Learning mechanical design - A systematic approach

Mufaddal Rasheed Author

Mar 08, 2022 |

A short coverage of areas of learning within mechanical engineering design

Engineering design is the intersection of Mechanics, Design (as in geometry and function) and Materials/ processes.

At the basic level, Combination of all of these knowledge areas allows the design engineer to create a design plan which is reliable, durable safe and producible.

Deriving from various knowledge areas developed through literature and experience. 

Key Knowledge sets:

• Engineering knowledge

• Technology familiarity

• Product Domain knowledge

• Materials knowledge

• Manufacturing process knowledge

• General knowledge

• Standards and Regulations

• Practical knowhow

The Holistic design engineer along with core design engineering skills requires additional skillsets of research, concept development and physical evaluation for innovation .

Core design Engineering skills include:

• Layout and documentation skills

• How to develop layouts

• How to package systems

• How to create engineering drawings

• How to tolerance on drawings

• How to do tolerance stacks

• How to analyze designs for product requirements – durability, safety, usability, experience, reliability

• Design for function

• Design for manufacturing and assembly

• Design for durability, reliability, and safety

• Design for usability

Learning Roadmap based on design process:

Here is a simplified Design process of mechanical systems and the skills, knowledge mapped to them:

The arrows extending till the end indicate the iterative process, concepts may change at later stage of design. 

What are the fundamentals required to start learning based on the design process?

• Strong basics in physics, Math and awareness of chemistry
• Understanding of engineering in general
• Combination of creative and analytical thinking.

Areas of Learning:

1. CAD Mastery – Ability to visualize concepts, ideas and create layouts.
2. Concept development – How to develop solutions to a problem which is in form of a mechanical system.
3. Engineering analysis and machine design – Ability to evaluate a design concept
   1. Mechanics - statics and general dynamics
   2. Design for stability, strength and durability
      1. Strength of materials and Theories of failure
      2. Structural design, optimization – Application of FEA
   3. Mechanism design – Kinematics and dynamics
   4. Machine element design
      1. Shafts, Gears, springs, bearing selection, fasteners
4. Design for manufacturing
   1. General
   2. Sheet metal
   3. Plastics
   4. Design for mechanical assembly
5. Tolerancing
   1. Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing –
   2. Tolerance stack up analysis and Fits system
6. Prototyping and Testing

Categories: : Skills and knowledge