mechanical

Engineering

1. PRESENTATION

The Open Book of Mechanical Engineering is aimed at all those men and women who feel
the desire to collaborate in the technical, economic and social development of the world, in
its transformation and improvement through a human activity, mechanical engineering,
above all. the one that has supported a large part of the most transcendent
transformations that humanity has known and that will surely continue to provide decisive
support to those that will occur...
It aims to show the authentic reality of mechanical engineering, quite far from the topics
into which it has traditionally been pigeonholed.

The Open Book of Mechanical Engineering also aims to be the general framework for
reflection of the community of Ibero-American mechanical engineers, which allows all
efforts (research, training, etc.) to be channeled towards the development of all our
countries, and therefore, of all humanity.

The document is structured in blocks, each one answering the following questions:

What is mechanical engineering?

How is mechanical engineering developed?
What is a mechanical engineer?
What is the professional work of a mechanical engineer like?
What is the training of a mechanical engineer like?

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WHAT IS MECHANICAL ENGINEERING?

■ Mechanical engineering concept.

■ Evolution of mechanical engineering.
■ Areas of mechanical engineering.
■ Connection with other engineering and disciplines.

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 What is Mechanical
Engineering?
WHAT IS MECHANICAL ENGINEERING?
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING CONCEPT

In general terms, mechanical engineering is defined as the human activity aimed at

transforming nature to serve the needs of man, in the fields of research, development,
design, construction, operation, maintenance and marketing of mechanical systems and
equipment.

These mechanical systems and equipment are very varied, and can range from motor
machines (motors of all types), to instruments and devices (sound instruments, surgical
instruments, recreational devices, etc.), passing through the very wide variety of operating
machines ( machines for working metal, stone, wood, etc.; machines for transporting solids,
liquids or people; machines for packaging, closing, labeling, etc.).

The attached table shows a typological diagram of the machines and mechanical systems,
which gives an idea of their enormous diversity. Without any exaggeration it can be stated
that today's man, in the developed world, lives immersed in a world of machines, an
"artificial world" created by man himself...

Typology of machinery and mechanical systems:

a.- Motor machines:

■ Internal and external combustion engines
■ Steam and gas turbines
■ Reactors
■ Hydraulic turbines
■ Atmospheric turbines
b.- Operating machines
1 .- Machine tools (for working metal, stone, wood, plastics, etc.)
2 .- Transport machinery
Fluids (pumps, etc.)
Solids (forklifts, cranes, dollys, trucks, tractors, etc.).
Of people (elevators and escalators, automobiles, railways, airplanes, ships, etc.).
3 .- Machines for packaging, packaging, dosing, cleaning, etc.
Machines for wrapping, filling, dosing, closing and encapsulating, labeling, classifying, etc.

c.- Instruments and devices

■ To write, draw, play, etc.
■ sound instruments
■ Surgical, rehabilitation and prosthetic instruments
■ Instruments and appliances for domestic use
■ Devices for measurement, testing, control and simulation
■ Recreational and sporting devices and instruments
■ Tools (manually, pneumatically or electrically powered).
EVOLUTION OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

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 What is Mechanical
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Mechanical engineering, as a differentiated human activity, can be said to have been born
with the steam engine (it is, therefore, the oldest branch of engineering), and expanded
rapidly throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries. This expansion, mainly quantitative,
was replaced, in the second half of the 20th century, by a qualitative expansion, the main
characteristics of the most recent machines being their increasing automation, their safety
and reliability, the use of new materials (mainly special alloys and synthetic materials), the
most elaborate designs supported by more powerful conceptual and mathematical tools,
the search for higher performance and, consequently, lower energy consumption, and a
progressive respect for the integration of machinery in the environment, in aspects related
to reduction of pollution, noise, vibrations, etc.

One of the most significant repercussions of the implementation of modern machinery has
been the growing and rapid automation of production processes ("flexible" manufacturing)
which, although it has greatly improved their productivity, has also caused serious tensions
in the trinomial. traditional salary-production-consumption, which are forcing important
economic, social, cultural, educational, etc. adjustments throughout the world.

Future trends in mechanical engineering can be defined by the following characteristics:

■ Design of increasingly complex, reliable, safe machines, with higher performance, less
polluting, etc., all supported by more powerful and optimized calculation methods.
■ Design and construction of machines and mechanical systems at the service of health,
leisure, training...
■ Design and construction of machines and mechanical systems for the exploitation of the
seabed and outer space.
■ Design and construction of machines for the automation of production processes.

As can be seen, mechanical engineering, which was the first to appear, is not only still
alive, but even more and more vigorous, constituting one of the fundamental pillars of
future human development. Not only has mechanical engineering not been superseded or
obscured by more modern branches (electronics, for example), but, using these, it is
increasingly receiving new impulses...

