β2.1 Engineering Notebook Guide
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Introduction
The following are best practices and suggestions on how to organize and present your engineering notebook.
Sections
- Title Page
- Table of Contents
- Chronological entries
- References (list of reference sources)
- Contacts (name, position, contact information)
Items to be included in the Engineering Notebook
- Discovering the problem
- Research
- Sketches with labels and descriptions
- Brainstorming
- Market research results
- Calculations
- Your daily thoughts and ideas
- Pictures
- Expert input (names, positions, contact info, details of conversations)
- Work session summaries
- Decision matrices
- Justification of design choices
- Build procedures
- Test procedures, results, and conclusions
- Digital technical drawings
- Design modifications
- Reflections on your work and future plans
- Contacts Section (name, position, contact information)
- Reference Section (list of reference sources)
Best Practices
- Use quad ruled paper.
- Use a bound notebook.
- Complete all work in pen.
- Appropriately number, date, and sign (by the designer and a witness) all pages.
- Leave no blank space (If there is extra space, draw an X across it).
- If you make a mistake, draw a line through it and enter the correct information.
- Cut and paste print-outs of digital files that you create or use as reference. Note the inclusion of the inserted work on the notebook page with a description and sign your name so that it extends across both the notebook page and inserted document.
- Label all parts of sketches.
- Include important dimensions.
- Describe each sketch in detail.
- Provide periodic progress entries.
- Reflect on tasks accomplished, successes, and failures.
- Reflect on future needs and tasks to be completed.