Freshman and Sophomore Introduction to Manufacturing-related Engineering Handbooks Using Knovel Databases

Graduates’ abilities to find and apply relevant information from engineering handbooks and reference books to their engineering and technology problems can be considered foundational to their abilities to pursue lifelong-learning in their field. Searchable, electronic access to traditional engineering handbooks and reference books as provided by the database Knovel serves as a user-friendly platform to introduce students to both the breadth and depth of reference book information available. Engineering technology students in a freshman manufacturing processes course and a sophomore materials and metallurgy course were given a hands-on introduction to the Knovel database to promote an early familiarization to relevant engineering references. Activities introduced courserelevant handbooks and search techniques offered through the Knovel database. Time was provided to explore content on a selection of course-related topics. Student responses to a required post-activity essay and an end-of-semester revealed unexpected challenges in convincing early students of the usefulness of engineering handbook and reference data. Engineering Handbooks Accessibility for Today’s Engineering Practitioners Jean Poland of Purdue University, in 1991 summarized information use by practicing engineers: “We know that engineers turn to their colleagues as a first source of information. Even after personal contacts are exhausted, practicing engineers do not go to formal journal literature. Jones, LeBold, and Pernicka reported that engineers in industrial settings use product catalogs and manufacturer’s literature, technical reports and handbooks more often than the published technical literature. Hedvah Suchman found that technical reports are used more often than other published literature.” 1 Information-seeking technologies and behaviors have changed a great deal since 1991. Product catalogs and manufacturing literature are available online, either by seeking the manufacturer information directly from the company website or via a search engine such as Google. Information available from colleagues has broadened to include engineering communities and other forums where technical information can be queried or retrieved through prior electronic questions and conversations. In 2009, Si, Chen, and Hou summarized the literature on the P ge 25651.2 patterns of today’s students who prefer “Googling,” even after trying other methods of information retrieval. Indeed, the Internet and common search engines have opened a wealth of quick engineering information but engineering and technical handbooks still exist and provide a level of detail, specificity, and professional reliability typically not available on the open Internet. The Knovel database (pronounced like the word “novel”) provides a text-searchable online library of scientific and technical eBooks, which has become a richer way for university libraries and corporations to provide a large collection of detailed technical handbooks and texts to their constituents. According to Knovel’s current website, “62% of the world’s top universities and 80% of the top engineering schools in the United States provide access to Knovel.” In 2009, Industrial Engineer highlighted the usefulness of Knovel to engineering practitioners. 6 (The 2010 starting cost of an annual corporate subscription to Knovel was quoted at $5,000.) Figure 1 depicts an example of the technical subject categories which can be available through a Knovel library subscription. Figure 1. Sample selection of topic areas in the Knovel Database. (Selection may vary based on the subscription.) In the area of manufacturing, useful handbooks and texts available in the Knovel library include: • Machinery’s Handbook • Mechanical Engineer’s Handbook P ge 25651.3 • Mechanical Engineer’s Reference • Manufacturing Engineer's Reference Book (Elsevier) • ASM International Handbooks (library) • Materials Selection in Mechanical Design • Mechanical Behavior of Materials • Engineers' Guide to Rotating Equipment The Pocket Reference • Engineering Vibration Analysis with Application to Control Systems • Motors and Drives A Practical Technology Guide • Industrial Machinery Repair Best Maintenance Practices Pocket Guide • Automation, Systems, and Instrumentation Dictionary (ISA) • Plastics Institute of America Plastics Engineering Manufacturing and Data Handbook For example, a Knovel search on a manufacturing topic such as “cutting tool coating” or “tool coating” generates references from resources such as: • ASM Handbook, Volume 22B Metals Process Simulation • ASM Handbook, Volume 18 Friction, Lubrication, and Wear Technology • Society of Vacuum Coaters Technical Conference Proceedings • Handbook of Vacuum Arc Science and Technology Fundamentals and Applications • Ceramic Films and Coatings • Handbook of Hard Coatings • Metal Machining Theory and Applications • Surface Engineering for Corrosion and Wear Resistance • Diamond Films and Coatings • Handbook of Deposition Technologies for Films and Coatings Science, Technology and Applications • Tool Steels (ASM International) • Cemented Tungsten Carbides Production, Properties, and Testing The Knovel database is particularly rich in materials and chemical information. The combined experience of Drexel University and Colorado School of Mines reported in 2005 seemed to indicate that chemical engineering and chemistry programs have been forerunners in applying Knovel resources to university work. However, Knovel recently expanded content in additional areas applicable to mechanical and manufacturing engineering and technologies. For example, in 2007 Knovel established a partnership to include publications from the Instrumentation, Systems, and Automation Society (ISA), and in 2010 announced additions to form a nanotechnology library area. In addition to standard e-texts, Knovel also introduced interactive capabilities into equations and tables offered in many standard references, allowing the user to input his or her own data directly into the “book” equation or graph.