Essential Industry Software Skills that Every Mechanical Engineer Should Possess

Design is the core element of mechanical engineering. All the domain-specific jobs are based on designing, simulating, and testing the model.

As such, engineers require a specialized tool to develop ideas for new products and use their creative thinking to advance the developed model. This design software helps engineers and designers visualize, analyze, and communicate design intent before building a physical prototype.

In this article, we look at the industry software that you will work on at Skill-Lync. We will illustrate the design tools, software, and applications needed for each domain, such as CFD, Design, CAE, and HEV Masters:

Basic Tools 

Mechanical engineers use many software packages, but there are a few that are used consistently throughout the manufacturing domain. The proficiency level of a tool with specific software is conditioned on the domain. However, a fundamental knowledge with most of the software and tools discussed here will be helpful for mechanical engineers. 

MATLAB

MATLAB is a 2D solver where you will learn how to create a solver by solving some governing equations. Mechanical engineers need MATLAB for inspection of problems in statics and dynamics, numerical methods, and mechanical vibrations.

Python

Python is a pre-processor and general-purpose programming language with many open source libraries that are actively developed and maintained by the Python community. Python is an excellent alternative for MATLAB.  

Computer-Aided Design (CAD) Software

A 3D CAD can be used for any engineer with a focus on design. The software allows you to build 3D models of parts and assemblies. For example, you can model individual parts of an engine and then assemble them. This will ensure that all the parts are working as intended. Examples of 3D CAD software are SolidWorks, Unigraphics NX, CATIA, and Autodesk Inventor. 

Finite Element Analysis (FEA) Software

FEA is used for structural analysis in the industry. It is the recommended software when you have to analyze the stress and deflections. ANSYS is a popular FEA software used for simulation in the manufacturing sector.

GT-POWER

GT-Power is a 1D engine simulator used by all major engine manufactures and vehicle OEMs. GT-Suite is a multi-purpose platform with different libraries and a countless number of higher-level components. 

In GT, all the domains and subdomains can be integrated to form a complete model. For instance, in the case of the vehicle model, the propulsion system (engine modeling) is combined with the fluid system (friction study) and thermal management in GT-Suite for a steady design.

CFD

If you are looking for the criteria of a job opportunity in fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, heat transfer, and jet propulsion, you should focus on 3D simulation solvers. The following tools are beneficial if you will be working as a computational fluid designer. 

CONVERGE

Converge is designed for innovation purposes, which primarily includes autonomous meshing, enormous design options, and chemistry solver. It has an exclusive feature to accommodate complex moving geometries.

OpenFOAM

It is a leading free, open-source software for Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). It is a C++ toolbox for the development of customized numerical solvers, and pre-/post-processing utilities for CFD. 

ANSYS FLUENT

Fluent is the industry-leading fluid simulation software used to predict fluid flow, heat, and mass transfer. It has a user-friendly interface and advanced physics modeling capabilities, including cutting-edge turbulence models, multiphase flows, combustion, and shape optimization. 

Apart from these, some of the essential tools of knowledge for CFD jobs are MATLAB, Python, and GT-Power - 1D simulator. 

Design

If you are more occupied in understanding the principles of solid modeling, surface modeling, sheet metal, and plastic modeling, then you should work more on your design job prospects. The software for the design sector has almost the same tools; the only change is the graphical user interface.

There are three must learn tools if you want a design job. 

SOLIDWORKS

It is a 3D modeling software for engineers and designers that will help them to build innovative mechanical models. It is a perfect fit for mechanical engineering students who are looking for a tool to make a mechanical drawing. 

UNIGRAPHICS NX

NX is a program developed by Simens PLM Software that allows working on simulation, conception, and manufacturing. It is an advanced CAED tool to improve the automotive design and manufacturing process.  

NX-CAD

NX-CAD works seamlessly with the CAD system. It can deal with complex products. The visual analytics feature improves decision making and reduces the development time by more than 30 percent. 

CAE or FEA

If you want to master your concept for Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) or Finite Element Analysis (FEA), then the tools that will come in handy are Hypermesh, ANSA Structural, Ansys Workbench, Radioss, LD Dyna and PythonPython. 

While Hypermesh and ANSA Structural are used for meshing, Ansys Workbench, Radioss, and LS Dyna are used as a solver and Python as pre-processor. All these tools are widely used in the automotive industry. 

HEV Design and Simulation 

HEV design and simulation is a whole new sector, and it requires enormous commitment and knowledge. The essential tool that is necessary for this sector is specializations in MATLAB and Simulink. MATLAB is used for the calculation purpose as it involves calculus, and Simulink is used for the simulation process of the HEVs.