A common misconception is that mechanical engineers (MEs) do their best to steer clear of programming whenever possible. If there is no way to automate the process in Excel, we will avoid it entirely. When it comes to the day-to-day tasks that MEs are responsible for, programming typically takes a secondary role, if any, function at all.
On the other hand, learning to program can help us work smarter rather than harder, which is especially important in IoT development. This is something that we frequently fail to realise. Staying away from programming simply because you do not enjoy it or are concerned that you will not be able to learn it to a sufficient level can end up being detrimental to your development in the long run.
To one’s good fortune, programming languages are available that are simple and straightforward enough to make it possible to acquire fundamental knowledge reasonably. Python is one of them and a beneficial tool for machine learning in mechanical engineering.
What are the Reasons Behind a Mechanical Engineer’s Desire to Learn Python?
Why would a Mechanical Engineer (ME) want to learn how to program, and more specifically, why would they want to learn how to program in Python?
The application of python in mechanical engineering reached its highest rating in the monthly Tiobe index of programming language popularity.
Based on its current trajectory, Python has the potential to overtake Java and C in the next three to four years and become the most popular language in the index.
As a result of Python’s meteoric rise in popularity, an increasing number of companies are including proficiency in the language on their lists of required skills for applicants. This is just one of many reasons to acquire this skill. To expose yourself to the innumerable opportunities that using a programming language such as Python can make available to you is an additional and more compelling reason to learn Python.
Python has the potential to facilitate a workflow that is both more efficient and quicker, simulate a substantial amount of data, and, most importantly, automate mundane and laborious tasks to the point where they are completed in a matter of seconds.
What Kind of Things Can a Mechanical Engineer Create Using the Python Programming Language?
As a mechanical engineer, what specific tasks are you able to accomplish with Python? Running numerical analyses is one of the most helpful things you can do for yourself.
You can use built-in functions to run numerical analyses much more quickly and efficiently than ever before, thanks to the numerous packages that are included with Python. Examples of these packages include NumPy and SciPy. You can integrate, plot, and even sparse with SciPy without ever having to resort to doing the calculation by hand at any point.
Conclusion:
You can use Python to write a program that will perform any calculations you require instantly, and all it takes is a small amount of setup at the beginning of the program.