Hoisting Machinery
Introduction
         Vast quantities of materials, parts and products have to be moved in road and bridge construction. Loads are handled in construction and erection jobs, in loading materials excavated from quarries or delivered by railway and water transport onto trucks and other vehicles, and in storehouses servicing the construction site.
         Factories producing concrete, mortars and prefabricated reinforced-concrete products widely utilize all kinds of materials handling equipment ,as do various repair depots.
         All ,materials handling equipment is either intermittent or continuous-action.
         Depending on its purpose, it consists of the following two main groups:
         (1)Hoisting machinery: winches, jacks, hoists and cranes for intermittent operation.
         (2)Conveying machinery: conveyors (belt, bucket, screw, cable ways, air-operated equipment) and loading equipment (fork-life, single-bucket loader).
         1. Main Parameters of Cranes
         1) Lifting Capacity: The maximum load under specified conditions for which the crane may be used.
         2) Height of Lift: The vertical distance between the ground level or datum level, and the lowest point of the throat of the hook when the hook is in the highest working position.
         3) Radius: The horizontal distance measured between the centerline of the hook and a perpendicular projected through the center of rotation.
         4) Track Center: The horizontal distance between the centers of each pair of track rails.
         5) Working Speeds: The working speeds of different mechanisms (hoisting, travelling, derricking, slewing) for crane.
         6) Overall Dimensions and Weight.
         7) Stability: The anchoring and/or ballasting of the crane shall be such as to ensure that with the jib in any position the righting moment imposed under service conditions. Under storm conditions the crane shall be stable.
           If the crane is rail mounted, the devices for anchoring the crane to the rails shall not be taken into account when determining the stability of the crane.
          2. Specific Parts for Cranes.
           1) Load Handling Attachments
           (1) Hooks
              They are used to lift loads. There are single hooks and solid or built-up dual hooks.
              To handling small loads (up to 3 tons) a hook may be attached directly to the free end of the rope, although the usual practice is to suspend the hook in a casing with a moving rope sheave [1]. A bearing seating ring supporting the hook nut allows the load and the hook to turn freely around the vertical axis. For loads exceeding 40 tons, hooks of the ramshorn type, B. S3017, or of the triangular type, B. S. 3317, are preferable. If required, a locking device shall be fitted to prevent rotation of the hook.
            (2) Grab
                  For handling coal, ore and similar materials, much time and labor is saved by using grabs,
              these may be on the single or double-chain principle. The single chain grab may be fitted to any crane lifting on a single fall of rope. This should preferably be driven through a friction drive, although for short lifts a spring drum is quite suitable.
          The best practice is to use a grab of the four-rope construction, i.e. having two hoisting ropes and two closing ropes with sheaves of large diameter and properly spaced, the tendency to spin is eliminated, and the grab can be opened or closed in any position. This necessitates two power driven rope drums on the hoisting winch, and within the limit of about 10 tons a single motor drive can be used with a balancing gear between the drums to ensure that the speeds synchronize and the distribution of the load on each drums is equal. Above this load the best practice id to have a separate motor and gear for each drum and install an electric system for synchronization and equalizing of the load(Fig.1) .
         Grabbing work is very severe on a crane and reference should be made to B. S.2573 which indicates appropriate design factors to allow for shock loading. The empty grab may be balanced by sliding counterweights to reduce the power consumption on jib crane.
         Automatic self-dumping single rope grabs, which open when the weight of the grab is relieved from the hoisting rope, i.e. , have two hoisting ropes and two holding ropes. The rope sheaves should be at least 24 times the rope diameter and well spread to prevent twisting of the ropes round each other.
   (3) Container and spreader for handling container
        Container is used in transporting goods internationally and internally. The specification of container conforms to ISO668-1983.
The spreaders for handling of container can be classified into monoblock, telescopic. The monoblock spreader used to pick up a king of container, and the
telescopic spreader fixed to the four-point suspension has mobile flippers and twist locks to pick up all standard containers of 5¬40ft(Fig.2).
   2) Ropes, pulleys and drums
      (1) Steel Wire Rope
           Steel wire ropes are used as flexible appliances to lift loads and transmit motion and forces.
        Such ropes are wound from steel wire from 0.5 mm to 2 mm in diameter and have an ultimate strength of 1400¬2000N/mm2. Steel wire ropes are available in a great variety of designs. Machines used in materials handling, construction and road making are provided mostly with round double lay (cross or regular lay ) ropes from 11 to 32 mm in diameter.
