Mechanical Engineering is one of the oldest branches of engineering. The term ‘mechanical Engineering’ is derived from the word ‘mechanics’. Mechanical Engineering can be defined as
“An engineering that applies the principles of physics, mathematics, and material science for design, analysis, maintenance and manufacturing of mechanical systems is mechanical engineering.”
A Mechanical Engineer tries to resolve problems of energy, motion, and force through principles of engineering. They oversee the manufacture and testing of machinery and their parts. Mechanical engineers are involved in every phase of their product design from drafting blueprints and testing prototypes. During the process, they may be required to work closely with other engineers from other branches, and draftsmen. They may work on internal combustion engines, electric generators, gas and steam turbines, power tools and refrigeration.
Mechanical Engineering emerged as a distinct discipline largely as a consequence of Industrial Revolution of the 18th century. However, its origin can be dated to antiquity when it largely remained as a branch of physics. The first association in the form of British Professional Society of Mechanical Engineers was formed in 1847.
This era of technological innovations has widened the scope of Mechanical Engineering. The US Labor Bureau of Statistics has predicted that employment opportunities for Mechanical Engineers will grow by five percent in the decade of 2014-2024. The need to launch new products and improve existing ones besides renewable energy will fuel the growth in this sector.
Basic Course requirements
In order to become a Mechanical Engineer, one needs to possess at least any of the three qualifications:
- Diploma In Mechanical Engineering
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering(B.Tech)
- Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering(M.Tech)
One needs to pass Class 10 examination with at least 50% marks in order to be eligible for a diploma course in Mechanical Engineering. To be eligible for Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, one needs to have passed Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as his core subjects with at least 50% marks or 60% marks in case of IIT JEE. For pursuing M.Tech (Master’s degree) in Mechanical Engineering, B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering is essential. In many colleges, Mechanical Engineering is offered as an integrated program of five years duration. In others, it is offered in combination with the management program of a five- year duration.
Admission Procedure
In order to secure admission to Mechanical Engineering courses, one needs to clear any one of the following entrance examinations:
Diploma Entrance exams: Various states conduct their own entrance exams for admission into diploma courses in engineering.
JEE Main: It is an annual entrance examination accepted by 23 reputed IITs. To find a sample paper of JEE, click here.
AIEEE: Introduced in the year 2002, this examination is a gateway to many engineering colleges namely 30 NITs and 5 IIITs. To find a sample papers of AIEEE, click here.
BITSSAT: BITS conducts its own entrance test BITSAT for admission into engineering.
VITEE: Vellore Institute of Technology conducts VITEE entrance test for admission into its engineering courses.
GATE: GATE is all India examination to secure admission into M.Tech course of reputed colleges or taking up jobs in PSUs. To find sample papers of GATE, click here.
Cost and funding
A diploma from government Institute will cost you approximately Rs 40,000 to Rs 70,000. A graduate degree from private engineering institution will cost between 4 lakhs to 10 lakhs. Fees will, however, be less for IITs, ranging from 6 lakhs to 8 lakhs .Educational institutions generally provide scholarships to students from the weak financial background or belonging to weaker sections of the society. Freeships are also provided. Availing bank loan is another option.
Coaching Institutes
Since seats in Mechanical Engineering are limited in premier colleges, it is advisable to pursue intensive coaching for at least one year. Some of the top coaching institutes are:
To know other coaching institutes for Mechanical Engineering, click here.
Top Colleges
Some of the top colleges for pursuing Mechanical Engineering in India are
- Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi
- Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay
- Indian Institute of Technology, Madras
- Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur
- Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee
- Birla Institute of Technology and Science, BITS-Pilani
- Indian Institute of Technology, BHU-Varanasi
- Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati
- National Institute of Technology, NIT Trichy
- National Institute of Technology, NITK, Surathkal
- Jadavpur University (Faculty of Engineering & Technology)
- Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology
- Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology
Course Material
As a part of their course, Mechanical Engineers study the concepts of thermodynamics, mechanics, kinematics, robotics, structural analysis among others. The top books for Mechanical Engineering are the following:
- Concepts in Electric Circuits- Dr. Wasif Naeem
- Automation and Robotics- Miltiadis A. Boboulos
- Essential Engineering Mathematics: Michael Batty
- Mechanics of Solids and Fracture- Ho Sung Kim
- Control Engineering Problems with Solutions- Derek P. Atherton
- Engineering Fluid Mechanics- T. Al- Shemmeri
- Control Engineering- Derek P. Atherton
- Heat Transfer- Chris Long, Naser Sayma
- Hydrocarbons- Dr. Clifford Jones
- Chemical Thermodynamics- Leo Lue
- A First Course on Aerodynamics- Arnab Roy
- Momentum, Heat, and Mass Transfer- Leo Lue
- Computational Fluid Dynamics-Abdul Naser Sayma
Scope
Mechanical Engineering is a diverse field with immense scope. One can take up job after completing a diploma or graduation or post-graduation. However, an M.Tech degree boosts one’s prospects in the field. One can go for Master’s degree from India or aboard. By cracking GATE, one can go for M.Tech degree from reputed institutes in India like IITs. But if you wish to pursue Masters in mechanical engineering (MS) from abroad, you need to clear GRE (Graduate Record Examination). You can pursue MS in any branch of mechanical engineering such as Mechatronics, Power Machinery, Sensor System, and Technology. The best places to study mechanical engineering are the USA, China, and the UK. One can also pursue research in the field of Mechanical Engineering and become the professor.