The reality is that mechanical engineering would disappear when man no longer had
energy to transform, nothing to manufacture, nothing to transport,..., in short, when man
himself would disappear as a civilized being...

OWN AREAS OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

As can be deduced from the concept of mechanical engineering itself, endorsed by the
secular tradition of this discipline, three large areas of industrial activity can be considered,
encompassed entirely within mechanical engineering:

1) Design, construction, maintenance and operation of machines and mechanical systems

of all types.

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 What is Mechanical
Engineering?
2) Product manufacturing processes that require the formation of components, which is
more properly known as mechanical technology (manufacturing of various parts, with
various materials, using different manufacturing technologies...).

3) Energy transformations that end in mechanical energy, and especially, thermal

conversions (including the basic knowledge of such transformations, such as
"thermodynamics", "thermotechnics", “fluid mechanics”, etc.)

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CONNECTION WITH OTHER ENGINEERING

From the very concept of mechanical engineering, and from the very constitution of current
machines and mechanical systems, we can deduce the enormous multidisciplinarity of this
branch of engineering, as well as its diverse and deep connections with practically all
branches of engineering, and even with other non-engineering disciplines.

In many cases, these relationships are direct, to the extent that the branch of engineering
in question is nothing more than a separation, due to imperatives of specialization, of
mechanical engineering itself. In other cases the relationship is intimate but indirect, to the
extent that both overlap in the production of machines and products (such is the case of
mechanical and electronic engineering, which go hand in hand in most modern machinery
and mechanical processes).

Finally, mechanical engineering today, and much more in the future, maintains an
increasingly close relationship with medicine, currently constituting a new specialty halfway
between the two, known as Biomechanics (understanding the design and manufacture of
artificial prostheses, surgical instruments and rehabilitation, extracorporeal pumps, etc.)

Likewise, it also maintains a close relationship with Fine Arts, at the hands of the new and
growing requirements of Industrial Design (manufacturing of consumer products, in which
aesthetics becomes a primary factor).

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The following table shows schematically the relationships of mechanical engineering with
other various disciplines, indicating with three asterisks an intense relationship and with
one asterisk a low relationship.

CONNECTION WITH OTHER ENGINEERING :

***Eng. Aeronautics (design, manufacture and maintenance of engines, mechanisms and mechanical
systems used in aeronautics and astronautics).

** Eng. Agricultural (design, manufacturing and maintenance of agricultural machinery).

** Eng. Roads, Canals and Ports (design, manufacture and maintenance of mechanical systems used in civil
engineering: bulldozers, cranes, etc.).

* Eng. Electrical (design and manufacturing of mechanical components of electrical machines; operation and
maintenance of mechanical equipment in power plants).

1 Eng. Electronics (directly in the manufacture of electronic components; Indirectly, to the extent that
modern machinery is associated with a large load of electronic components).

2 * Eng. of Materials and metallurgy (design and manufacture of machinery for obtaining and manufacturing
materials of all types).

3 ** Eng. of Mines (design, manufacture and maintenance of machinery for mining).

4 ** Eng. Naval (design, manufacture and maintenance of engines, equipment and mechanical systems
used in ships).

2 * Eng. Nuclear (design, manufacturing and maintenance of mechanical systems used in nuclear power
plants).

3 * Eng. Industrial (complementation of mechanics, in the direction and coordination of all mechanical
industries).

4 * Eng. Chemistry (design, manufacturing and maintenance of mechanical components used in the
chemical, food, etc. industries).

5 ** Eng. Textile and paper (design, manufacture and maintenance of machinery for textile and paper work).

••
CONNECTION WITH OTHER SPECIALTIES
Medicine (Biomechanics)
Fine Arts (Industrial Design)

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HOW IS MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
PRACTICED?

• The production process and mechanical engineering.

• Fields of activity of mechanical engineering.

• Orders of mechanical engineering activity.

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 How is Mechanical Engineering
practiced?

THE PRODUCTION PROCESS AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

To know how engineering is carried out, that is, what jobs the mechanical engineer
performs, it is best to analyze, step by step, the different stages of a production process,
an example of which we present below:

Energy is a vital and growing human need, coupled with the technological development of every
human community.
To achieve it, modern man has used, and continues to do so, fossil energies (coal, oil and
uranium) stored on Earth for millennia. Its massive use, however, is causing serious problems,
which will certainly worsen in the future due to its scarcity (conflicts over price controls, hoarding,
danger of decline in general well-being, in short) and pollution. generated (pollution, acid rain,
greenhouse effect, etc., which is also leading to serious problems in multiple fields).

For these reasons, today's man, protected by a highly evolved technology, tries to recover the
use of renewable energies, those that depend directly on the energy received from the Sun, and
among which stands out, in the most favored areas of the globe, the energy stored in the wind, or
wind energy. This energy has been captured since ancient times, and used to drive ships, pump
water, grind grains and drive small machine tools.
Currently, progress in the design of aerodynamic blade profiles with high capture power, the use
of new materials in construction and other factors have led to the construction of high-power wind
turbines (around 2,000-3,000 kW, capable of to supply electricity to a population of 1,000
inhabitants), with electricity generation costs competitive with those generated in conventional
thermal power plants.