        Double lay ropes are manufactured from preliminarily twisted spiral wire strands[2]. In a parallel (long) lay rope the direction of twist of the wires in the strand is the same as that of the strands in rope, wile regular lay ropes are so constructed that the direction of twist of the wires in the strand is opposite to that of the strands in rope.
           To make the ropes more flexible and provide proper lubrication of wires the strands are laid on a hemp core impregnated with oil.
           Special locked-coil steel wire ropes find application in cable cranes and cable ways. These ropes, used to carry trolleys, have the cross section. The outer specially shaped wires form a smooth surface. These ropes have a low flexibility and high resistance to wear and keep out moisture..
           According to the regulations of State Technical Inspector, ropes are selected from the formula
               Q=S / n
       Where  S-----breaking load on the rope as a whole;
              Q-----safe load on the rope;
              n------rope safety factor.
(2)  Pulleys and Drums
       Ropes are supported and guided by means of cast iron pulleys.
       The groove on the pulley rim is shaped so as not to pinch the rope.
      The nominal diameter of the pulley D is the diameter of the circle described by the axis of the rope. The pulley diameter appreciably affects the magnitude of the bending stresses and the rope service life and for this reason the existing norms should be taken into account in selecting a pulley diameter.
           During lifting or other displacement of the load the rope may be wound around drums in the form of cylinders with a smooth or grooved surface.
           A rope resting in a groove ensures, besides the proper direction, a smaller pressure on separate wires in the rope which increase the rope service life [3].
          The rope capacity of a drum with a single-layer winding can be found from the formula
                        L1=( D +d )z t
       Where D------drum diameter;
           d------rope diameter;
           z------number of working turns on the drum surface;
           t------groove pitch.
          Pulleys and drums may rotate in bronze bushes or in antifriction bearings. They may also revolve together with their axles, the hubs being fixed to the axles.
    (3) Brakes
          One of the most important components of  crane is the brake on the hoisting motion. Electric cranes are invariably fitted with an automatic electric-mechanical brake actuated by solenoid or on alternating current by a thruster which applies itself immediately current is cut off from the motor. Centrifugal brakes are occasionally fitted to prevent excessive acceleration when lowering , but it is preferable to use some systems of electric braking such as dynamic with potentiometer control on direct current, and one of the systems of creating an opposing torque with alternating current [4]. Slow speeds for accurate movement can be obtained by a manual brake applied to create a torque and so load up the motor to make it sensitive to resistance control. On large power installations the Word Leonard system is frequently used as it provides for a large range of speeds with simple control gear but the cost of the motor generator set offsets the saving in cost of main current controllers. Brake drums are preferably made of a high tensile iron which maintains a smooth rubbing surface without tearing.
Gantry cranes
1.Electric Overhead Traveling Cranes (Fig.3)
For service in buildings and for the rapid transport of loads in the open over a considerable area ,the overhead traveling crane is unequaled. Manually operated cranes
of this type are extensively used for at least the hoist motion would not prove a profitable investment. The overhead traveler lends itself to ready adaptation for special duties such as handling molten metal in ladles, cold and hot ingots, in and out of soaking pits, stripping moulds from ingots, handling ferrous material with magnets, loose material with grabs and manipulating heavy forging in a hydraulic press. Ladle cranes have been made up to 650tons capacity on the main hoist, and it is not uncommon in continuous process steel works to have cranes 250~300 tons capacity on the teaming side of the furnaces, and 125×130 tons capacity on the charging side.
These large cranes have two crabs, on equipped with a ladle beam for the main hoist and the other with a single hook for general service for the auxiliary hoist, the lifting capacity of which is usually between 30 and 50 tons. Each crab has its own set of girders so that there are four load carrying cross girders on the crane, in addition to auxiliary girders for carrying platforms, traveling gear and control panels. It is fairly common practice to have an air-conditioned cabin for the driver, maintained at a comfortable temperature at all seasons of the year. Forging cranes have been installed to lift up to 300 tons on single hook. They are equipped with an electrically-operated turning gear for rotating the forging under the press and a device to prevent excessive overloads due to action of the press when forging.
