Mechanical Engineering as a Profession 1、Introduction "Scientists study the world as it is, engineers create the world that never has been.” What is engineering ? Engineering is the art of applying scientific and mathematical principles, experience, judgment, and common sense to create things that benefit people. In other words, engineering is the process of producing a technical product or system to meet a specific need. . What engineers do ? Engineers: Turning Ideas into Reality Engineers do practical design and production work using the principles of science and mathematics to come up with economically viable solutions to technical problems. . In shorter words, they design and build needed tools, products, and systems. What is mechanical engineering ? Mechanical engineering is the most diverse and exciting of all the engineering disciplines. . It is specifically concerned with the design, development, installation, operation and maintenance of just about anything that has moveable parts. . If an object is man-made, mechanical engineering skills will have been involved at some stage during its development and manufacture. Role of Mechanical Engineers We Make Machines… and More ! Mechanical engineers are professionals devoted to employing the principles of motion, forces, and energy. Mechanical engineers research, develop, design, manufacture test tools, engines, machines, and other mechanical devices. For society this means that mechanical engineers are using their wide range of skills to think of ways to improve the way we live. . 2、Top 10 Benefits The top 10 rewards and opportunities that an engineering career offers. #1 Job Satisfaction It is important to find a career that provides you with enjoyment and satisfaction. . After all, you might spend 40 or so years working eight hours or more a day, five days a week, 50 weeks a year.. Do you want to dislike every minute of that time, or would you rather do something that you enjoy? . #2 Varied Opportunities An engineering degree offers a wide range of career possibilities. . If you are imaginative and creative, design engineering may be for you. . If you like laboratories and conducting experiments, you might consider test engineering. . If you like to organize and expedite projects, look into being a development engineer. If you are persuasive and like working with people, consider a career in sales or field service engineering. The analytical skills and technological expertise you develop as an engineering student can also be put to use in many other fields. . For example, you could combine engineering and business skills in a career as a technical manager or a salesperson for a high-tech company. #3 Challenging Work If you like challenges, engineering could be for you. In the engineering work world, there is no shortage of challenging problems. . When you get into the engineering work world, virtually all problems will be open-ended. There will be no single answer, no answer in the back of the book, no professor to tell you that you are right or wrong. . You will be required to devise a solution and persuade others that your solution is the best one. #4 Intellectual Development An engineering education will “exercise” your brain, developing your ability to think logically and to solve problems. These are skills that will be valuable throughout your life — and not only when you are solving engineering problems. . For example, your problem-solving skills can help you undertake tasks such as planning a vacation, finding a job, organizing a fund-raiser, purchasing a house, or writing a book. #5 Social Impact Just about everything that engineers do benefits society. For example, engineers develop transportation systems that help people and products move about easily. . As an engineer, you can also work on beneficial projects, such as cleaning up the environment, finding new sources of energy and increasing the standard of living in underdeveloped countries. #6 Financial Security While financial security should not be your only reason for choosing a career in engineering, if you decide to become an engineer, you will be well paid. #7 Prestige Engineers play a primary role in sustaining our nation’s international competitiveness, maintaining our standard of living, ensuring a strong national security, and protecting public safety. As a member of such a respected profession, you will receive a high amount of prestige. #8 Professional Environment As an engineer, you will work in a professional environment in which you will be treated with respect and have a certain amount of freedom in choosing your work. You will be also be in a position to influence what happens at your company. In most cases, you will receive adequate work space and the tools you need to do your work, including the latest computer hardware and software. You will probably also receive the secretarial and technical support staff you need to get your work done. . You will learn from experienced engineers in your organization and will be offered seminars and short courses to increase your knowledge. #9 Technological and Scientific Discovery An engineering education can help you understand how things in the world work. Furthermore, an understanding of technology will also provide you with a better understanding of many issues facing our society. For example: Should we have stopped building nuclear reactors? What will we use for energy when oil runs out? #10 Creative Thinking Because we are in a time of rapid social and technological changes, the need for engineers to think creatively is greater now than ever before. . Only through creativity can we cope with and adapt to these changes. If you like to question, explore, invent, discover, and create, then engineering could be the ideal profession for you! 3、Top 10 achievements The top 10 Great Achievements of 20th Century Mechanical Engineering. 1.The Automobile .Henry Ford freed common people from the limitations of geography, creating social mobility on a scale previously unknown. 2.Apollo Moon Landing From early test rockets to sophisticated satellites, the human expansion into space is perhaps the most amazing engineering feat. 3.Power Generation From street lights to supercomputers, electric power makes our lives safer, healthier, and more convenient. 4.Agricultural Mechanization The machinery of farms - tractors, cultivators, combines, and hundreds of others - dramatically increased farm efficiency and productivity. 5.The airplane Modern air travel transports goods and people quickly around the globe, facilitating our personal, cultural, and commercial interaction. 6.Integrated circuit From vacuum tubes to transistors to integrated circuits, engineers have made electronics smaller, more powerful, and more efficient. 7.Air conditioning and refrigeration No longer dependent on the weather for work or play, humans truly made the environment adapt to their needs. 