In this context, a wind turbine manufacturing industry has detected the possibility of improving
existing equipment in the market, and thus promoting greater market penetration for its company:
specifically, the possibilities for improvement focus on the manufacture of a more powerful
machine (wind turbine) (on the order of 4,000 kW), with better wind capture performance, with
fewer failures, easier maintenance and with a lower cost per installed kW.
This initial approach constitutes the first step of the production process, and can be defined as
the RECOGNIZATION OF A NEED.
From here, and until a large number of these new machines are sold and installed in different
parts of the world, producing clean, safe, non-polluting, non-dependent electrical energy and at
competitive prices (what could be called placing the PRODUCT IN THE HANDS OF THE
CONSUMER), the production process is formed in successive stages:

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• BASIC RESEARCH (Technological):

Its objective is scientific knowledge, the understanding of nature and natural phenomena, under
natural or modified conditions. (Theoretical or empirical knowledge). It is difficult to plan. Its results
are unique and universal. It requires highly qualified personnel, is developed in Universities and
Research Institutes and is fed, preferably, by public funds.

In the example product, the basic research consisted, fundamentally, of the invention of new
materials (carbon fiber) and the determination of their mechanical (strength, hardness, etc.),
chemical (oxidation resistance, etc.) characteristics. , thermal, electrical, etc. This includes,
obviously, the process of obtaining such material.

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• APPLIED RESEARCH:

Its objective is to achieve a predetermined, known goal. It lends itself to planning. Its results are
diverse, depending on the country, era, authors, etc.
It is the most convenient for developing countries.
Problems with intellectual and industrial property, protections for the dissemination of results, large
needs for economic resources, etc.
It also requires highly qualified personnel, both scientific and technical. It is developed in
Universities and Research Institutes, but also in specialized Centers and other multidisciplinary
organizations, of a public and private nature. The resources come from both public and private
entities. It also requires the availability of important technological resources.

In this phase of the process, the possible use of carbon fiber in the construction of the blades is
investigated, defining the type of fiber to be used, its distribution in each layer, the arrangement of
the layers, etc., to achieve the desired resistance and union with the other structural components of
the blade. At the same time, new aerodynamic profiles and blade shapes are also being
investigated, so that the performance in energy capture is higher than that of machines on the
market.

• DEVELOPMENT:

Its objective is the manufacture of equipment or the definition of procedures that allow the practical
application, on an industrial scale, of the results of applied research.
The optimization of systems and materials, the definition of equipment and processes for
manufacturing, the expansion of the fields of application, etc., are the most typical tasks.
It requires highly specialized personnel, but now in tasks associated with manufacturing,
production. It requires strong financial resources, coming from both public and even more private
funds. It also requires great availability of technology as well as the presumed existence of markets.

In this phase of the process, the process for the construction of wind turbine blades with carbon
fiber is defined, on an industrial scale.
This stage requires the construction of new machines and tools, the development of equipment for
resistant analysis of the built blades (behavior against gusts of wind, vibrations, impacts, corrosion,
etc.).

Technological development also includes two very different activities. Mechanical design and
industrial design.
Mechanical design is the part of technological development aimed at the design and redesign of
components and mechanisms for specific application, but similar to those existing on the market.

In the example that follows, this phase may consist of the development of a new brake system for
the rotor and the design and construction of a new gear multiplier box (to go from 40 rpm at 1,700
rpm) of minimum weight and maximum reliability, not available on the market.

How is Mechanical Engineering practiced?

Industrial design is the part of technological development (and production in general) that tends to
accommodate the developed products to the demands of the market, and the end user, in aspects
related to functionality, aesthetics, efficiency, safety. of use, etc.

In the case of the wind turbine, industrial design is applied to the construction of the outer cover of
the nacelle, to achieve adequate ventilation and aesthetics.

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 How is Mechanical Engineering
In this development phase, the manufacturing of onepracticed?
or several prototypes is undertaken, which are
subjected to tests and verifications of all kinds, and which may involve important modifications in
the initial developments, until a product is ready for the market.

• INNOVATION:

Set of activities through which companies undertake the industrial manufacturing of a product
resulting from a technological development, introducing it to the market. (Innovation also fits into
the levels of production organization, sales organization, etc.).
In the example considered, a company undertakes the construction of the developed wind turbine,
and the entire consequent manufacturing process, and begins its mass production.