The usual practice with framework in Great Britain and the Continent is to make the main girders of the single web type for medium spans up to 65 ft. and above this, and for outside work , to  adopt the lattice type of construction. The girders are stiffened laterally by an auxiliary girder and connected there to by horizontal and diagonal racing or by a steel platform plate thus forming a horizontal girder to take the lateral loads due to starting and stopping crane. The traveling motor and gearing is supported on bearers between the main and auxiliary girders ,and this is better practice than carrying the traveling gear on brackets cantilevered out from the main girder, as this produces a torque tending to distort the girder. The depth of the main girder should e approximately 1/12th of the span ,but on short span cranes it is permissible to use a pair of rolled steel joists for the main girders. In this case the proportion of depth to span is not always maintained but the deflection under full load should not exceed about 1/900th of the span. Allowable stresses are defined in B.S.2573.Part 1:1960.`Permissible Stresses in Cranes’.
This specification also deals with the classification of cranes according to their duty and is a valuable guide to the purchaser when specifying his requirements.
End carriages for cranes should allow of the wheel base being at least one fifth of the span ,and on long span cranes 80 ft. or move inconstant use particularly for heavy loads it is advisable to exceed this proportion it space will permit. Special attention to the rigidity of connection between the end carriages and the girders and the accurate lining up of rail wheels and axles will avoid trouble on the traveling motion. The selection of rail wheels depend upon load ,speed of working, frequency of operation, and width of track rail. Cast steel wheels of hard wearing quality steel to B.S. 24 are suitable for general engineering shop service, as cranes are seldom loaded to full capacity or carry the load close to one end of the crane, but in steelworks, the conditions are more severe and it is desirable to shrink hard steel tires on all rail wheels. Tires should be of 50/55 tensile quality, and not less than 21/2 in . thick, and to be shrunk onto a cast iron or, preferably steel center with center fillet. The following empirical formula based on experience is a good guide to the selection of the size of wheel.
For cast steel wheels            D=L/800×W
For steel tired wheels           D=L/1000×W
Where    D-----diameter of wheel in inches;
         L------load in pounds;
         W-----width of rail in inches.
The power of the motor for the traveling motion of a cranes is usually based upon attractive effort of 60 1.per ton for gunmetal bearings and 30 1b.per ton for cranes fitted with ball or roller bearing to the traveling wheels .The rate of acceleration must also be taken into account when it is desired to bring the crane up to full speed in a short time.
Cranes in the open must have an automatic brake on the traveling motion and in exposed positions it is advisable to provide an additional anchoring device to secure the crane when not in use[11.Spring or pneumatic buffers on the end carriages and substantial end stops on the gantry are essential under these conditions. A foot brake is advisable on the traveling motion of all overhead cranes and hydraulic transmission has largely superseded the use of levers and rods, for operating this brake. In some instances the foot brake is combined with a solenoid brake, the latter being shunt wound and operative only when the current is cut off from the crane.
The crab or trolley frame of an overhead crane is usually of welded or riveted construction and the stress should sufficiently low to avoid misalignment of gearing due to deflection . All gearing should preferably be enclosed in oil case with dip stick or other means of indicating the level of the oil in the case . Grouped nipples for grease gun lubrication are desirable and on hardworking cranes with gun metal bearings some form of automatic or semi-automatic system of lubrication is advisable. The traversing motion should be fitted with a solenoid retarding brake on ball or roller bearing cranes where the traversing speed exceeds 100 ft. per minute. The load is usually lifted on wire ropes winding upon a drum with turned spiral grooves to coil the full lift of ropes and allow three spare turns without overlapping. The rope should be securely anchored to the drum and reverse bends should be avoided . The rope should preferably be of 100/110 tons tensile, wire of 6/37 stranding.
The total horse-power required for hoisting is easily calculated, but a convenient formula for cranes with gun metal bearings is horse-power of hoisting motor equals ft . tons per minute divided by 10, or ,with anti-friction bearing ft . tons per minute divided by 12 . This takes into account the efficiency of the gearing and frictional losses in bearings, rope sheaves, etc . On large capacity cranes it is desirable to have two systems of braking on the hoisting motion . One must be an electromagnetic brake released by a solenoid or thrustor when the current is switched on and applied by a weight or spring when the current is switched off ; solenoids are preferable on direct current circuits and thrustors on alternating current circuits . The second system can take the form of a manual brake which can be used to control, the speed of lowering and act as an emergency stop brake in event of failure of the electromagnetic brake or ,automatic mechanical brake of the friction disc type can be fitted .This type of brake has been largely superseded by systems of electric braking which have been developed to give a reliable control of speed when lifting and lowering. On direct current circuits dynamic braking is used, and on alternating , counter current braking ,or one of the patented systems of control ,which require, what is in effect ,an additional motor to control the speed of the motor.
