u/Adventurous-Cat-4326

I recently got into a master’s program in ECE, but my background is mainly in computer science and mathematics. To prepare, I’ve been self-studying Signals and Systems.

At this point, I can conceptually understand the major topics: discrete-time and continuous-time convolution, Fourier series and Fourier transforms, Laplace transforms, Z-transforms, sampling, and related ideas.

However, my understanding is still mostly conceptual and surface level. I can handle basic plug-and-chug problems, but I struggle with more rigorous or unfamiliar problems that require deeper understanding.

I’m planning to take DSP in my first semester, and I’m trying to decide how to prepare.

Should I spend more time doing a rigorous review of Signals and Systems before starting DSP, especially by working through harder problems?

Or would it be better to jump into DSP and review the necessary Signals and Systems material as it comes up?

I’d appreciate advice from people who have taken graduate-level DSP, especially those who came from a CS or non-EE background.

I built a small free web tool that reads STEP/STP files and instantly shows the X/Y/Z boundary dimensions, with inch/mm conversion.

For confidentiality, it does not retain STEP files.

I made it because sometimes you only need the outer envelope of a complicated part, not a full CAD review. For CNC shops, I think it could help with quick quoting, rough stock planning, or checking if a part fits within a machine’s travel.

I’m the creator, so this is mainly for feedback.

For people who work with STEP files: would this be useful in your workflow? What would make it more practical?STEP Stock Calculatorahttps://stepstockcalculator.com/https://stepstockcalculator.com/

I built a small free web tool that reads STEP/STP files and instantly shows the X/Y/Z boundary dimensions, with inch/mm conversion.

For confidentiality, it does not retain STEP files.

I made it because sometimes you only need the outer envelope of a complicated part, not a full CAD review. For CNC shops, I think it could help with quick quoting, rough stock planning, or checking if a part fits within a machine’s travel.

I’m the creator, so this is mainly for feedback.

For people who work with STEP files: would this be useful in your workflow? What would make it more practical?

When you’re given a drawing, how do you decide the stock dimensions?

Is it mostly based on bounding box + some margin, or are there other rules of thumb you rely on (workholding, tool access, cleanup passes, etc.)?

Related to that, how do you choose which stock to buy? Do you typically reference standard sizes (like what’s available from suppliers), pricing tiers, or just go with whatever minimizes waste?

I was wondering if something like McMaster-Carr sizing + pricing data would actually be useful as part of a decision tool, or if that’s not how people think about it in practice.

Also curious how much this varies depending on:

• Material type
• Machine constraints
• One-off vs production runs