Mechanical design is a complex task that requires skills beyond the application of science and mathematics. Its complexity requires a sequence of iterative steps, from the presentation and review of ideas to their design and manufacture. The designers team may have support resources such as sources of information. Design tools such as computer-aided design (CAD) & finite element analysis (FEA)
Mechanical design can be divided into three categories: New design, inherited design and variant design.
Apply mature science and technology or new technology that has been proved to be feasible through experiments, and design new types of machinery that have not been available in the past.
Design and update the existing machinery according to the use experience and technological development to improve its performance, reduce its manufacturing cost or its operating cost.
In order to meet new needs, the modification, addition or deletion of the existing mechanical working parts is developed in order to create a variant product that is different from the standard type.
The mechanical engineer does not only need to develop skills in his field. He must also cultivate a strong sense of responsibility and professional work ethic, as well as knowledge and capabilities in managing and directing projects. The mechanical designer job also includes knowledge of applicable codes, standards, and regulations. They are normally related to safety conditions, industrial hygiene, environmental protection and quality, as well as the economic aspects of the final project result and legal liability considerations.
Design can be defined as the formulation of a plan that serves to satisfy a specific need or to solve a problem. If the plan results in the creation of a physical object, it must be functional, secure, reliable, competitive, useful, fabricable and, of course, marketable.
But above all, it is a decision-making process. Decisions that must be made, in most cases, with great uncertainty. Either due to a lack of information or an excess of contradictory information. Other times decisions are made tentatively, requiring numerous adjustments as more data becomes available. Therefore, it is important for the mechanical engineer to be able to make decisions and solve problems that arise during the process.
In addition, design is an activity of intense communication collaboration with professionals from other disciplines. Increasingly, with professionals from other cultures, even working remotely.
You must know and, where possible, use all the available design tools, such as:
Such as the specialized universities, colleges and professional associations, technical publishers and government agencies technical libraries.
This allow the development of three-dimensional designs. From which conventional orthographic views can be obtained in 2 dimensions, which allow checking the final appearance of the solution and its adaptation to the environment.
This tool allow you to simulate the application of loads to check the distribution of stresses, deformations, vibrations and heat flow. In the proposed solution in working conditions, performing not only the simulation of static loads, but also that of dynamic loads, movements, fluid dynamics and temperature transfers.
The analysis is generally carried out in 3 phases. These are reprocessing, in which the model and the environmental factors that affect it are defined. Solution, model math. And post-processing, in which the results are displayed graphically and numerically.
Math solvers, which enable fast and repetitive performance of complex mathematical calculations related to solution design.