2.Portal Crane
Portal crane can be used in shipbuilding, dump storage, prefabricating industry unloading
of ships and container wharf.
Steel sections of large sizes and weights have to be transported in shipbuilding. Here,
heavy-duty portal cranes with wide spans and height lifts are used to move the bulky sections freely across the work area. Light-weight tubular structures are particularly economical in the construction of such large-dimensioned portal cranes.
    Dump storage of coal needs vast areas and therefore cranes with equally large coverage, as viewed in Fig. 4. This 11t portal crane with 105m bridge length for hinged tubs and grab operation covers26,000 m2. The 140m/min. high-speed crane trolley with planetary winch is controlled from a separate mobile cabin which has its own drive. But cabin and trolley can also be coupled mechanically. Then the crane driver is situated immediately in front of ropes to see to accurately aimed picking up and depositing of hinged tubs.
In the prefabricating industry the portal cranes perform an extensive range of duties. It is flexible enough to follow any change in production for the fabrication of heavy industrial prefabricated sections as well as for assembly line products of the private home prefabrication.
    Grab Portal Cranes with two drum winch for operation of a mechanical four-rope grab have differential control or planetary gearing.
    This tubular portal crane for unloading of ships transports up to300t gravel per hour. For that effect grab operation is combined with a continuous conveyor. A hopper mobile along the crane cross tie transfers the material onto a belt conveyor. The crane trolley is equipped with a differentially-controlled two-drum winch.
    The construction of portal crane can be made to tubular and box. Box girder portal cranes are made with single or dual beam bridge. The crane beams are welded box profiles.
3.Container Stacker
    The Valet Container Stacker Straddle Carrier(Fig.5) is probably the most thoroughly thought-out vehicle of its kind available and the complete answer to the increasing difficulties you may be facing in container yard. With its ability to lift and travel one over two, handle containers of any size its very high speed and maneuverability and outstanding traction in all surface conditions the Valet Container Stacker Straddle Carrier is undoubtedly the best contribution you can make to long term efficiency and economy.
    Valet is a pioneer and front runner in the container handling field and offers a full range of machines and equipment for Ro-Ro terminals.
1)Driver’s cabin
Valet Container Stacker Straddle Carriers feature the Valet Double command Cabin as standard mounted outside the frame, high up, over the highest container lifting height. To special order, the vehicle can be delivered with either the Valet Single Command Cabin or the Valet Double Command cabin, mounted high on the front inside the frame. Both cabins have heating/defrosting units as standard and, to special order, both can be fitted with air-conditioning equipment. The single Command Cabin has the driver sitting sideways to the direction of travel with normal operating controls, etc. in a fixed position.
The Valet Double Command Cabin features as ergonomically designed driver’s seat which rotates 1800, dual pedals, all necessary operating levers, buttons, switches, etc. which turn with the seat, acoustic lining for low dB level inside the cab, glass walls and floor for extra visibility. It is probably the best available anywhere.
2)8-wheel steering, 4-wheel drive
Many container terminal vehicles feature only two-wheel drive. Valet’s experience that 4-wheel drive is the only really reliable source of traction when conditions get tough. Ice, snow, slush and, slush and, in fact, all kinds of wet terminal surfaces create traction hazards and the only answer is to get a good grip. The unique 4-wheel steering and the unique Valet gas-pressurized, hydraulic suspension system are features that pay for themselves in a very short time in reduced tire wear and reduced terminal surface wear. The wheels are mounted in pairs on bodies to ensure smooth transportation of the cargo and balanced wheel loading.
3)Transmission
The4-wheel drive in Valet Container Stacker Straddle Carriers is though a mechanical power train to facilitate maintenance and repairs. Each engine (there are two) delivers power to its own differential and the final drive utilizes drive chains in a bath of oil built into the wheel fork . The chain is completely out of the way and does not even need to be touched during wheel changes. A feature of the Valet gas-pressurized hydraulic suspension system is that it can even be used to lift up a wheel that has to be changed or for the drive away from the container stacks.
4)Power Sources
Valet Container Stacker Straddle Carriers have two identical engines with a total output of about 360H.P. They use torque converters for power transmission and have two speeds forward and two speeds in reverse . A high power rating means good, smooth acceleration and high lifting speeds, both accelerating and lifting can be carried out simultaneously, which saves valuable time.
