Mechanical engineering is one of our passions here at BMR Solutions. It is one of the oldest engineering disciplines and involves the study and application of engineering, design, and maintenance of mechanical systems and projects.

Mechanical engineering drawings are something that every mechanical engineer should become familiar with. Regardless of whether you are producing them, understanding why they are useful will help create more career opportunities for you. Many top engineering employers will look for candidates who have a solid understanding of technical drawings. This guide aims to showcase how they are produced, why they are useful and tips for impressing prospective employers with them, as well as everything else you need to know about engineering drawings.

What are Mechanical Engineering Drawings?

Mechanical engineering drawings are technical and skilled drawings that help define and illustrate specific mechanical requirements and processes. They are engineering drawings specifically for mechanical purposes.

These technical drawings help communicate problems and solutions that mechanical engineers experience. These drawings can become integral parts of a project and help define what needs to be done. They help communicate complex processes and structures in a way that makes it clear and concise.

Unlike artistic drawings, engineering drawings must be very explicit and provide little ambiguity. The drawings should not be interpreted differently by different people, instead they should be focused on conveying information in a simple manner. This eliminates the risk of misrepresenting what the drawing tried to illustrate and ensure everyone working on the project has a clear understanding of the requirements and expectations.

Engineering Drawing Basics

When working on a mechanical engineering project, you may be required to follow more than one technical drawing. For large projects with many different components, there may be multiple drawings that are designed for specific teams on the project. As a result, it’s always best to ensure you are familiar with a range of drawings so you can understand what information different teams are following.

Engineering drawings may vary in complexity from project to project, so it is useful to try and get as much exposure to as many drawings as possible to ensure you are confident using any that may arise in your career. Some small scale drawings may simply outline what is being created, while others may include very complex ideas and processes.

Engineering drawings can be created by traditional methods such as pen and paper, but are often more commonly created by CAD (computer-aided design) software. Computer-based drawings can be much more efficient and allow for edits and changes to occur much easier.

The UK follows the BS 8888 standards, set out by BSI. These ensure there is a benchmark and quality measurement for anyone creating technical product documentation, geometric product specification, geometric tolerance specification and engineering drawings.

To keep up to date with any changes regarding engineering drawings in the UK, it would be recommended to visit BSI group. This article from February 2017 illustrates some recent changes.

Why are Mechanical Engineering Drawings useful?

Engineering drawings can be a legal document. They can offer an official guide for others (including other businesses) to work from. It helps ensure everyone involved in a project is following the same guidance from these drawings.

The legality of these drawings also means that if any mistakes do arise on a project, the drawings may be used to imply who is to blame. This also means that the engineering drawings need to be created to a standard that minimises the risk of mistakes.

These drawings are also very useful for international projects. Mistakes caused by language barriers or cultural misunderstandings aren’t acceptable excuses on large multi-million pound projects. By following the drawings instead, everyone involved can follow the same blueprint and mistakes caused by communication can be limited.

Tips for Using Mechanical Engineering Drawings

Mechanical engineering drawings are likely to include the following details:

  • Materials

The materials used is a vital component of the overall project. The drawings must make it clear exactly what material is used in each part of the project.

  • Geometry

The geometry involves using precise mathematical equations and figures to produce accurate shapes of objects used within the project. This will help illustrate how different objects look at different angles and whether they fit together as they should. The use of multiple views helps to turn one dimensional drawings into clear comprehensive blueprints.

  • Dimensions

The dimensions used in the engineering drawings will help illustrate the size of each object being used. This helps provide a scale for the project and ensure everyone understands what each component will be like.

It is also likely that mechanical engineering drawings will come with notes and things related specifically for that drawing. This may help ensure anyone reading the drawing fully understands what the intentions are for such a mechanical project.

Mechanical engineering drawings have evolved in how they are created since advances in technology. As 3D printing, and machine learning algorithms become more common (including mechanics), those who embrace the changes and understand how engineering drawings are likely to evolve in the future, will stay at the top of employer’s recruitment needs.

Over the next few years, the ability for machine learning algorithms to produce these drawings will become a real possibility. This may mean learning how to leverage specific software may be the future of how engineers utilise such information.

Mechanical Engineering and BMR Solutions

If you’re a mechanical engineer then make sure you get in touch with us today. We specialise in helping find and place the top technical talent with some of the leading companies in the country. We have helped people just like you find amazing job opportunities that have catapulted their careers.

For a chat with one of our friendly team, contact us today or simply upload your CV and one of our experts will get back to you.