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What does a mechanical engineer do? Mechanical engineers deal with the design, analysis, testing, production, and utilization of all types of mechanical equipment. They are also involved in solving problems brought about by ever-increasing demands from a growing world population. For example, mechanical engineers are looking for ways to control air pollution from combustion products and thermal pollution resulting from power plants (nuclear or fossil-fueled) studying noise pollution and how to suppress it; and developing urban vehicles for efficient, safe pollution-free transportation. The ME department is especially interested in engines, solar energy, laser research of combustion process, robotics, computer-aided manufacturing, and control of air pollution. The diversity within the Mechanical Engineering curriculum gives graduates a breadth of career opportunities. While the traditional stereotype of Mechanical Engineering careers is mechanical design, graduates can also consider opportunities in product safety, sales, marketing and management. Curriculum Overview Mechanical engineers receive perhaps the broadest and most general training. They manufacture, design, analyze, test and maintain all types of mechanical equipment. For example, mechanical engineers are looking for ways to control air pollution from combustion products and thermal pollution resulting from power plants--whether nuclear or fossil-fueled. Additionally, they are studying noise pollution and how to suppress it, and are developing urban vehicles for efficient, safe, pollution-free transportation. There are three broad areas in mechanical engineering: energy, design and production. Because of the need for energy conservation, engineers in the energy area are concerned with the alternative energy sources that are being developed, such as solar and wind, and modifying conventional energy systems to reduce energy consumption. Examples of systems involved include the internal combustion engine, rocket engine, steam-turbine and heating, air-conditioning, and ventilation systems. In the design area, mechanical engineers create new devices, machines, automatic systems and robots, and refine existing designs of equipment or components. The design process, even when using computer-aided design techniques, offers great challenges to the imagination, ingenuity and judgment of the engineer. In the production area, the mechanical engineer is concerned with the design of processing systems to produce goods for industrial, commercial and domestic use. As a result, they incorporate automation, robotics, and computer control systems of manufacturing processes to assure the production of quality, reliable products. They are involved in materials forming and joining, and manufacturing methods. For More Information
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