• MANUFACTURING:

Part of the production process that generates the products and services that will later be placed in
the hands of consumers. It requires prior equipment (providing manufacturing means, that is,
machinery, infrastructure, etc.), the availability of qualified personnel in this production phase
(technical engineers, specialists, etc.), the availability of raw materials, the availability of markets
and economic availability.
In this case, the company acquired the machines for the manufacture of the blades and others for
the assembly of components and for the erection of the wind turbines on the ground. He also
subjected the staff to a training phase.

• SALES AND SERVICES:

It is the part of the process that puts products and services in the hands of the consumer and meets
their needs derived from the use of the purchased goods. In modern technology, it requires the
existence of equipment (for this purpose), qualified personnel (maintenance technicians, marketing
experts, salespeople, publicists, etc.), financial and economic resources, etc.

As can be seen, the production process requires the coupling of multiple and diverse factors, in
technical, economic, educational, political areas (“capture” of markets, acquisition of unavailable
raw materials, etc.), etc.

• REUSE AND DISPOSAL:

Set of activities through which specialized companies collect the products once their useful life has
expired (due to obsolescence or breakdowns, or for whatever reason) and completely eliminate
them in a way that does not cause harm (incineration, burial, etc.) , or are subjected to recycling
processes, either by “repair” operations (making them usable again), or by conversion operations
into the original raw material (for example, converting the iron parts of an engine into an ingot of
steel)
This last phase of the process is becoming increasingly important as a means of protecting the
environment and reducing the consumption of raw materials, as well as energy (it consumes much
less energy to melt down an unusable engine and convert it back into steel, which does not get this
from the iron mine)
In this phase, technicians and entrepreneurs of a wide variety of types intervene (including
biologists and other environmental technicians) who are part of private and, to a lesser extent,
public companies.

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FIELDS OF ACTIVITY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

In view of the analysis carried out of the production process in mechanical engineering, the
following fields of activity can be defined:

1 .- Investigation
Of materials, of manufacturing processes, of synthesis of mechanisms, of methods for
design and analysis, of testing and maintenance techniques, etc.

2 .- Development
Of materials for the construction of mechanical components, of machines and systems for
the manufacture of components, of systems for testing and maintenance of machines, etc.

3 .- Mechanical design
Design of mechanical components of all types, conceiving new elements, adapting and
modifying existing ones to particular working conditions.
This activity overlaps with the development activity and constitutes the previous and basic
stage of all mechanical manufacturing, to the extent that every machine requires a
complete design to be subsequently carried out.

4 .- Test and verification

The application of methods and procedures to know the state of the machines, their
behavior in service, their functional parameters, compliance with manufacturing
requirements, etc.

5 .- Manufacturing
Production of components and equipment of all types, with all types of materials, in any
industry, both mechanical and non-mechanical, that requires the production and
manipulation of components and systems, using mechanical equipment. This
fundamentally involves the definition, installation and control during operation of
manufacturing equipment and systems so that they remain within their correct limits,
allowing the manufacture of products that meet the required requirements.

6 .- Operation and maintenance

Management and control of mechanical systems, whether or not they are associated with
production processes, which due to their complexity require the application of elaborate
techniques for their correct functioning.
Diagnosis and prognosis of machine breakdowns, as well as their consequent repairs,
application and monitoring of maintenance programs, etc.

7 .- Marketing and sales

Of components, equipment and mechanical systems, to the extent that these commercial

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operations, almost always linked to production processes, require strong technical

knowledge to be correctly executed, since the seller normally acts as a bridge between the
manufacturer and the future user of the machine. , component or system.

8 .- Administration
Direction and management, mainly technical, of companies of all types, in which the
mechanical and manufacturing component is high.

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ACTIVITY ORDERS IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

If it is analyzed globally, and from another perspective, the production process in

mechanical engineering, and the consequent fields of activity, it is clearly seen that the
different activities included within mechanical engineering can be divided into two groups
or orders quantitatively and qualitatively. differentiated.

In a first order, all those activities that enable the smooth running of an industry, or a
production process, can be encompassed, such as testing and verification, manufacturing,
operation, maintenance, marketing and administration.
In short, a set of activities that adequately combine technical, human and economic
resources to achieve competitive production.

In a second order, those other activities that allow overcoming the problems of
obsolescence of products and mechanical systems, as well as those generated by
competitiveness and the evolution of technology itself (in related or related fields), such as
research, would be included. , development and mechanical design.

In other words, the first group includes activities corresponding to "static engineering",
while the second includes activities that generate "technological change".

Obviously, both orders complement each other, and are essential, if a country or
community wishes to achieve adequate technological development.

The first order would allow "importing technology" and making it work correctly..., but, by
itself, it does not guarantee technological development. To achieve this, to even allow the
designs themselves to be "sold" as another product, intimate conjugation with the group of
activities included in the second order is required.

Obviously, the existence of the two orders does not imply a watertight division between the
activities included in both. This is especially true in the activities implicit in the second
order, whose execution, in many cases, implies the performance of activities typical of the
first order (as an example, mechanical design requires, on the part of the designer,
knowledge and tasks in the test fields, maintenance, etc.).

