Model Engineering
What is Model Engineering
Model engineering is a branch of mechanical engineering that creates scale models of items that are in development. With model engineering, professionals take the blueprints created by engineers and then convert the life-sized measurements to a fraction of the normal size in order to come up with dimensions needed to build a replica for examination. Model engineering can be used in many forms of engineering, but those interested in this field will usually complete a four-year college program in mechanical engineering. Skills in CAD, drafting, fractions, ratios, and even art are important. While art may seem like an unusual skill for engineering, building scale models is a hands-on job that requires an extremely steady hand and eye for detail. Sculpting is usually a good course to have taken in college.
To better understand model engineering, it is usually easiest to think of a large project that is in the stage of being developed. Most people are aware of the current construction on Freedom Tower, the skyscraper that will replace the World Trade Center buildings. This project started with a person's vision for an imposing structure that he then created in a CAD program. From here, he built scale models that he could present to the city. These models showed the building by itself and as it would appear in the skyline. This is what model engineering is all about. Experts in model engineering create models of the building, the surrounding grounds, and even the skyline, so people can have a hands-on visual to look over before granting permits.
There are other important aspects of model engineering. Scale models can be used to test for structural faults, unpleasing details, and more. With aerospace engineering, scale models are hooked up with scale engines to ensure a plane, helicopter, or space craft is capable of flying in different circumstances—heavy rain, wind forces, etc. Those employed in model engineering create these life-like models in order to perform test flights before testing an actual sized model. If the scale model fails to work, model engineering professionals have saved millions of dollars by only creating small versions with fewer materials.
