"An optimist will tell you the glass is half-full; the pessimist, half-empty; and the engineer will tell you the glass is twice the size it needs to be" - Anonymous
Everywhere we look, we see machines. Some are as simple as the wheel and some are as complex as robots. Machines are tools that use energy of one kind or the other to meet a particular goal. Engineers who construct these machines are known as Mechanical Engineers. Their work includes designing, manufacturing, analyzing and maintaining machines. Mechanical Engineering is one of the oldest branches of engineering and involves the principles of subjects like Physics and Math.
Mechanical Engineers work in a wide variety of fields such as Manufacturing Industries, Aerospace, Transportation, Robotics, Weapons etc. The employment opportunities for Mechanical Engineers are only going to increase due to the advent of concepts like environmental engineering, nanotechnology, development of composite materials etc.
What do Mechanical Engineers do?
Mechanical Engineers are responsible for the successful transformation of an idea into a machine. They can be working in a company that deals with manufacturing ball point pen tips, or a company that manufactures aircrafts.
One of the most important jobs of a Mechanical Engineer is to design new and innovative machines and mechanical equipment that can make life easier for human beings. These designs and concepts can be related to anything, from car engines to new medicinal equipment. They have to design the basic structure of these machines, their purpose and their working mechanism.
Mechanical Engineers are not only supposed to come up with new designs, but also test them. It is imperative for any Mechanical Engineer to know how to properly test his new designs. Testing helps alleviate situations where a design seems to be okay in the first look, but turns out to be ineffective as it cannot deal with the real life working environment.
Manufacturing machines and products is also one of the very essential jobs of a Mechanical Engineer. Once a design is created, it is important to create a prototype that can be tested. Once the tests have been passed, Mechanical Engineers supervise the production in order to manufacture machines and products that are accurate to its design.
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Some Mechanical Engineers are also into research. They come up with theories and models and look to prove them through experiments. They constantly have to read new journals as well as write their own.
Mechanical Engineers are also required to create test reports and explain assembly procedure for the machine. This is extremely important as only the Mechanical Engineers know the exact design and ways to assemble and use the machine. It is also important for them to write test reports that contain information regarding the performance of the machine in real world circumstances.
Mechanical Engineers are also heavily involved in the process of Systems Management. This refers to the process of supervising systems and methods in ways that ensure that the system functions smoothly.
One of the main tasks that a Mechanical Engineer has to perform is to draw technical drawings and create drafts. Drafts can be created using software such as CAD. Technical drawings include the structural design of the product.
Mechanical Engineers are always dealing with energy in one form or the other. Their work includes transforming, using and consuming energy to create movement or to achieve a particular goal through their machines.
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How to become a Mechanical Engineer?
Mechanical Engineering is a wide field that includes concepts like thermodynamics, electricity etc. Mechanical Engineers perform a variety of jobs that include seeking new knowledge, creative designing, construction, sales and management of systems. It is a well paying career but requires a lot of hard work, determination and intelligence.
In order to become a Mechanical Engineer, you need to start concentrating on your studies as soon as possible. In your school, focus on subjects like Math, Physics, Chemistry and Computers. All these subjects form the base of Mechanical Engineering. Choose the Science stream after your 10th and take Math, Physics and Chemistry as your main subjects.
Once you complete your schooling, you will have to pursue a Graduation course in Mechanical Engineering. To be able to pursue the course, you would have to score good marks in engineering entrance exams like JEE (Main) and JEE (Advanced). IITs concentrate on your marks secured in JEE (Advanced) and the NITs consider your score in the JEE (Main). Many colleges also have their private entrance exams that you might have to pass in order to get admission.
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You will have the option of studying further or starting your professional life once you complete your graduation. If you want to work in a very specific field within Mechanical Engineering, then it is advisable to obtain a Master’s degree in that particular field. This Master’s degree will provide you with more knowledge and higher pay rolls. If your interest lies in the field of research, you can study further and obtain a Doctorate in a particular field of Mechanical Engineering.
