| The major divisions of mechanical engineering are | | | | focus on the fluid itself, such as a fan to cool an |
| designs and controls, thermo-science and fluids, | | | | electrical system, a turbine to power a submarine, or a |
| engineering mechanics, and manufacturing. Depending | | | | spray gun to apply chemical coatings. |
| on the colleges and the universities, some mechanical | | | | Given the wide range of subjects, students preparing |
| engineering programs offer more specialized | | | | to study mechanical engineering should consider the |
| programs, such as mechatronics, robotics, transport | | | | programs available in their respective colleges and |
| and logistics, cryogenics, and biomechanics, if a | | | | universities. Most mechanical engineering programs |
| separate department does not exist for these | | | | offer the major subjects of study. Fundamental |
| subjects. | | | | subjects of mechanical engineering include: statics, |
| Modern analysis and design processes in mechanical | | | | dynamics, strength of materials, solid mechanics, |
| engineering are aided by various computational tools | | | | thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, heat transfer, |
| like finite element analysis (FEA) and computational fluid | | | | refrigeration and air conditioning, kinematics (including |
| dynamics (CFD), computer-aided design (CAD) and | | | | robotics), manufacturing technology, mechatronics and |
| computer-aided manufacturing (CAM). In system | | | | control theory. Mechanical engineers are also |
| design and controls, a mechanical engineer may apply | | | | expected to understand and be able to apply |
| CAD/CAM systems to feed “instructions" to | | | | concepts from chemistry and electrical engineering. At |
| computer numerically-controlled (CNC) machines such | | | | the smallest scales, mechanical engineering becomes |
| as robots, milling machines, and lathes. In this way the | | | | nanotechnology and molecular engineering - one |
| engineer could automate the manufacturing process | | | | speculative goal of which is to create a molecular |
| without the need for intermediate drawings. A | | | | assembler to build molecules and materials via |
| mechanical engineer working in thermo-fluid might | | | | mechanosynthesis. For now this goal remains within |
| design a heat sink, an air conditioning system, or an | | | | exploratory engineering. |
| internal combustion engine. Other processes might | | | | |