There are many kinds of machinery, which can be divided into various categories according to several different aspects, such as, according to the function can be divided into power machinery, material handling machinery, pulverizing machinery, etc.; according to the industry of service can be divided into agricultural machinery, mining machinery, textile machinery, etc.; according to the principle of work can be divided into thermodynamic machinery, fluid mechanics, bionic machinery and so on.
In addition, machinery in its research, development, design, manufacturing, utilization and other processes are subject to several stages of different nature of work. According to these different stages, mechanical engineering can be divided into several branches of the system, such as mechanical research, mechanical design, mechanical manufacturing, mechanical use and maintenance.
These are divided into different aspects of a variety of sub-discipline systems cross each other, overlap each other, so that mechanical engineering may be divided into hundreds of sub-disciplines. For example, according to the function of power machinery, it is divided by working principle with thermal machinery, fluid machinery, turbomachinery, reciprocating machinery, steam power machinery, nuclear power plant, internal combustion engine, gas turbine, and with the center of the industry power plant equipment, industrial power plants, railroad locomotives, ship turbine engineering, automotive engineering and so on, there are complex intersection and overlap of relations. Marine turbines are power machines, as well as thermal, fluid and turbomachinery, and they belong to ship power units, steam power units, and possibly nuclear power units, and so on.
Analyzing this complex relationship and studying the most rational branching system of mechanical engineering has some intellectual significance, but not much practical value.
Mechanical engineering service areas:
Mechanical engineering service areas are vast and multi-faceted, where the use of machinery, tools, and even energy and materials production sectors, all need the services of mechanical engineering. To summarize, modern mechanical engineering has five major service areas.
(1) the development and provision of energy conversion machinery, including thermal energy, chemical energy, atomic energy, electrical energy, fluid pressure energy and natural mechanical energy into a variety of mechanical energy suitable for the application of power machinery, as well as mechanical energy into the need for other energy (electrical energy, heat, fluid pressure energy, potential energy, etc.) of the energy conversion machinery.
(2) The development and supply of machinery for the production of a variety of products, including agricultural, forestry, animal husbandry and fishery machinery and mining machinery for the primary industry, as well as a variety of heavy industry machinery and light industry machinery for the secondary industry.
(3) the development and provision of machinery to engage in a variety of services, including transportation machinery, material handling machinery, office machinery, medical equipment, ventilation, heating and air-conditioning equipment, dust removal, purification, muffling and other environmental protection equipment.
(4) To develop and provide machinery for application in family and personal life, such as washing machines, refrigerators, clocks and watches, cameras, sports equipment and so on.
(5) Development and supply of various mechanical weapons.