The basics of Mechanical Design, Engineering and Manufacturing

The basics of Mechanical Design, Engineering and Manufacturing are:

• Mathematics,
• Physics and
• a bit of Chemistry (for instance regarding corrosion prevention and internal combustion engines). \

Thus, without a good understanding of mathematics and physics the design, engineering and manufacturing of high quality Industrial Design products is in my view impossible. Therefore, in my view all Industrial Designers should at least own 1 good mathematics and 1 good university physics book.A good introductory mathematics books is the ebook of Grossman [Grossmann1984]. A good introductory university physics book is the book of Young & Freedman [Young2014]. But there are many more books which are good introductions into mathematics and physics.

Mathematical topics like:

• differentiation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derivative,

• integration: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integral,

• polar coordinates: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polar_coordinate_system,

• complex numbers: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Complex_number,

• vectors: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vector_(mathematics_and_physics),

• matrices: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matrix_(mathematics),

• the Fourier: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourier_transform and

• the Laplace transform: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laplace_transform

should be well understood.

Furthermore, in depth knowledge of physics topics like the

• International System of Units: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_System_of_Units (see below table),

• materials

• forces: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Force,

• moments:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moment_(physics),

• torques:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torque,

• statics:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statics,

• dynamics:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamics_(mechanics),

• Bernouilli's principle:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernoulli%27s_principle,

• heat and heat transfer:(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat_transfer,

• alternating current: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternating_current - (AC) and

• direct current: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_current)(DC) electricity,

• forced and unforced vibrations: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vibration,

• geometrical optics: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geometrical_optics

is needed

Tools

The design and engineering problems to solve are very often complex and difficult to solve by simple calculations therefore, knowledge of applying (symbolic) mathematical tools like Matlab/Simulink [Matlab] and Mathematica [Wolfram] has proven to be very useful for modelling, and thus better understanding, the behaviour of mechanical products and systems.

Also knowledge of, and being able to use, good dedicated software tools like:

Solid Modelling Computer Aided Design (CAD) tools:

• SolidWorks[SolidWorks],

• Siemens NX[SiemensNX],

• AutoCAD Fusion 360[AutoDesk],

• OpenSCAD[OpenSCAD],
• ...)

and Finite Element Analysis software:

• ANSYS[Ansys],
• COMSOL Multiphysics[Comsol],
• ...

is crucial when designing high quality Industrial Design products. I will explain what Finite Element Analysis is and why you need it in the section Finite Element Analysis.

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