Key mechanical engineering essentials

When completing any job, it’s important that a mechanical engineer has all of the right tools in their kit. Here is a list of key engineering essentials, so you can ensure that you’ll always be prepared.

Grommets

As a practicing mechanical engineer, it’s a good idea to have quick and easy access to grommets as a standard part of your kit. Grommets or eyelets are designed to protect and reinforce holes. They can be used with a variety of different materials, including in conjunction with electrical wires and surgical devices.

It’s a good idea to have a selection of different grommets in varying materials, including rubber, metal and plastic, as this will ensure that you can always find the right eyelet for your job. For ease of use, keep them in a case with multiple sections, storing the grommets separately based on their material.

High temperature bearing grease

It’s likely that you frequently work with materials at high temperatures. Whether you’re fitting bearings to a wheel or a moving part on a machine that utilises a lot of heat, a high temperature bearing grease will reduce the risk of bearing failure at high temperatures. High temperature bearing grease will provide you with excellent vibration resistance. Applying the right grease to your bearings will also reduce overall grease consumption, maintenance costs and the need for multiple greases.

Bearings

Bearings are a vital part of any professional mechanical engineers kit. There are many different types of bearings, and it’s a good idea to get as broad a selection as you can so you can ensure that you’ll never have to do without whilst on a job. First off, get some plain bearings, as you can use these in conjunction with a lot of different materials, they are relatively durable, widely used and offer a reasonably high level of friction.

If you frequently require smoother movement from your bearings, you’ll want to pick up some flexure bearings as a part of your kit, as they will provide you with an extremely smooth motion at very high speeds. Ensure that you also have spherical ball bearings, as these are double sealed, which prevents damage caused by moisture and dirt entering the bearing.

Blue roll

It might seem simple or obvious, but a good engineer’s kit wouldn’t be complete without a blue roll. Whether it’s for wiping down tools at the end of a work day, cleaning up spillages or drying and cleaning wet or dirty hands, blue roll really is an essential part of the mechanical engineer’s kit.

A quality spanner set

Having quick and easy access to a range of tools is important when working with any mechanical materials, but with so many nuts and bolts on any given machine, a quality spanner set is vital. Try to get a set in a wide range of sizes for the optimum overall kit.

PPE

With so many heavy, loud machines and sharp, electrical tools, mechanical engineering can be a dangerous occupation. Safety equipment is a must for any professional mechanical engineer on the job. It’s recommended that you get the full range of safety equipment so that you’re always protected when you need it most.

You’ll want to get yourself a high-quality pair of safety goggles, preferably going for a pair that are comfortable as you’ll likely be wearing them for long periods of time. You’ll want access to a range of different pairs of safety gloves, including jersey lined nitrile gloves, latex gloves and dot gloves. It’s also a good idea to pick up some high-vis work wear, ear defenders, knee pads and a face mask.