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Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

Introduction -

Mechanical Engineering is one of the broadest fields of engineering which deals with the design, production and maintenance of all kinds of machinery.

Machines are undoubtedly the greatest invention of technology as they have reduced human effort and made our lives so comfortable and easy. Whenever we have to go somewhere, we reach our destination within minutes with a bike, a taxi, a car or an airplane. Machines are also vital for Industries as they not only make the process of manufacturing simple but also speed up the procedure. Agriculture has also largely benefited from the introduction of machines as Tractors, motorized water pumps etc. have made life easy for the farmers and enhanced the possibilities of increased production. The machines have open new ways of development of Agriculture. Machines also play a big role in the field of construction as the tools and instruments speed up the construction work and reduce the work of the laborers.

There are infinite areas where machines take the burden and make us comfortable. And this has been possible because of the Mechanical Engineers. The mechanical engineers are involved in every aspect the mechanism. The work on the functioning, design, development, construction, production, installation, operation and maintenance of machines like jet pump, engines, gas turbines, thermal power stations, air conditioning and heating machines etc. Mechanical Engineers not only make machines they also design and produce the tools needed for a specific machine so that it can function properly and complete the desired work.

The job of Mechanical Engineers is very challenging because they have to produce a unique idea to come out with a new machine. Their work involves transmission, production and the use of heat and mechanical power. They have to analyze materials to see if they can bear the pressure put on them. They investigate different sources of energy and the power they generate in the machines. The mechanical engineers also have to take into account the business and marketing aspects of the product to ensure that the product is affordable. They should have a sharp intellect with IT, design and analytical skills. Mechanical Engineering is about working in a team and the person should have good communication skills and must enjoy team work.

Educational Requirement: You only have to pass your 10th standard board examination with 50% successfully to be eligible for a Diploma course. But if you really want a bright career in Mechanical Engineering then you need to go for a bachelor’s degree - a B.E. or B.Tech. The eligibility criteria for B.E. / B. Tech is 50% marks in Class 12th Board Examination in science stream with Physics, Chemistry and Maths as compulsory subjects. A bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering is required if you want to do an advanced course which is M.E. and M.Tech. There is also a provision of Distance Education which provides a bachelor’s degree through (AMIE) Associate Membership Examination of the Institute of Engineers.

Selection: - The admission to the mechanical engineering course is very competitive. You have to pass the entrance test – JEE (Joint Entrance Examination) to attain admission to the IIT’s .
JEE is an objective test comprising of 3 papers (Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics). For other reputed institutions you have to succeed in AIEEE (All India Engineering/ Pharmacy /Architecture Examination). There are state level and national level examinations also with some institutions opting for their own entrance examinations. Selection is done on the basis of marks obtained in board examinations i.e. 10+2 and the marks obtained in Entrance Test.

Duration: - The duration for the Diploma course in mechanical engineering is of 3 years. The B.E /B.Tech is a 4 year course and when you have the bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering in your hand, you can proceed further for an M.E./M.Tech course which is of 2 years. But if you are interested in AMIE, you can go on with your plan. You can generally complete this course in 4 years.

Mechanical engineering

Different Branches

Mechanical Engineering students can be more successful when they determine their interest with the right kind of aptitude for a specific discipline of Mechanical Engineering. This way, they can develop an expertise in an area and flourish in the field as Mechanical Engineering.

The various disciplines of Mechanical Engineering are –

1. Machine Design - The Machine Design engineers study the physical design of an object or system. This mainly deals with the designing of components to work in a particular method. They decide the components which are needed to be replaced for many reasons like weight constraint and thermal behavior etc. A very helpful tool in this effect for a Machine Design engineer is computer aided design (CAD) software.

2. Kinematics – Kinematics Engineering is that discipline of mechanical engineering where the Kinematics Engineers work with the motion of objects and systems while ignoring the force that causes the motion. The movement of a crane or the movement of a piston in an engine is examples of kinematics systems.