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WHAT IS A MECHANICAL ENGINEER?

■ Mechanical engineer concept.

■ Knowledge, skills and abilities of the mechanical engineer.
■ Types of mechanical engineers.
■ Professional profile of the different types of mechanical
engineers.

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 What is a Mechanical Engineer?

MECHANICAL ENGINEER CONCEPT

Mechanical engineer is anyone, woman or man, who through research, development,

design, construction, operation, maintenance and marketing of mechanical systems and
equipment, contributes to creating and maintaining industrial development that allows
nature to be transformed into service. of human needs.

The mechanical engineer, in his field of competence, is, in a certain way, a "recreator" of
nature itself, to the extent that he is capable of "putting into it", "something" that "did not
exist" prior to his action. ".

(If we carefully analyze what a car is, we would come to the conclusion that it is nothing
more than "pieces of primeval nature" - iron ore, oil, etc. - conveniently "worked" and
"ordered", by a multitude of people. , workers and technicians, making use of "information"
stored by successive preceding technicians and scientists).

The current technical, social and economic development largely rests on the mechanical
engineer, and will constitute a decisive piece for the development of humanity in the future.

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 What is a Mechanical Engineer?

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND SKILLS OF THE MECHANICAL ENGINEER .

The mechanical engineer, in the exercise of his activity, brings into play a series of
knowledge, skills and abilities, acquired during his learning as a student and even more so
later with professional experience and continuous updating, which we could summarize in
the following:

■ Knowledge of scientific and technical subjects of various kinds, and with varying
degrees of intensity.
In this context, the practice of mechanical engineering requires a high degree of
interdisciplinarity of knowledge, given the deep connections of mechanical engineering
with various branches of knowledge. In any case, knowledge in basic subjects
(mathematics, physics, etc.), and in related technological subjects (electronics,
electrical engineering, etc.) is limited to the aspects of these that are useful for the
exercise of mechanical engineering (obviously , the same knowledge of mathematics
will not be required, to cite an example, for engineers who carry out research tasks, as
those necessary for those who carry out maintenance tasks...)

■ Analysis capacity, in its triple aspect: ability to decompose a complex problem into its
constituent parts; ability to establish relationships between the various parts of a whole,
which, even though they are more or less related, such a relationship is not explicit;
ability to obtain the solution to a problem through successive stages of reasoning,
chained together.

■ Ability to "model" physical systems, that is, ability to formulate "mental, theoretical
descriptions" of a physical problem, or what is the same, being able to "represent" real
physical objects by a theoretical "mathematical model", of so that the mathematical
equations that make up the model "simulate" as truly as possible the physical behavior
of the object represented.

■ Synthesis capacity to, starting from a need to be satisfied, be able to create and design
the machine and its components that can satisfy it. This activity, in a way, is the
opposite of analysis, since it is, in short, about "composing" more or less simple parts,
to obtain in the end a set (machine or system) of greater complexity.
Mechanical synthesis (mechanical design) is a tremendously complex activity, which
requires the engineer to have significant knowledge in multiple disciplines, the ability to
model physical systems, the ability to analyze, in-depth knowledge of manufacturing
techniques and materials, knowledge of specific disciplines. that can help (or modify) to
find an appropriate solution, knowledge of representation (drawing) techniques that
allow the idea to be "communicated", etc.

■ Sensitivity to human needs, as well as to the social and environmental impact of their
action.

These skills are important for engineers who carry out their activity at the level of

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 What is a Mechanical Engineer?

research, development and mechanical design, allowing them to "capture" human

needs that can be satisfied through the design of new machines or systems, beyond
passively waiting for "instructions." of others, as well as "limiting" their possible actions
within the framework of "professional ethics" in accordance with the superior interests of
the society in which they operate.
In order for this "sensitivity" to materialize, it must be accompanied by a "positive
aptitude" to undertake a new design (which means having appropriate knowledge and a
desire to undertake the work).

■ Ability to organize and manage technical, economic and human resources, for those
who carry out their activity in the fields of marketing, sales and administration.
In this context, the mechanical engineer needs to have good knowledge of economic
and social matters, which allows him to interact appropriately with collaborating and/or
dependent personnel.

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TYPES OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS

Taking into account the two orders of activity that characterize mechanical engineering, two
types of mechanical engineers can be defined:
The first would be the one who carries out his work in the first order of activity
(manufacturing, operation, maintenance, testing, marketing, production, etc.), and whose
name could be PRODUCTION ENGINEER (MECHANICAL ENGINEER in most countries).
The second is the one who carries out his work in the second order of activity (research,
development and design), and whose name could be CONCEPTION ENGINEER
(MASTER IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING in some countries).

