Mechanical Engineer Mock Interview

Master 37 Mechanical Engineer interview questions covering thermodynamics, CAD proficiency, and design problem-solving.

WRITTEN BY JASON TOBY
QUESTION 29 OF 37

You're asked to take the design for a load-bearing steel plate and create an aluminum design that can withstand the same load. What design considerations would you keep in mind?

Unlock all 37 Mechanical Engineer questions

Unlock expert responses to technical and behavioral questions engineering hiring managers prioritize.

Get Started
Already a member? Log in
Previous Question Next Question
FROM THE PEOPLE WHO SAT IT

Been through this interview recently?

Write what they asked you. Nothing else is required to start — no account, and the month only if you feel like it.

What did they actually ask you?
START TYPING · WE’LL ASK FOR THE REST AFTERWARDS

37 Mechanical Engineer Interview Questions & Answers

Jump to any question in the set.

01 Why did you become a mechanical engineer? ~MECHANICAL ENGINEER 02 Where do you see yourself going in your career, and how will this role help you get there? ~CAREER GOALS 03 What do you know about our company? ~MECHANICAL ENGINEER 04 What interests you about working for our company? ~MECHANICAL ENGINEER 05 What is your ideal work environment? ~MECHANICAL ENGINEER 06 Can you tell me about a project you've worked on? ~MECHANICAL ENGINEER 07 What types of manufacturing technologies have you worked with? ~MECHANICAL ENGINEER 08 What is your 'shop' experience? ~MECHANICAL ENGINEER 09 How would you describe your communication style? ~MECHANICAL ENGINEER 10 How would you calculate the number of manholes in New York City? ~MECHANICAL ENGINEER 11 What is a free-body diagram? When would you use one? ~MECHANICAL ENGINEER 12 What are the phases of the Carnot cycle? ~MECHANICAL ENGINEER 13 What is a Factor of Safety (FoS), and when would you use it? ~MECHANICAL ENGINEER 14 What is the difference between static friction and kinetic friction? ~MECHANICAL ENGINEER 15 How would you calculate the maximum deflection of a cantilevered beam? ~MECHANICAL ENGINEER 16 You have a lever that must lift 50 pounds. The lever is 1 foot long with a fulcrum point 4 inches from the right side, which must supply the lifting force. How much force needs to be applied to the left-hand side? What mechanical advantage is this? ~MECHANICAL ENGINEER 17 A gear rotates at 5 rpm and interfaces with a smaller gear in a 10:1 ratio. How fast does the second gear spin? If the first gear applies 10N*m of torque, then what does the second gear experience? ~MECHANICAL ENGINEER 18 A force of 5 N compresses two identical springs in series by 10 cm. What will be the total distance that the same springs in parallel are compressed? ~MECHANICAL ENGINEER 19 How would you define a simple machine? What is an example? ~MECHANICAL ENGINEER 20 What types of standard views do you include in a drawing for manufacture? ~MECHANICAL ENGINEER 21 What is the difference between an interference fit and a clearance fit, and when might you use them? ~MECHANICAL ENGINEER 22 Why are screws generally not ideal for location in fixture design? What is a better way to do it? ~MECHANICAL ENGINEER 23 In CAD Design, what is 'surface modeling,' and what makes it different from 'solid modeling?' ~MECHANICAL ENGINEER 24 What does 'parametric' refer with regards to 3D modeling software? ~MECHANICAL ENGINEER 25 What is the difference between 'top-down' and 'bottom-up' design? ~MECHANICAL ENGINEER 26 You're inspecting the surface of a machined steel plate to make sure it is within 0.005 inches of flatness across its surface. What does flatness refer to, and how do you measure it? ~MECHANICAL ENGINEER 27 What does 'circularity' refer to? ~MECHANICAL ENGINEER 28 What is the difference between stainless steel and tool steel? ~MECHANICAL ENGINEER 29 You're asked to take the design for a load-bearing steel plate and create an aluminum design that can withstand the same load. What design considerations would you keep in mind? ~MECHANICAL ENGINEER 30 What is the 'Young's Modulus' of a material? ~MECHANICAL ENGINEER 31 What does 'cold working' refer to? What effect does this have on a material's properties? ~MECHANICAL ENGINEER 32 What is the difference between an end-mill and a drill-bit? ~MECHANICAL ENGINEER 33 Why are sharp corners on internal geometry very difficult to machine? ~MECHANICAL ENGINEER 34 You're designing a machined cylindrical part that is 0.525 inches in diameter with a 1/4 -20 threaded hole in its center. What shop equipment would you most likely use to manufacture this? ~MECHANICAL ENGINEER 35 How are LEGO bricks made? ~MECHANICAL ENGINEER 36 What does 'draft' refer to in Injection Molding? ~MECHANICAL ENGINEER 37 If you were looking for defects in an injection molded part, what would you look for? ~MECHANICAL ENGINEER
RELATED SETS
CAREER
Electro-mechanical Technician
Jason Toby
Written by Jason Toby
37 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS · MECHANICAL ENGINEER
See membership