3. Biomechatronics – A Biomechatronics Engineer is sometimes also addressed as Biomechatronics Expert. They work on the machines which enable co-ordination between a mechanical device and human body. This is involved closely with ventricular assistance devices like a pace maker and an artificial hand (which replaces a real hand) known as Shadow Dextrous Hand. A Biomechatronics Engineers make the Shadow Dextrous Hand so skillfully that it works as perfectly as a real hand. Biomechatronics Engineer can work together with a Robotics expert.

4. Heat & Thermodynamics – Thermodynamics is the study of energy, its use and the transformation of energy through a system. Engineers study the effect of heat on objects and systems. Thermodynamics are essential in systems that produce lot of heat, e.g. power plant that encounter large thermal gradients such as space craft.

5. Structural Analysis – Structural Analysis Engineers find answers to why and how a machine fails. Failures are of two types: Static failure and Fatigue failure. Static Failure is the failure of objects when they are loaded. Fatigue failure is when an object is loaded and unloaded a number of times and the result is a failure. The Structural Analysis Engineers fix the objects and make strategies to improve their performance.

6. Manufacturing – It deals with the various types of modern and contemporary methods of producing the components of machines and processing techniques. The stress is laid on developing techniques to bring out quality products with great finish. They are also responsible for reducing waste during production and devising new methods to solve the problem of huge waste. The new techniques also involve conversion of one form of energy into another to make the machinery. Manufacturing Engineers also conduct a lot of research to invent new methods which is very interesting.

Mechanical Engineering

Career options for Mechanical Engineers :-

There are unlimited job opportunities in the field of Mechanical Engineering because it is involved in other disciplines of engineering as well. Mechanical Engineers are required by automobile industry, chemical industry, electronic industry, steel plant, oil exploration and refining, technical wing of armed forces, space research center and many more. The scope is endless. A post graduate person with a management degree is required by the industries for administrative and managerial positions.

Mechanical Engineering jobs may be purely mechanical but sometimes it can also include other manufacturing fields such as fluid power which is the study of hydraulic and pneumatic operated machinery as used with production machinery or robotics.

A person enters the field as a fresher (Campus or off Campus) as Graduate Engineer Trainee. The person is then trained for the first few months so that he gets accustomed with the machinery. Japanese companies are very particular about the skill of their engineers to handle the machinery. After this the engineer is promoted to the post of a coordinator. Their job is to manage the tasks of the operators as per the schedule given by PPC department (Production, Planning & Control). After succeeding in this role, the engineers coordinate with Maintenance Department, Store Department, Purchase Department, HR Department and Quality Department etc.

Mechanical engineers use a variety of skills so that they can take up different jobs -
• Associate engineer in a design consultancy company
• Design draftsperson or machine component designer
• Material tester and Technical officer
• Director of a small air conditioning or machining company
• Sales and Maintenance engineer
• Production manager
• Purchasing officer

In government sector, a mechanical Engineer begins as a Junior Engineer and then gets promoted from Assistant Engineer to Assistant Executive Engineer and then Executive Engineer. But Mechanical Engineers having teaching skills also have great job prospects. They can take up teaching positions at Research and Teaching Institutes. The Railway and Agriculture sectors also require Mechanical Engineers to design and maintain their machinery.

As much is the mechanical engineers are needed for the design and maintenance for machinery, they are also vital for the repair of equipments. They can make a lot of profit by setting-up service centers in the agriculture sector for maintenance of tractors, pump sets and electric motors and oil engines etc.

Salary – The salary depends up on the industry and post of the Mechanical Engineer. most engineers start with Rs. 15,000 to Rs.25,000 plus allowances. In government sectors, Junior Engineers get a salary scale from Rs.6,000 to Rs.12,000 and Executive Engineer get Rs.12,000 to Rs. 23,000.
In USA, according to 2001 Salary survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, bachelor’s degree mechanical Engineer is offered an average $48,426 a year, a master’s degree Engineer received an average offer of $55,994 and PhD candidates were offered $72,096 a year.

If a person has flair for technology and wishes for a life filled with new challenges everyday, he must opt for mechanical engineering for it is fulfilling and exciting!

Mechanical engineering