What even is mechanical engineering? I hear you say, what does that even mean??
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What is Mechanical Engineering
Well, mechanical engineering is a diverse and versatile profession that combines the realms of physics, mathematics, engineering (obviously) and materials science. These are used in order to design, manufacture, analyze and maintain any kind of mechanical system or system in motion. Movement can be powered by the muscles of humans or animals, hydraulic or pneumatic actuators, heat and pressure of combustion, gravity and springs and electromagnetism.
A mechanical engineer must have a thorough knowledge of all of these various disciplines to be able to design more complex devices, ensuring that designs run safely, efficiently and reliably, all at a satisfactory cost. While it takes many tools, men, sweat, blood and tears to put something together that is really complex such as a car, all of these know what to do because of a mechanical engineer.
Applications
Mechanical engineering is widely known as the broadest engineering discipline, it goes way back to when the very first wheels were installed onto an axle to make a movable cart. It also touches virtually every aspect of modern life including the human body, a highly complex machine.
To master this field will require a vast knowledge of the areas of mechanics (again, makes sense), dynamics, thermodynamics, structural analysis, electricity and again materials science. Within these areas a number of technological tools can be used to aid the process with which the engineer can use to streamline and optimize the workflow with which they carry out the task at hand. Computer Aided Design (CAD) like AutoCAD, Revit, Inventor and Fusion 360, Finite Element Analysis (FEA), Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM), Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and the product life cycle are an example of such tools.
They can then be used to design, produce and operate machinery in projects like; heating and cooling systems (we love these in New York), medical devices, weapons (no comment), robotics, transport systems, aircraft/watercraft, so on and so forth.
History of Mechanical Engineering
If you desire to know the full history of Mechanical Engineering from its emergence in the 18th Century to now, you can find that here. In short, research in physics led to the development of engineering science which, through many advancements has progressed into the creation of mechanical and various other strands of engineering.
Aerospace, civil, electrical, chemical and industrial engineering are examples of some of these strands. Exciting areas such as nanotechnology, composites and mechatronics are areas explored by mechanical and many other types of engineers, especially biomedical engineers, who aid in the fields of biomechanics, biomechatronics and the modelling of biological systems.
Mechanical Engineering Education
To obtain a career in mechanical engineering, at least a bachelor’s degree is required. A program such as this runs for at least 4 years and would include instruction in various components, from power systems to computer programming. Technical subjects like thermodynamics, mechanics, materials science and electricity are just a few that would be covered.
A basic understanding of chemical engineering, electrical engineering, and civil engineering is essential and is expected of mechanical engineering students. Coursework & internships are also used during these programs to further the education obtained and help the students relate their studies to the real world. Mechanical engineers can also avail of online courses to enhance their skills and improve their understanding of the engineering world. Courses like these can be found on LinkedIn Learning.
Mechanical Engineering Careers
The breadth of this discipline allows mechanical engineering students to have a variety of career paths even beyond the aforementioned industries. Regardless of the respective direction in which a student would like to take their professional life, a mechanical engineering education provides them with creative thinking skills, analytical tools and teamwork that will allow them to; design an exciting product or system, achieve their design goals, overcome all constraints, and design, market, and produce a system. They are not however restricted to just the engineering field, these valuable skills and tools can be used to build careers in law, consulting, finance, medicine, management etc.
What Do Mechanical Engineers Do?
Taking a product from an idea to the marketplace is a key responsibility for a mechanical engineer, they must be able to determine the forces and the thermal effect of the environment on a product or its parts. Then designing them accordingly for aesthetics, functionality and durability, while also optimizing the future manufacturing process. The essence of this workflow is problem solving, with this at its core, applied creativity (a hands-on understanding of the work involved) and strong interpersonal skills like leadership, management and conflict management are needed.
Future of Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineering is by no means has reached anywhere close to its limits, breakthroughs in analytical tools and materials have opened new fields where advancements can be made. Biotechnology, composites, nanotechnology, acoustical engineering and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) have all expanded the typical mechanical engineer’s toolbox.
Nanotechnology in particular is resulting in the scaling down of engineering processes on materials. This allows the design and manufacture of a material to be carried out at the elemental level, which grows the possibilities of that object/material exponentially. CFD uses complex algorithms to analyze fluid flows, this allows for the modelling of situations that would have previously been impossible. Acoustical engineering has increased efficiency in a wide variety of areas, everywhere from architecture to biotechnology. It achieves this by examining sound and vibrations, giving the opportunity to reduce the sound and movement in bodies.
The future looks bright for mechanical engineering and mechanical engineers alike, while technology becomes more and more prominent in today’s world, so does the role of the mechanical engineer. If robots and machines continue to make their way into our lives, it will be mechanical engineers that will be developing them!
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Everyday Tools Used By Professional Engineers
- Calipers
- Flashlight
- Graph Paper
- Laser Tape Measure
- Notebook
- Ruler
- Scientific Calculator
- Tape Measure
- Toolbox
