Hard time 5

[3lilaggies]

I am a New welding engineer and am having a hard time with the ASME section VIII, IX and MIL codes. Is there anyone that can suggest what I need to do to better understand and better apply these books so I don't feel like I wasted four years of my life in school.

 

[Ashereng]

Listen to more experience people.
Ask questions when you don't understand or know.
Read the pertinent sections again (and again).
Talk to your trades/craft people (the experienced ones usually know a lot).
Go to the field, and get some front line experience.
Read various threads in Eng-Tip fora.
Read trade jounals.


"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."
Albert Einstein
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

 

[kchayfie]

Seeing things done in practice makes it a whole lot easier to understand a code written down. Spend as much time as you can with people who implement this stuff on a day-to-day basis and it should start to make more sense.

 

[GRoberts]

ASME offers a class on Section IX taught by Walter Sperko. It is excellent. If there is any chance you can go to that, do it. Once you understand how to read one codde, the others start to fall into place. There are also guide books that could be of use. CASTI publishes some, and I'm sure there are others out there.

 

[lostsailor]

3lilaggies,
Back in the dark years, when I was a fresh engineering graduate just starting out working with the ASME B&PV codes, they also seemed somewhat difficult to grasp. 20 years hasn't changed that much ( hehe :0)).
The above posts make a lot of sense. Don't expect to grasp them all at once as it won't happen. My advice to those just starting to work with the codes is to first learn where to find things. Get an idea of the larger topics and then delve into the details. Above all, don't be afraid to ask questions. It's been my experience to occasionally find things where you wouldn't expect to. This site is an excellent resource, lot's of sharp individuals with an amazing range of experience and knowledge.
Regards,
RLS

 

[JStephen]

The codes weren't designed as a textbook and weren't written all at once as a cohesive body- so a lot of the solution is to just hang in there until you get familiar with them. It's not a clear code and a confused you, it's a confused code that causes confusion in you.

Hopefully, after a while, you'll realize that you don't need 80% of each of these codes. You probably don't use every welding process, every material, etc., and that simplifies things.

 

[waskillywabbit]

When I started in B&PV stuff several years ago I'd never heard of ASME Section VIII Division 1 in my schooling and all the other applicable "codes", "standards", "rules" and "procedures". The more you deal with it on a daily basis the more quickly you will learn what is useful in your daily routine and what you might need sporadically. After a while it will become second nature.

Good luck.

Brian

 

[3lilaggies]

Thank you all for your input and suggestions. I will be seeing about attending some of the seminars and getting some of the books reccomended. Thanks again to all, its nice to know that I am not alone in being overwhelmed by the shear magnitude of the ASME codes and standards.

 

[Ashereng]

My neighbour has the ASME code in his office. I am always running in there to ask/borrow.

I don't know about second nature - I seem to still be stuck on "now what is it that applies here again" nature.

"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."
Albert Einstein
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

 

[3lilaggies]

my major problem is locating relevent material. It takes for ever and is never in the spot you think it should be

 

[Ashereng]

LOL.

That's why you need a neighbour like mine. He knows EVERTHING!



"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."
Albert Einstein
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

 

[waskillywabbit]

I hope he can spell too.

Brian

 

[3lilaggies]

Everthing is the same as everything that way we know what is being said