Mechanical Engineering

I am a second-year student of the Bratsk State University. My future speciality is Mechanical Engineering.

The history of engineering goes back to the time when the man first tried to make machines. One can call the earlier rollers, levers and pulleys the work of mechanical engineering. But it was recognized as a separate branch of engineering since the formation of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in great Britain in 1847.

Mechanical engineering deals with the design, construction and operation of machines and devices of all kinds. The scientific and technological progress is going on in engineering along two main headlines now. Firstly, it is automation, secondly – raising the reliability and extending the service life of machines.

Automation was first applied to industry in continuous process manufacturing: refining petroleum, making petrochemicals, refining steel. A later development was computer controlled assembly lines. And now we use the term “automation” for specific techniques combined to operate automatically in a complete system.

Reliability is a basic requirement of any instrument, plant or machine. Sufficient reliability and long service life of highly complicated automatic complexes, spaceships and assembly lines can be ensured by the high quality of their components, their accurate assembly and checking while in operation.

One should mention the development of mass production techniques. They, surely, increase efficiency and productivity.

That is why demand for qualified mechanical engineers is high. They have a wide range of job opportunities. Nowadays production requires the special services of the following specialists: the metallurgists, the strength of materials experts, the machines experts, the engineering designers and many more.

I believe mechanical engineers are vital to the running of the plants. They are at the forefront of technology: pressing the limits of material capability, developing new materials, specifying complex machines. Of course, their skills, technical and managerial, must be used to the fullest.

While studying we get theoretical knowledge and learn to put to practical use the things we receive at lectures, seminars and in laboratories. On getting the Diploma in Higher Education we are to be ready for our future job, to do the tasks facing the engineer.

Mechanical engineers are at the core of production: they manage plant and equipment, they manage people. In fact, they manage our future.

3. Прочитайте следующие однокоренные слова, переведите их:

1. mechanic – mechanical – mechanics – mechanisms;

2. construct – constructed – construction;

3. reliable – unreliable - reliability;

4. refine – refinement – refinery – refining;

5. technical – technician – technics – technique;

6. strong – strength – strengthen – strengthening;

7. extent – extensibility – extension – extent;

 

4. Прочитайте следующие словосочетания, переведите их на русский язык:

Mechanical engineering, a separate branch of engineering, service life of machines, continuous process manufacturing, refining steel, computer-controlled, a wide range of jobs, machines experts, engineering designers, limits of material capability, to put to practical use, to do the tasks facing the engineers.

 

5. Ответьте на следующие вопросы, опираясь на содержание прочитанного вами текста:

 

1. What year student are you?

2. What is your future speciality?

3. Is the history of mechanical engineering long?

4. When was mechanical engineering recognized as a separate branch?

5. What does mechanical engineering deal with?

6. What are the main headlines in technological progress now?

7. What industries was automation first applied in?

8. What does the term “automation” mean now?

9. What ensures long service life and reliability of machines?

10. What part do mass production techniques play in modern manufacturing?

11. Is a qualified engineer demanded now?

12. Where can knowledge of a specialist be applied to the fullest?

13. What is your main aim while studying?

14. What kind of job would you like to get after graduating from the University?

6. Прочитайте текст еще раз и перескажите его по-английски.

 

7. Прочитайте следующий текст и скажите, о каких четырех этапах в развитии мировой индустрии идет речь и чем каждый из них характеризуется.