The engines Valet uses are standard units, which facilitates maintenance and service and are placed low, which not only makes service and maintenance easier, but makes the vehicle’s center of gravity low thus increasing stability. An added benefit is the much reduced noise level in the driver’s cabin and also around the yard, since the containers make good baffles.
5)Lifting
    Valet’s policy of making maintenance and servicing easier has led our designer’s to use low pressure hydraulics throughout. Low pressure hydraulics assures a longer working life with easier and less frequent service while eliminating the risk of leakage.
Lifting is carried out with two horizontal, heavy duty cylinders mounted on the top frame and heavy duty lift chains. The lifting system features positive guidance of the spreader in C-shaped channels with rollers on each corner so that the spreader cannot become disengaged.
An ingenious, mechanical synchronization system is built in to compensate for containers that are out-of-trim, off-center loaded.
6)Automatic Spreader
    Valet’s universal, automatic, telescopic top lift spreader is designed to handle all sizes of containers; The automatic feature means faster operation, greater safety and certainty since it eliminates human error. The lift can not be started unless all four corners are properly and securely locked. The spreader’s T-construction allows the operator to see all four twist locks and also allows some free play to accommodate containers that are twisted or battered. Other big advantages of the Valet spreader are its side shifting and slewing capabilities together with an automatic countering system.
Engineering Design
Engineering Design is a systematic process by which solutions to the needs of humankind are obtained. The process is applied to problems (needs ) of varying complexity. For example, mechanical engineers will use the design process to find an effective, efficient method to convert reciprocating motion to circular motion for the drive train in an internal combustion engine; electrical engineers will use the process to design electrical generating systems using falling water as the power source; and materials engineers use the process to design ablative materials which enable astronauts to safely reenter the earth’s atmosphere.
The vast majority of complex problems in today’s high-technology society depend for solution not on a single engineering discipline, but on teams of engineers, scientists, environmentalists, economists, sociologists, and legal personnel. Solutions are not only dependent upon the appropriate applications of technology but also upon public sentiment as executed through government regulations and political influence. As engineers we are empowered with the technical expertise to develop new and improved products and systems, but at the same time we must be increasingly in general and work conscientiously toward the best solution in view of all relevant factors.
Design is the culmination of the engineering educational process; it is the salient feature that distinguishes engineering from other professions.
A formal definition of engineering design is found in the curriculum guidelines of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). ABET accredits curricula in engineering schools and derives its membership from the various engineering professional societies. Each accredited curriculum has a well-defined design component which falls within the ABET guidelines. The ABET statement on design reads as follows:
Engineering design is the process of devising a system, component, or process to meet desired needs. It is a decision making process (often iterative), in which the basic sciences, mathematics, and engineering sciences are applied to convert resources optimally to meet a stated objective. Among the fundamental elements of the design process are the establishment of objectives and criteria, synthesis, analysis, construction, testing and evaluation. The engineering design component of a curriculum must include most of the following features: development of student creativity, use of open-ended problems, development and use of modern design theory and methodology, formulation of design problem statements and specifications, consideration of alternative solutions, feasibility considerations, production processes, concurrent engineering design, and detailed system descriptions. Further, it is essential to include a variety of realistic constraints such as economic factors, safety, reliability, aesthetics, ethics, and social impact.
If anything can be said about the last half of the twentieth century, it is that we have had an explosion of information. The amount of data that can be uncovered on most subjects is overwhelming. People in the upper levels of most organizations have assistants who condense most of the things that they must read, hear, or watch. When you begin a search for information, be prepared to scan many of your sources and document their location so that you can find them easily if the data subsequently appear to be important.
Some of the sources that are available include the following:
1. Existing solutions. Much can be learned from the current status of solutions to a specific need if actual products can be located, studied and, in some cases, purchased for detailed analysis. An improved solutions or an innovative new solution cannot be found unless the existing solutions are thoroughly understood.
2. Your library. Many universities have courses that teach you how to use your library. Such courses are easy when you compare them with those in chemistry and calculus, but their importance should not be underestimated. There are many sources in the library that can lead you to the information that you are seeking. You may find what you need in an index such as the Engineering Index. There are many other indexes that provide specialized information. The nature of your problem will direct which ones may be helpful to you . Don’t hesitate to ask for assistance from the librarian. You should use to advantage the computer databases found in libraries and often available through CD-ROM technology.