Obviously, this classification does not establish radically separated watertight

compartments between the activities carried out by both types of engineers.
There are testing tasks, for example, directly related to design and research, or other
manufacturing tasks linked to development.
In general terms, it can be stated that the correct performance of the activities of the
second order requires knowledge, more or less extensive, of the activities of the first, but
not the other way around.
In any case, this division into two types of mechanical engineers does not establish "per
se" any type of prevalence of one order over another. What's more, both are equally
important since the technical, economic and social development of any technically
advanced community depends equally on both.

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PROFESSIONAL PROFILE OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF MECHANICAL

ENGINEERS

The professional profile of the mechanical engineer is made up of the knowledge, skills and
abilities put into play in the exercise of his activity, and which is largely defined by the
training received in the course of his regulated studies, to which is added his professional
experience and other postgraduate studies you may have received.

In general terms, the knowledge, skills and abilities put into play by each engineer in the
exercise of his profession depend on the order of activity in which they are integrated, or in
other words, on the type of engineer in question: production engineer or conception
engineer.
As a consequence, the professional profiles of the two types of engineers are clearly
differentiated, both quantitatively and qualitatively.
As an example, the same mathematical knowledge, in extent and depth, is not required to
carry out maintenance work as for research work. Nor is the same sensitivity and aptitude
required for manufacturing work as for design work.

Taking all of the above into account, we can point out, fairly roughly, the following as the
professional profile of each type of engineer:

PRODUCTION ENGINEER:

■ Knowledge of basic scientific subjects (mathematics, physics, chemistry,

thermodynamics, etc.) at an intermediate level.
■ Knowledge of more intense technical subjects in your own area of specialty
(mechanics, mechanical technology, mechanisms, etc.)
■ Knowledge of economic and sociological subjects at a medium level, in aspects
related to the organization and management of production.
■ Some capacity for practical work (manual skills).
■ Analysis capacity at a medium level.
■ Synthesis capacity at an elementary level.
■ High motivation for execution and realization work.
■ High capacity for organization, management and direction of production and
operation tasks, in specific areas of activity.
■ Leadership and sociability skills
■ Ability to integrate into a work group.
■ Computer knowledge at an elementary level.
■ Knowledge of languages at a technical level, in the area of your specific activity.

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CONCEPTION ENGINEER:

■ Strong knowledge of basic scientific subjects (as fundamental tools to solve

problems that arise in design and research work)
■ Strong knowledge in technical subjects, even not directly related to one's own areas
(high multidisciplinarity)
■ Knowledge of economic and sociological matters at a medium level, in aspects
related to the organization and management of production, as well as those aspects
that impact design and technological change tasks.
■ Minimum capacity for practical work, almost always associated with testing and
verification tasks.
■ High analysis capacity.
■ High capacity for the "modeling" of physical systems.
■ High synthesis capacity, which means:
• Ability to capture spatial relationships and overall visions
• Ability to adapt the mind to situations different from those perceptible by the senses.
• Inventive capacity.
• Sense of anticipation.
• Sense of usefulness and capacity for discernment.
• Aesthetic skills that allow you to generate "attractive" designs.
• Sensitivity to human needs and the social impact of their action.
■ High motivation and training for office work, and lower, for execution and
manufacturing work.
■ Great work capacity and self-discipline.
■ Group work ability.
■ Leadership and sociability skills.
■ Great capacity for information exchange and processing.
■ High knowledge of computer science, which allows it to be used at the design and
research level.
■ Language proficiency, preferably English

As can be seen from the exposed profiles, the fundamental difference between the two is
established in that the former act in tasks of execution and organization of work within
previously defined processes, while the latter act in undefined tasks, proposing, based on a
vast exercise of discretion, the processing itself, equipment and materials. The difference
is, therefore, clearly conceptual, qualitative, and not merely quantitative.

WHAT IS THE PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY OF A

MECHANICAL ENGINEER LIKE?

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 What is a Mechanical Engineer?

■ Fields of activity of the mechanical engineer.

■ Ways of carrying out the activity of the mechanical engineer.
■ Places where mechanical engineers carry out their activity.
■ Examples of activities of mechanical engineers.

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 What is the professional activity of the Mechanical
Engineer like?

FIELDS OF ACTIVITY OF THE MECHANICAL ENGINEER

According to the fields of activity of mechanical engineering, the following can be

considered as fields where mechanical engineers can carry out their activity as such:

1) Investigation
2) Development
3) Design
4) Tests and verifications
5) Manufacturing (production)
6) Maintenance and operation (of complex mechanical systems, which require the
implementation of a technique, and not specialized work)
7) Marketing and sales
8) Administration, management and direction of mechanical companies of all types.

As is easy to understand, each field of activity is more associated with one or another type
of mechanical engineer, although in some of them the distinction is not clear or specific.
In general terms, it can be said that fields 1, 2, 3 and 4 are typical of conception engineers,
while fields 5, 6, 7 and 8 are typical of production engineers.
On the other hand, it can also be noted that activities 1 to 5 are more general,
multidisciplinary, while the remaining ones are more specialized, in more specific areas of
activity.

