Mechanical Engineering is all about the design, manufacture and use of products, machines and processes. Products include everything from car and aircraft parts to domestic appliances and medical devices. Examples of machines and processes include manufacturing, test and packaging machinery as well as heating and cooling systems.
During this programme students study a broad range of technical and complementary subjects and we reinforce students analytical and practical skills through challenging individual and group projects. Students love the time spent in the well-equipped workshop, where they learn the basics of operating lathes, and milling machines, good practice in measurement, welding and much more. CAD is another subject which students enjoy. Along with these hands on subjects there are the usual mathematics for engineers, thermodynamics, material science, and mechanics. All of these are backed up with tutorials, practical laboratory sessions or other opportunities to practice what is learnt in class.
In Year 3, students work in small groups to bring a project from concept, design and build. Examples of group projects in the past have included design, building and testing of automated pick-and-place assembly machines, wind turbines, hovercraft, go-karts, bale splitters, attachments for tractors, compactors, dune buggies, and special purpose machines such as willow harvester, oyster-shell crusher, grading machine for mussels.
A number of trips are organised, examples being the rescue R118 helicopter in Strandhill, Abbotts and AbbVie manufacturing sites, the Ploughing Championships, where students have won awards for their Year 3. Recently, a group of students spent a week in Esslingen, Germany studying laboratory work such as engine tuning, computational fluid dynamics, materials testing, and also visiting local factories such as Audi, Porsche and Mahle.
Our programme is fully accredited by Engineers Ireland, which makes it recognised worldwide. As well as accreditation, our students have performed extremely well in the annual Innovative Student Awards adjudicated by Engineers Ireland. These awards look at projects by engineers from all disciplines from all third level institutions in Ireland. Our students have won the top prize on a number of occasions.