There is an alternate route that one can use to become a Mechanical Engineer. One can straight away start studying Engineering after your 10th and pursue a Diploma course from a Polytechnic Institute. The duration of this Diploma is 3 years.
In order to become a Mechanical Engineer, you can become a member of Institute of Mechanical Engineers or Institution of Engineering, India. These associations will provide you with opportunities to increase your technical knowledge and obtain a certificate that is equivalent to a college degree in Engineering or a Polytechnic Diploma.
To become a Mechanical Engineer, innovation and practice are essential. You should practice on your own and create as many small machines as you can. You can use household items to create new machines. This will increase your creativity and train your mind to think in terms of creating new devices and machines. You should try and study how things work and move.
Computers are very important in modern day Mechanical Engineering. They are primarily used for drafting. Therefore, it is important for you to learn Computer Drafting software such as Auto Cad etc.
Institutions:
Almost all engineering colleges provide degrees in the field of Mechanical Engineering. The IITs are well known for their Engineering courses. IIT Kanpur and IIT Delhi are the two best institutes in India for Mechanical Engineering. Both of them will provide you with a B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering upon graduation. Apart from the IITs, Institute of Technology –Benaras Hindu University and Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Rajasthan are two very good institutes for Mechanical Engineering. IT-BHU provides you with a B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering upon graduation whereas BITS Pilani will provide you with a B.E (Hons.) in Mechanical Engineering.
What are the skills required to become a Mechanical Engineer?
Mechanical Engineers are responsible for the design, creation and maintenance of machines and equipment. Therefore, they need to have a strong knowledge base in Physics, Computers, Chemistry and Math. They should possess an analytical brain that is capable of making logical decisions quickly. Mechanical Engineers often need to work in teams, therefore it is important for them to be flexible and have very strong communication skills. Mechanical Engineers often need to make diagrams and designs on computers. Therefore it is imperative for a Mechanical Engineer to have a lot of knowledge about computers and be comfortable with drafting software. Mechanical Engineers need to have the ability to solve problems through their creativity and innovation. As they have to constantly work within deadlines, they should be able to handle pressure and work efficiently. Also, Mechanical Engineers need to possess the ability to concentrate on details as many times a small detail can be the reason behind an ineffective design. Most importantly, they need to have an inquisitive mind that is genuinely interested in creating new and innovative machines that can benefit society.
Is this the right career for me?
The life of a Mechanical Engineer is full of working with machines, coming up with designs and repairing broken parts. It is a job that requires one to work for long hours with a lot of concentration. It is a well paying job that requires some amount of physical strength as Mechanical Engineers are often required to work with big machines. It is a job that can become monotonous but provides a lot of financial security at the same time.
So if you’re genuinely interested in the mechanics of how things work, and if you’re willing to work hard for good money, then this might just be the perfect job for you.
Fields related to Mechanical Engineering:
Aerospace Engineering is that branch of engineering that deals with the design, construction, testing and maintenance of aircrafts and spacecrafts. It can be divided into two parts: Aeronautical Engineering and Astronautical Engineering. The former deals with the mechanics of aircrafts and planes whereas the latter deals with the mechanics of spaceships and satellites.
Automotive Engineering is a branch of engineering that deals with the design, construction, maintenance and repair of automobiles such as cars, scooters, motorcycles, trucks etc. Automotive engineering primarily deals with vehicles that run on wheels. It is a sub – discipline of a wider concept called Vehicle Engineering.
Naval Architecture is a branch of engineering that involves the designing, maintenance, manufacturing and testing of marine vessels and structures. These marine vessels can include ships, submarines, warships etc. It involves the process of applying engineering principles to create a marine vessel from scratch.
Industrial Engineering is a branch of engineering that deals with the designing, creation and maintenance of systems and processes. It aims to come up with a method and process that can optimize the use of resources and maximize productivity. It involves engineering principles as well as knowledge of social sciences and management. The main aim of Industrial Engineering is to come up with quantitative methods that can easily predict production details in numerical terms.