8.CAD/ CAM and CAE Technology Computers and imaging technologies are used to design and test a variety of products. 9.Bioengineering Artificial organs, replacement joints, and biomaterials are but a few of the engineered products that improve the quality of life for millions. 10.Codes and standards Standards for product design and performance promote product quality, safety, and interchangeability of components. 4、New directions in ME Micro/Nano Technologies Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) is the integration of mechanical elements, sensors, actuators, and electronics on a common silicon substrate through microfabrication technology. MEMS (Micro-electro-mechanical systems) requires the solution of many mechanical engineering problems on the micro scale. . Fluid control : Microvalve/pump, Microsensor ; Computer : Magnetic head, Printer head, Laser scanner, Micro-mechanical memory ; Robot : Microrobots, Micro-teleoperator, Mobile sensor. Figure shows Nickel micromotor and gear train formed using the LIGA process at the University of Wisconsin ,Such structures combine extreme precision with high aspect ratios, can be driven magnetically, and provide one example of MEMS. The rotor diameter here is 150 mm. Magnetic micromotors have been driven at rates exceeding 50,000 rpm. Cellular and Molecular Biomechanics In recent years cellular and molecular bio-mechanics have gained in importance, and problems of biomechanics at that scale have begun to emerge. These problems, again, necessitate expansion and further development in the basic continuum mechanics theories and models that have long been the mainstay of ME. Information Technology IT has influenced ME in many significant ways. . Computational methods in mechanics are becoming increasingly important, e.g., finite element methods (FEM). . The availability of distributed information through networks reinforces the emphasis on collaborative systems design and analysis rather than a more isolated focus on the various components. Energy and Environmental Issues The focus in environmental engineering has shifted from remediation (e.g., wastewater treatment) to design of environmentally “friendly” products manufactured in an environmentally conscious manner. . Key principles with which mechanical engineers must deal are design for the environment, lifecycle design, and sustainable development. . 5. Communicating as a ME In both academia and industry, mechanical engineers need to speak and write their ideas. 5.1 Types of communication Lab Reports Lab work is an important part of every engineer's training. Lab Reports are factual presentations of test or experiment results completed in a lab or simulation. Typically, Lab Reports discuss procedures as well as describe the details of a test or experiment. Poster Sessions As an engineer, you'll participate in Poster Sessions during conferences and seminars. A Poster Session allows you to display and discuss your work on a project or the results of your research. . It combines text and graphics to make a visually-pleasing presentation. As viewers walk by, your poster should quickly and efficiently communicate your research. Proposals Engineers write Proposals to present a topic to be researched or to suggest a plan of action. . In academia, engineers write proposals to receive funding for their research or even to initiate a project. As an engineer, you may determine that a problem exists, and therefore, propose solutions to an organization. In this case, you must first convince the agency that the problem exists before proposing your solutions. Technical Reports Technical reports present facts and conclusions about your designs and other projects. Typically, a technical report includes research about technical concepts as well as graphical depictions of designs and data. . A technical report follows a strict organization. This way, when other engineers read what you write, they can quickly locate the information that interests them the most. . 5.2 Communication Conventions Headings & Subheadings Headings and subheadings are good organizational techniques, and they also help readers locate information. This way, a reader interested in the necessary materials could quickly find this information without reading the whole report. Lists Lists are effective ways to present information. Lists are especially useful when you have to convey steps, phases, years, procedures, or decisions. When creating a list, consider writing phrases, fragments or even questions and answers. By avoiding full sentences in a list, your information is concise and more likely to engage your readers. Passive Voice Usually, the passive voice should be used in writing. 1. I used the electric identifier to solve the problem. ( active voice ) . 2. The electric identifier was used to solve the problem.( passive voice ) . Terseness Lengthy sentences and long paragraphs are signs that your writing is not terse. The reason why terseness is necessary to good engineering writing is because it helps your readers understand information quicker. . Good writing is descriptive, but it also gets to the point as quickly as possible. The information you present should always be relevant to your topic, as well as to your audience. . 5.3 Advice from engineers Present Information Logically Many engineering professors note that much of the writing they read from students often doesn't have a "logical flow." By this, they mean that the writing doesn't present ideas in an order that makes sense. You should also make sure that your entire document or presentation presents information logically. For instance, don't include conclusions or results in either the procedure section or the introduction. Format Your Documents Whenever you produce a document, you should always consider how you've organized your thoughts and how you can make this known to the reader. You should use a consistent style (according to the style guidelines in your discipline). This includes margin sizes, line spacing, and even the title page you attach to the front of your document. . Know Your Purpose and Audience By determining who your audience is and what your purpose is, you can then gather specific information instead of including everything that you might find on a particular topic. . This way, you don't have to worry about presenting information that may bore or confuse a particular audience. 6. Summary - Mechanical engineers are problem solvers who are employed in a wide variety of areas. They work in a team environment, often with professionals from other disciplines. . - Mechanical engineers work in many industries, often developing everyday products. They are also employed in government, doing research , and in academia, teaching the next generation of engineers. Thus, mechanical engineers play an important role in society.