Mechanical engineering design is a part of
overall domain of mechanical engineering. The advent of mechanical engineering and intrusion of equipment have largely redefined human lifestyles. Mechanised equipment, from tractors and cultivators to a wide variety of industrial machinery, had effected an explosion in agricultural productivity during early 20th century. In process, this promoted a massive shift from rural to urban life, resulting in development of newer equipment for urban economy. Hence mechanical engineering evolved at an ever accelerating rate over century. In mechanical engineering, development of any product involves some broad steps as mentioned below. Mechanical engineering design is an integral part of this process and shapes utility of product developed to a large extent.
Step 1 - Identify Idea and Concept
Step 2 – Define Requirements for realizing concept.
Step 3 – Gather relevant Information on similar products.
Step 4 – The Design Phase.
Step 5 – Prototypes.
Step 6 – Production.
The mechanical engineering design phase is perhaps most significant and challenging. There are two main steps to a true design, as explained below. Design is a judicious mix of science and art, of analysis and synthesis.
1. Macro level design (conceptual design) :
Here fundamental and very basic ideas are evaluated. Various possibilities of reaching a goal or serving a specific purpose, are evaluated through brainstorming sessions and a detailed but reasonable list of requirements, at this stage. Viability and feasibility of overall effort in compliance with goal of enterprise need to be understood. As ideas are evaluated, several things should be considered. A clear examination of impact on time and cost goals for each concept is also done at this stage. In many cases technical innovation is required to accomplish a task. These are areas of technical stretch or PoP's (Proof of Principle).
