The realm of mechanical design and animation is vast and encompasses almost anything you can think of. Impact-resistant bumpers for an RV? Before a single mold is made, a 3d model is constructed. Electrical can openers with pivoting parts? Those pivots were probably once part of a virtual model detailing each and every last functioning part.
Using computer modeling and animation to create virtual models of proposed products and mechanical designs can save companies anywhere from thousands to millions of dollars, by cutting down on development costs; working in a virtual world can let developers eliminate a lot of problems that would normally require extensive physical test models and experimentation. Anything from gear fitting tests to vehicle crash tests can be simulated online using real-time simulacrum of natural forces and materials; while these results still aren't as reliable as real-life tests, they can help to isolate potential problems before they're even encountered.
For mechanical designers and animators, the 3D world has become the new "drawing board", but with an infinite number of greater possibilities than pen and paper. Parts can actually be fitted together in a realistic manner, and their functions tested; measurements can be planned down to the smallest unit, with more accuracy than pencil-and-paper diagrams can often provide. In addition, the 3D modeled designs and animations can be adjusted quickly and easily, before the designs ever reach the production stage, eliminating a great deal of the waste involved in producing test models.
You can find a niche for a mechanical designer and animator in almost any industry; from the auto industry to small appliances, aviation and aerospace to home hardware. You could end up designing kitchen sinks.....or the inner workings of a proposed orbital craft for NASA's newest project. The possibilities are infinite, and endless. Learn to look for them, and you may be surprised at what you find.
