Mechanical engineering is one of the oldest and best established streams of engineering and one that’s powered modern engineering as we know it, beginning with the industrial revolution.
A mechanical engineer is trained to design, build, and repair machinery and products. The first stages of a machine or a product will be based on the basic designs created by the mechanical engineer. Mechanical engineers use mathematics and physics to produce functional and feasible design concepts. A mechanical engineer is typically involved in managing the process of designing and manufacturing machinery, products, or equipment.
Often referred to as engineering design, mechanical design involves the designing of components, products, parts and complex-systems, everything that’s mechanical in nature. All machinery that has complex structural or moving parts, needs mechanical design. These machines incorporate gears, clutches, shafts, transmission segments, nuts, bolts and fasteners.
Engineering specialists focusing on mechanical design have several aspects to consider. All mechanical systems include parts that interact with each other. The main objective of the mechanical design process is to arrive at an efficient, reliable and cost-effective method of creating a solution. The design process could be used to create a new product or machine or to enhance the functionality of an existing machine by designing a better component or process.
Engineers and experts define a mechanical design process to develop an innovative, sustainable, cost effective, and environmentally friendly solution – part, product, or system. The design process works to develop these products that perform as expected, are durable, reliable and can be manufactured at an optimised cost. The end objective is to produce high quality products and affordable costs.
A mechanical design engineer approaches design by considering several aspects - efficiency, ease of production, performance efficiency, reliability, durability, etc. This includes testing various design options, components, materials, stress testing, and making the right changes before getting to make physical prototypes. Effective design reduces the time-to-market, fault rates and development costs. Today, advanced CAD software largely aids the design process.
Functionality
The product / machinery / system must always be functional and reliable. It has to operate consistently and perform its function to expectations, for the period expected.
Safety
The product or system must function without endangering the operator or the technician operating the device or those in the vicinity. The product or machinery must adhere to the safety standards.
Cost
Cost is the most critical component of any system or the entire project is not viable at all. Any system, however innovative and impressive the design, must be cost effective to produce, manufacture, install, run and maintain. This is fundamental to any design.
Manufacturability
The machine / product must be designed such that the assembly must be quick and easy. All parts, sections and frames must be designed keeping ease of manufacturing and assembly in mind. The machine must be designed in such a way that it enables quick disassembly, repairs, maintenance, transportation and replacement of parts.
Strength Criteria
Another important aspect is the robustness of the system. The machine to the last component must be strong and durable, withstanding wear and tear, temperature, vibrations and other operational stress and environmental issues. The system and its components must be designed for optimum strength which depends on the design, the process of manufacturing and the materials used.
Material Selection
The choice of material is very critical when it comes to producing a machine or its parts. This determines ease of production, durability, efficiency, performance, weight, resistance to stress, temperature and other associated aspects.
Material Reduction
A good design process is about reducing the amount of material used in production. This can reduce costs, increase speed-to-market and reduce the impact on the environment. Modern design extensively uses CAD technologies that enable designers to test in different ways, the production of parts and the assembling of a machine. CAD software also helps in reducing the usage of materials in the design and prototyping process.
The kinematics of a machine
The movement of all parts in a machine must be smooth, fluid, noiseless, and without much friction or rigidity. Certain sections are lubricated to avoid wear and tear on components. The kinematics of the mechanisms should not cause more than expected damage to themselves or the larger product/ area it comes in contact with or the machine itself. This has to be a key aspect of design.
Total Optimization
The machine or product must be optimized to an extent that all above mentioned factors are accounted for. No aspect must supersede or take priority over the other section or part in terms of performance or efficiency. For example, one cannot consider a lightweight material at the cost of strength, durability or manufacturing costs.
Tools used in the process of design
Today’s powerful systems and highly sophisticated software tools significantly aid the process of mechanical drafting and design. Powerful CAD software can help in the design of products to highly accurate dimensions and create realistic 3D models. This apart, the computer models created can be used with FEA software (Finite Element Analysis) and CAE (Computer Aided Engineering) tools to test how the product reacts to stress, vibration, and environmental conditions like humidity and temperature. This enables designers to manipulate 3D models and sections to analyse their integrity and performance, satisfying themselves before they can proceed with the design process. The next stage of prototyping is also easy as products can now be printed out on a 3D printer to check for the look, feel and functionality before getting to manufacture the intended material.
Dayananda Sagar University (DSU), a part of the nationally renowned Dayananda Sagar Group, offers M. Tech in Design Engineering, a 2 year, full time PG program that imparts knowledge in the areas of machines, machine parts, performance, design, maintenance and related aspects taking into consideration the engineering aspects such as mechanics, motion, friction, durability, wear & tear, etc.
The postgraduate program in Mechanical Engineering prioritizes advanced learning, particularly in synthesis, design, and optimization. Foundational knowledge is built through core subjects, while department electives and institutional electives offer opportunities for students to specialize in areas like Design Engineering, Thermal Engineering, Manufacturing, and interdisciplinary studies. Internships provide real-world learning experiences, while seminars, mini-projects, and dissertations further enhance innovative and research capabilities.
The Mechanical department boasts state-of-the-art facilities for computation, visualization, and experimentation, along with technology resource centers established in collaboration with industry partners. The faculty comprises individuals with extensive experience and expertise, augmented by adjunct faculty from the industry who contribute to knowledge delivery.
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