Machine Design

How to define - Machine Dessign:

Defining a subject like  Machine Design is a humongous task, it virtually covers all the whole of Mechanical Engineering! In order to get a clear concept of Machine Design, one must gain in-depth knowledge of mechanics, strength of materials, properties of engineering materials, manufacturing process etc. 

In doing so one has to start off with topics such as motion of bodies in three dimensions, the selection of mechanisms those will be needed to build a machine. The well structured course of machine design also consists topics such as choosing the right materials, the right dimensions and the shape of the structure of the machine, the analysis of forces and motion under dynamic conditions, the control and supply of energy to run the machine in order to get the desired output, optimization of all the components in the sense that the components are made from the proper materials to get the desired performance, adequate factors of safety, economical manufacturing process, product viability and marketability.

A machine designer has to be conversant with the standard practices of International manufacturing, tolerance allocation, preparation of manufacturing drawings which comply with international standards, articulation of the complete manufacturing process, action plan for compliance with the design and many more such aspects of engineering design.

It's a vast ocean and you will find people spending their life-time designing a specific mechanism or a component. One can't expect a designer to be able to design each and every machine. There is a specific field of super-specialization for each designer, for example someone working in automobile designing can't be expected to design machinery for steel manufacturing. Since the field of machine design is so vast it would be prudent for anyone who chooses mechanical engineering as a carrier option to get to the depth of Machine Design, during the course studies, in order to do justice to the job. If you are a student of Mechanical Engineering or are aspiring to be one, get started with an objective to understand the subject properly rather than aiming to get high scores in the exams.