3. Professional organizations. The American Society of Mechanical Engineers is a technical society that will be of interest to students majoring in mechanical engineering. Each major in your college is associated with not one but often several such societies. The National Society of Professional Engineers is an organization that most engineering students will eventually join, as well as at least one technical society such as the American Society of Civil Engineers(ASCE),the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE),or any one of dozens that serve the technical interests of the host of specialties with which professional practices seem most closely associated. Many engineers are members of several associations and societies.
4. Trade journals. They are published by the hundreds, usually specializing in certain classes of products and services.
    Money and economics are part of engineering design and decision making. We live in a society that is based on economics and competition. It is no doubt true that many food ideas never get tried because they are deemed to be economically infeasible. Most of us have been aware of this condition in our daily lives. We started with our parents explaining why we could not have some item that we wanted because it cost too much. Likewise, we will not put some very desirable component into our designs because the value gained will not return enough profit in relation to its cost.
Industry is continually looking for new products of all types. Some are desired because the current product is not competing well in the marketplace. Others are tried simply because it appears that people will buy them. How do manufacturers know that a new product will be popular? They seldom know with certainty. Statistics is an important consideration in market analysis. Most of you will find that probability and statistics are an integral part of your chosen engineering curriculum. The techniques of this area of mathematics allow us to make inferences about how large groups of people will react based on the reactions of a few.
Engineering Design and Safety Factors
     Any consideration of engineering materials and engineering design of systems utilizing materials must initially deal with Murphy’s law for materials systems and the laws of materials applications:
Murphy’s law : If any material can fail, it will.
Laws of materials applications
(1)All materials are unstable.
(2)The materials system is only as strong or as stable as its weakest or most unstable component.
Although they are both obvious and incontrovertible, we might elaborate upon these laws, especially the laws of materials applications. All materials are indeed unstable. Even such materials as platinum can be degraded in particular environments. Under stress, all materials respond to that stress. Creep is an example. Given enough time, failure can be calculated to occur in all materials under creep stress. Stress environment can act in concert to cause failure, for example, stress corrosion cracking. Creep temperature effects and stress-temperature effects can contribute to the degradation of properties and components and system failure.
The design process
   The design process usually begins with a specification of a solution. We sometimes allude to a design cycle, but the process may contain a design cycle plus design implementation, which involves actual production based upon the design. The design cycle can involver the original thoughts.
What is Mechanical Engineering ?
     Mechanical Engineers are problem solvers. They apply the laws of science in order to provide practical solutions to problems. Mechanical Engineers generally deal with the relations among forces, work or energy, and power in designing systems which will render the achievements of science to the betterment of the human environment. They may work to extract efforts may be automobiles or jet aircraft, power plants or air conditioning systems, large industrial machinery or household can openers. They are involved in programs to better utilize natural resources of energy and materials as well as to lessen the impact of technology on the environment.
Mechanical Engineers, while strongly oriented towards science, are not scientists. Science is a search for knowledge. The science of mathematics extends abstract knowledge. The science of physics extends organized knowledge of the physical world. In each of these, consideration can be limited to a carefully isolated aspect of reality. They Mechanical Engineer, however, must deal with reality in all its aspects. He or she must not only be competent to and make a product which will be used by people. Moreover, the engineer must assume professional responsibility insofar as the safety and well-being of society are affected by those products.
        Mechanical Engineering involves the planning, design, ,manufacture, and operation of devices, machines and systems. Mechanical Engineering is a broad discipline at the forefront of technological advancements in energy conversion, manufacturing, machine design, fluid mechanics, and aerospace system. Virtually all facets of modern life are directly affected by the work of mechanical engineers. Today’s mechanical engineers are routinely working on variety of new ideas and on innovations including robotics, laser systems, new energy sources, automatic controls, and computer graphics systems in applications related to space technology and aircraft design, orthopedics, pollution control, automobile design and combustion engines, robot vision, problems of heating and lubrication, and the development of microprocessors and computer-based computational algorithms. Mechanical engineers continue to work toward meeting the demands of an increasingly complex technological society.
Creativity: Engineering Design
Mechanical Engineers create solutions to technical problems. Below you can view a number of examples of creative design by mechanical engineering students.
Career Opportunities:
    Mechanical Engineering graduates from university have gone to rewarding careers with industry, utility companies consulting engineers and local, state and federal agencies. Many students decide to continue their education in graduate school at universities. The long term outlook for employment of Mechanical Engineers appears to be excellent both regionally and throughout the country. Salaries and advancement prospects compare favourably with many other professions. Current starting salaries are in excess of $ 30000.