Use the arrow beside “Table of Contents” to reshow the main Table to look at a new
topic.

Make use of the subject breakdowns – Inside each main topic there are “Subjects.” These are
more specific and will help narrow a search quickly.
2.5
Penn State Undergraduate Mechanical and Nuclear
Engineering Website
http://mne.psu.edu/Undergraduate/
Website
This website is meant for prospective and undergraduate students interested or in the fields of
mechanical and nuclear engineering. The main page is helpful for finding information about curriculum,
scholarships and awards, and career resources. Most of the areas mentioned have subcategories for
more specific results, such as “Find a Job” in “Career Resources” As an junior undergraduate at Penn
State, this is very helpful in many aspects. Staying on top of the correct class schedule is vital to
graduating on time. Looking for scholarships to help pay for school takes a burden off a student’s
shoulders. Seeing the future and trying to find a job after graduation is something that is on every
student’s mind. This website does well in communication to its target audience and putting the major
points in a very accessible place.
Tips

Know what you’re looking for – This website isn’t meant for exploring and finding new articles or
information. Come with a purpose and the information should be easy to find.

Don’t be afraid to use the search feature – Whether looking for information about a class or
looking at studying abroad for MNE, anything that doesn’t jump at you from the home page can
be found quickly using the search feature. It also allows search of different parts of Penn State,
including the MNE department and Penn State people.

Check out the current news – Staying up to date on information about your major is helpful.
The news and events section facilitates with learning current topics, finding information about
seminars, and a calendar.
2.6
InternMatch
http://www.internmatch.com/s/mechanical-engineering-internships
Website
This site is used to find internships across the nation. The link above directs to mechanical engineering
specific internships. The main page shows some new postings, but the helpful part is the search feature.
Each internship posting provides description about the internship as well as some “badges” as
descriptors such as the season it is active or links to apply directly on that company website. This is
helpful when looking for an internship but it is difficult to find internships for Pennsylvania. If travelling
for an internship is not a problem, this is a great place to start a search.
Tips

Make sure to use all of the tabs – There are tabs for internships, jobs, resources, and more. This
website is useful for different academic standings and can be used in the future.

Check out the buttons – Under each listing, there are “buttons” that describe each internship.
This is a quick way to learn about the internship. Examples of this are buttons showing paid
versus unpaid or when the internship is available.

Pay attention to the location – Many students only take internships near their hometown or
school. Look at where the internship takes place. Make use of the search feature to narrow
down the location of internships as well.
2.7
America Society of Mechanical Engineers Digital
Collection
http://asmedigitalcollection.asme.org.ezaccess.libraries.psu.edu/
Database
This website is meant for scholars and students looking for information about mechanical engineering.
On this site, there is a wide range of information available, covering journals, conference proceedings, a
library service center, and more. Very beneficial for secondary research, this site should be visited if
information is needed on any topic that might fall under mechanical engineering. Journals are very
helpful in this aspect. All of this information is available via Penn State’s Library Database under “ASME
Digital Library.” All that is needed is a valid Penn State ID and password.
Tips

Know what you’re looking for – The tabs do a great job of breaking down each category of
information available in the digital collection. Research could be found in journals, while certain
presentations might be found in conference proceedings.

Use the tabs at the top of the page – They give a very good starting point for narrowing down
the topic. Under the journal tab there are subheadings that help guide the user to the right
journal. The other tabs make use of the search feature to look for particular books or
proceedings, so make use of it.

Check out the “Help” section – This section isn’t just for a guide on how to use the site. It allows
the user to browse by year, submit a paper, find contact information, and more. If lost, it is also
a valuable resource for navigation.
2.8
iCrank.com
http://icrank.com/cgi-bin/pageman/pageout.cgi?path=/index_html.html
Website
This website is used as a resource for mechanical design. It is broken down into three main categories
that a user would be interested in. The main use of this page is for design, but it also contains useful
information such as links to other resources and discussion forums. iCrank also helps designers get in
contact with vendors who can supply products or make prototypes. Engineers in college would use this
site to learn more about the design of screws and metal sheets as well as hub to find other information.
It is a good site to keep bookmarked for use after school.
Tips

Bookmark the page – There is a lot of information on this site that is worth coming back to when
needed. The apps are of particular interest here. While it is good and well to learn about
springs, screws, and sheet metal specifics, most of the information would be used as a reference
later.

Check out the “Links” section – There are a lot of links to technical information posted here.
From learning about materials to finding jobs, anything pertaining to engineering can be found
here. This is a good place to explore and learn more about the engineering field.

Take it for what it is – The website is great, but it is fairly basic. As stated in their “About Us”
section, it has “been assembled by Mechanical Engineers for Mechanical Engineers.” While this
may be reassuring, there is no way to know how the information is verified or where it is coming
from. Take it with a grain of salt and be sure to do more research.