Definition of a Metallurgist 1

Stan;
Thanks for the laugh. The phrase "IT DEPENDS" should really be replaced with "on the one hand". This is why a one-handed metallurgist can only provide one answer.

stan,
the mvps with the most stars qualify this definition. I am way below. Thanks all the same!

I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." — Thomas Edison
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I love that definition. Thanks.

Stan,

I have had 'It Depends' posted on my office wall for some time now. I like metengr's saying also. It is good when us metallurgists can poke fun at ourselves. But I will warn other folks when they're about to receive the Metallurgist's favorite phrase! And you are right, this is a great forum!

On the other hand, vague answers made forcefully have the weight of gold - or is it lead? IT DEPENDS.

Thanks Stan from the other Stan.

I had a boss once (VP of Engineering, a Mech. Eng.) that asked me once if it was possible for me to answer a question with anything other than "It depends".

My answer? You guessed it, "Well, it depends".

Thanks for the laugh

rp

Firstly,sorry for my poor English !
I have already read this sentence long time ago. It was translated in several languages and it is positive,cheerful,nice and get to a general idea of our " metallurgical world and its characters in this metallic field ".
More than 45 years ago, a teacher of mine ( Metallurgist ) during a his general speaking about a metallurgical probem , said: "" You would try harder to apprehend instinctively the reason why steel failed and, then , to prove "".
At that time, no one taught us anythings, we had to feel our " steel" way by instinct.
Nowaday, after > 43 year of Failure Analysis and Steel making (NDT, QUA , Customer Ass.) , I found that the verb" IT DEPENDS ON " objectely depends on what People knows,wants to explain and how many right and honest information he wants to supply.
A Metallurgist must be as a Medicin Doctor ! Probably better !
I'm reffering to an old MD diagnostician who was able to do not confuse a simple cold with a pneumonia without forcing a patient to be examined by CAT ,PET, RX and so on...
A Metallurgist would be able to "sniff" at the first time the origin of failure and /or , then, apply all the methodes that could help you during the investigation. Metallurgists coming from Steelmaking plant, welding plant or- if you like - from the "trenches " of a works , will have a lot of advantages because the "disaster" appear in "real time" and prized it hightly. Withou forget the people of University, of course !
Finally, a sorrowful resentment: where have all the metallurgists gone
Last December , IIS inquired about same subject !

Thanks all for your comments

remetaper : great answer !

"it depends"..

i think that the same definition can be used to define a "corrosionist"..

sometimes we use also "let me check"...or "i've to check"..


S

Corrosion Prevention & Corrosion Control

This string reminds me of an old saying in the post-WWII days by Theodore Von Karman a famous low speed aerodymacist from the Netherlands I believe.

A typical aerodynamacist will define his problem condtions before proceding and will say "Assume the aircraft weighs 2000#, has xxx ft squared of wing area and assume it cruises at 150 knots on a 150 Hp engine; etc, etc.."

And Von Karman comes back with this..."An aerodynamacist is and engineer that assumes everything but responsibility!!"

I always remember this since my BS is in Aero Engrg a long time ago!

Regards to all, John Q.

The other response is " I can give you a definite maybe on that ! "
When they bring a broken part for failure analysis and ask "what happened ?" the response is "The applied stress exceeded the available strength of the material "