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WAYS OF PERFORMING THE ACTIVITY OF THE MECHANICAL ENGINEER

The mechanical engineer, in any of its two types, can carry out his professional activity
under two modalities:

• Free professional
• salaried professional

In the first case, the mechanical engineer acts as a private consultant, who "sells his
services", through an individual and temporary contract, to all those (individuals,
companies, administration organizations) who request it.
The clearest example of this activity is the preparation of mechanical projects (designs of
new machines), carrying out tests and verifications, reports of breakdowns and accidents in
machines or caused by them, etc.

In the second case, the mechanical engineer is part of the workforce of a public or private
company, with specific responsibilities through the corresponding employment contract.

Apart from the two aforementioned modalities, there are also a large number of engineers,
of both types, who carry out business management activities, as such entrepreneurs, and
not as employees of them.

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PLACES WHERE MECHANICAL ENGINEERS CARRY OUT THEIR

ACTIVITY

From the point of view of their work location, mechanical engineers carry out their activity
in:

• Research and development centers, public or private

(R&D work)
• Mechanical design centers, public or private (mechanical design work)
• Universities and other training institutions (teaching, research and design work)
• Public administration bodies
(administration, management and control tasks)
• Production companies
(manufacturing, operation, maintenance, etc.)
• Marketing companies
(sales and marketing tasks)

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EXAMPLES OF ACTIVITIES OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS

As we can deduce from the above, the activity of mechanical engineers covers practically
all fields of administration and industry in their different modalities, depending not only on
the degree itself, but much more on the particular circumstances of each specific case. .

Below we are going to present some examples of activities of mechanical engineers, in

different areas, for reference.

Investigation and development:

• Application of expert systems to the synthesis of mechanisms and machines, and
their maintenance.
• Methods for the design of mechanisms and machines considering the flexibility of the
mechanical components, the clearances in their joints, etc.
• Methods for optimized designs of machines and their elements (mathematical
optimization theories applied to component designs of lower cost, lower weight, etc.)
• Tribology applied to machine design (aspects related to friction, wear and lubrication)
• Fracture mechanics applied to the design of machine components (aspects related to
the appearance and growth of cracks, origin of material failures)
• Reliability theories applied to machine design (Statistical studies on failure
probabilities, applied to the design of safer components and systems)
• Application of new materials in machine construction (plastics, ceramics, fibers, etc.)
• Methods for optimized robot and manipulator designs
• Methods and designs to improve the performance of heat engines, engines, turbines,
etc.
• Design of prostheses and artificial limbs, including materials for them.
• Methods for optimizing work in automated factories (flexible manufacturing)
• Software development for computer-aided design and manufacturing
• Design of non-polluting vehicles (in terms of smoke, noise, vibrations, etc.)
• Design of intelligent vehicles and route information systems.
Design
• Machine for automatic filling of soil bags in plant nurseries
• Computer-controlled mechanism to simulate the behavior of antediluvian animals.
• Climbing gun for painting lighting poles (without traffic interruption)
• Aeromotor to desalinate seawater
• Elementary autonomous energy plant, to improve the quality of life in
underdeveloped countries.
• Semi-automatic system for collecting urban solid waste
• Recreational vehicle for sea and beach
• Specific purpose machining center
• Container carrier on tires, programmable.
• Automatic unloading system for fishing boats.
• Programmable pneumatic manipulator, for teaching purposes.
• Car powered by solar energy.
• Automatic road vehicle weighing system.

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Teaching
• University Professor (public or private)
• Full time
• Part-time (from company)
(In practically all areas of knowledge related to science and technology)
• Teacher at Vocational Training and BUP centers (public or private).

Administration and management in public organizations

• Ministry of Industry and Energy
• Ministry of Economy and Commerce
• Ministry of Finance (Treasury Inspectors)
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs (added to embassies)
• Ministry of the Army (Military Engineers)
• Autonomous communities (Ministries of Industry, etc.)
• Town councils (Direction and management of cleaning services, lighting, transport,
etc.)

Manufacturing
• Steel industries, agricultural machinery, water production and treatment, weapons,
shipyards, astronautics, autolevels, footwear, stonemasonries, power plants,
refineries, civil construction, textiles, printing, machinery-tool manufacturing,
household appliance manufacturing, furniture manufacturing , manufacturing of
machinery for leisure and training, agri-food industry, computer and electronics
industry, mining, glass industry, optics industry, etc.

WHAT IS THE TRAINING OF MECHANICAL

ENGINEERS LIKE?
■ General profiles of the training of mechanical engineers.
■ General contents of the training of mechanical engineers.
■ Contents and methodologies according to the types of
mechanical engineers.