Major industries that employ mechanical engineers include automobiles, space research, aeronautical, energy and utilities, air conditioning, biomechanical industry, giant manufacturing plants, air conditioning and refrigeration industry, turbine manufacturing plants, oil and gas exploration and refining industries and the agricultural sector. Mechanical Engineers can work for government or corporate sector as technical experts and consultants. One can also choose to go for administrative jobs in the government sector such as Indian Engineering Services and State Engineering Services.
Top recruiters
Some of the top recruiters in Mechanical Engineering are:
- Mercedes
- Rolls Royce
- L&T
- Siemens
- Kirloskar
- TATA Motors
- Bajaj
- Hero
- Ashok Leyland
- Ford
- Honda
- Bhabha Atomic Research Centre
- Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited
- National Thermal Power Corporation
- ISRO
- DRDO
- ECIL
- SAIL
- HAL
Pay package
A Mechanical Engineer can get a salary ranging from 3 lakhs per annum to 20 lakhs per annum depending on his skill-set, experience, nature of role and responsibilities. The salary varies as per the industry and level of the company. The college from which a Mechanical Engineer passes out also plays an important role in placement. The M.Tech degree in Mechanical Engineering from reputed institutes boosts one’s prospects in the field. Highly skilled mechanical engineers earn as high as 45 lakh per annum.
Qualities of a Mechanical Engineer
A Mechanical Engineer should have a considerable aptitude for the discipline even before enrolling in any formal training. He should have a thorough understanding of machines and their functioning. He should have aptitude and interest for subjects such as physics, chemistry, and mathematics. Since a Mechanical Engineer is expected to give solutions in line with technology, he should be through with various standards like IS 2062, IS 2002. He must be capable of suggesting new designs for machines. For this, a creative bent of mind is essential. He should also be familiar with raw material availability in the local market as well as imports. In this era of digital technology, it is also desirable that he possesses knowledge of various kinds of software like Auto CAD, Creo. Strong Interpersonal skills are also to his advantage.
Pros
The biggest advantage of opting for Mechanical Engineering is an ever-increasing demand for professionals. The likelihood of being unemployed for a long period of time is considerably low. As technologies continue to improve and demand for new machines continues to rise, there is considerable scope in this field. Even in times of economic crisis, Mechanical Engineers are less affected as compared to their counterparts such as IT engineers. The profession also commands respect in the society. Along with the profession comes the joy of seeing your ideas materialize into machines useful for humanity. The field is a passport into getting many industries.
Cons
The major disadvantage of this profession is that new graduates may find it difficult to get placed unless they are from reputed colleges. Top firms prefer to recruit experienced Mechanical Engineers. It involves working for long hours under adverse working conditions. They may be required to work at dangerous industrial sites and factories which are very noisy. It is often tough to meet the deadlines during normal office hours. Though the job is tiresome, it gets better with experience. The emotional and mental stress can take a toll on the person. Also, Mechanical engineers must be physically fit as they have to handle heavy equipment on a regular basis. Also, the subjects may appear boring for someone who is not interested in machines. The syllabus is vast and can be a tough nut for students at times.
Verdict
I suggest one must weigh both pros and cons before opting Mechanical Engineering. It is necessary to have interest and proven aptitude in working with machines if you choose this field as your career. One must talk to his seniors and peers before finally deciding his career choice.
This article aims to resolve all doubts and queries of students who wish to pursue Mechanical Engineering as their career. Did I miss out anything? Please let me know in the comments below. Your feedback is valuable to me
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