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GENERAL PROFILES OF THE TRAINING OF MECHANICAL

ENGINEERS

In general terms, the following can be noted as the most characteristic features of the
training of mechanical engineers, in its two types:

• Important support of basic scientific knowledge, although only to the extent that they are
useful and applicable (for example, it is not about knowing mathematics "per se", but to
the extent that they are applicable to the resolution of engineering problems...) .

• Accused "two-dimensional" character to the extent that the development of any

engineering product requires the participation of very varied disciplines, in scientific,
technical, economic, etc. areas.

• Broad "multidisciplinary" character, to the extent that the development of any

engineering product requires the participation of very varied disciplines, in scientific,
technical, economic, etc. areas.

• Need for learning related to the "discretionary" application of knowledge, with

discernment, that is, training for "decision making" among a wide range of possibilities.

• Knowledge of techniques both at an "international" level and at a "local" level.

(Engineering, to the extent that its objective is to "manufacture products", must not only
know the "state of the art" at the highest level, but also keep in mind the "real
resources" that are within its reach, since they will be the that will ultimately allow the
realization of the designed product... ).

• Finally, as a summary, the main feature that must define the training of mechanical
engineers, and that in some way summarizes all the previous ones, is that the
"competence", the "behavioral guidelines" that the students acquire with the They must
be "applicable" and this is true whether it is about "using" a developed technology, or
even more so, if it is intended to contribute to "generating" it.

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GENERAL CONTENTS OF THE TRAINING OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS

From the point of view of content, the training of mechanical engineers, in its two types, can
be divided into three groups of disciplines:

Some that we could call "basic", which provide scientific and technical support to base the
subjects of the specialty itself.

Another group is made up of the "subjects" of the specialty, and by application of which the
mechanical engineer can execute his tasks as such.

A third group is made up of a set of "complementary subjects", indirectly related to the

specialty, but also essential for the correct performance of mechanical engineering.

Basic general subjects:

• Algebra and mathematical calculation
• Computing
• Numerical operation
• General Physics
• Solid mechanics
• Fluid mechanics
• Thermodynamics
• Elasticity and resistence of materials
• Technical drawing
• Descriptive geometry

Subjects specific to the specialty:

• Kinematics and dynamics of machines
• Calculation, construction and testing of machines
• Mechanical Technology
• Materials
• Structure theory
• Metallic structures
• Hydraulic and fluid machines
• Thermal motors
• Transport and automobiles
• Thermotechnics
• Refrigeration and air conditioning technology

Complementary subjects of greatest interest for the mechanical engineer:

• Industrial electronics
• Automatic regulation

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• Business Administration
• Organization of production
• Languages

CONTENTS AND METHODOLOGIES ACCORDING TO THE TYPES OF

MECHANICAL ENGINEERS

According to the professional profile of mechanical technical engineers and mechanical

engineers, we could point out, in general terms, as the most important differences between
both trainings, the following:

• The training periods are longer for engineers than for technical engineers.
• The degree of abstraction and deepening of knowledge is also greater.
• The importance of conceptualization in approaching problems is greater in the case of
engineers than for technical engineers.
• The degree of interdisciplinarity of knowledge must also be greater for engineers than
for technical engineers.
• The importance of analysis and synthesis in the learning approach is greater in the
former than in the latter.
• The specialization and specificity of the knowledge received is greater in technical
engineers than in engineers.
• The aptitude (and attitude) for concrete material achievements, as a result of learning,
must be greater for technical engineers than for engineers.

From all of the above, it can be deduced that the educational process differs profoundly
from one type of engineer to another, both in the knowledge acquired and in the
consequent methodologies.
As a summary, we could point out the most defining aspects:

MECHANICAL TECHNICAL ENGINEERS:

• Deeper specialization in specific areas of mechanical engineering.

•specialization.
Medium theoretical training, in accordance with the demands of the chosen
• Medium level of interdisciplinarity, also in accordance with the specialization.
• Practical approach to knowledge, without excessive emphasis on theoretical and
conceptual approaches.
• In-depth training to make correct decisions in the tasks corresponding to your
specialization.
• Ability for material achievements (although not at a specialist level).
• Directive-oriented teaching, with resources for forms, catalogs and instruction manuals.

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MECHANICAL ENGINEERS:

• Deep theoretical training, and strongly multidisciplinary.

• Conceptual approach to knowledge with emphasis on the discussion of concepts, the
justification of assumptions, etc., beyond the use of forms and catalogs.
• Little ability for concrete material realizations.
• In-depth training for creativity, discernment, in tasks not previously defined.
• Non-directive, discretionary teaching, with active participation of the student, in which
the discussion of problems, the execution of projects and reports, participation in group
work, the consideration of factors related to economic and social aspects stand out. .

In short, a methodology aimed at achieving what the study of a series of dissociated

subjects cannot achieve: the sense of discernment, the capacity for self-criticism,
cooperation in work groups, the powers of innovation, the social sense of action
engineering.

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