Overview

The DME currently offers three specializations: mechanical design, manufacturing engineering, and forming manufacturing. Additionally, it houses 6 dedicated institutes focusing on tribology, design engineering, manufacturing engineering, mechatronic engineering, material forming manufacturing, and forming equipment and automation. The department operates numerous national, provincial, and ministerial research platforms, including the State Key Laboratory of Tribology, the National CIMS Engineering Research Center, the Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials Processing Technology of the Ministry of Education, the Beijing Key Laboratory of Precision and Ultra-Precision Manufacturing Equipments and Control, and the Beijing Key Laboratory of Biofabrication and Rapid Forming Technology, among others. Moreover, the department has set up international collaboration platforms, including the International Joint Research Laboratory for Innovative Design and Manufacturing of Advanced Mechanical Systems (IDM Joint Lab) with RWTH Aachen University in Germany, the Discipline Innovation and Talent Recruitment Base of Biomanufacturing and Extracorporeal Life System Engineering in partnership with its sister universities and departments, and the Tsinghua University National Center of Novel Materials for International Research.

Guided by the principle of being “upstanding and dauntless”, the department not only advances toward the forefront of international mechanical engineering disciplines but also engages in fundamental research and advanced technology development in crucial areas such as aerospace, energy equipment, transportation, IC equipment, and biomedical engineering to address the significant needs of the country. Its primary research areas include (1) digital design and analysis, (2) the fundamental theory and technology of tribology, (3) micro/nano mechanics and tribology, (4) surface/interface theory and technology, (5) mechanical components and sealing technology, (6) mechanical system dynamics and fault diagnosis technology, (7) biomechanical systems and rehabilitation engineering, (8) intelligent manufacturing equipment and control, (9) precision and special processing technology, (10) robotics, (11) IC manufacturing equipment, (12) manufacturing system automation and digitization, (13) forming manufacturing theory and computer simulation, (14) heavy equipment design and manufacturing, (15) forming process monitoring and control and intelligent technology, (16) laser processing and micro/nano processing, (17) additive manufacturing and bio-manufacturing, and (10) aerospace manufacturing engineering, among others. The department is responsible for hundreds of projects annually, including national initiatives like the Major Project of the Ministry of Science and Technology, the National Key Research and Development Program, projects supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, national defense projects, and technology development projects commissioned by enterprises.

Throughout different historical periods, the department has attained numerous pioneering milestones, contributing significantly to the advancement of China’s technological progress. In 1958, the department successfully developed China’s first numerical control machine, a feat achieved nearly simultaneously with advancements in the United States, the Soviet Union, and Japan. This accomplishment earned the department the New Technology Award from the National Science and Technology Council at that time. During the 1960s, the department played a key role in completing the welding and manufacturing of China’s first pool-type nuclear reactor containment structure. Additionally, it collaborated with enterprises to pioneer the development of several groundbreaking technologies, including China’s first vacuum electron beam welding machine, the first 60 MN free-forging hydraulic press, and the first cone milling machine. In the 1970s, it developed semiconductor processing equipment, such as step and repeat photographic cameras, pattern generators, lithography machines, and electron beam lithography machines. It participated in the development of China’s first pre-stressed wire-wound 15 MN hot isostatic press and proposed the “theory of equal shear stress wire winding” for the first time internationally. In the 21st century, the department has diligently addressed the crucial needs of the nation, successfully resolving pivotal challenges that had previously hindered the development of various industries. Equipment for IC manufacturing: The department has pioneered the development of a 12-inch chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) machine and a 65-nanometer lithographic planar motor dual-stage prototype, the first-of-its-kind key equipment employed in the production of very large-scale integration in China. Equipment for aeronautical manufacturing: The department has developed the country’s first comprehensive aircraft automatic painting system, which has been officially put into production. Heavy equipment: The department has accomplished the development of the world’s largest 36,000-ton ferrous metal vertical extruder. Additionally, it has manufactured China’s first large-diameter thick-walled seamless steel pipe. Subsequently, the department successfully engineered the world’s largest 68,000-ton multi-functional press unit. In 2021, a milestone was achieved with the extrusion of the world’s largest diameter titanium alloy seamless pipe. Energy equipment manufacturing: In collaboration with Shanghai Electric, the department has successfully developed the low-pressure welded rotor for nuclear turbines. This equipment was installed in China’s first overseas Hualong-1 power unit, which commenced operations in 2021. The department has achieved significant results in various aspects of mechanical engineering after the 1980s: (1) the “FG and F-FG Dense-Grating Moire Plates” won the Third Prize (1981) and the Second Prize (1984) of the National Award for Technological Invention; (2) the “Novel MIG Welding Arc Control Method” won the First Prize of the National Award for Technological Invention (1984); (3) the “Ultraviolet Exposure Step and Repeat Camera” won the Third Prize of the National Prize for Progress in Science and Technology (1985); (4) the “Fan Blade Dynamic Balancing Machine with Three Degrees of Freedom Support System” won the Fourth Prize of the National Award for Technological Invention (1987); (5) the “Myoelectric Controlled Forearm Prosthesis with Two Degrees of Freedom” won the Third Prize of the National Award for Technological Invention (1987); (6) the “Acoustic Emission-Based Monitoring Device and Method in the Cutting Process” won the Fourth Prize of the National Award for Technological Invention (1990); (7) the “Computer Disk Precision Belt-Type Vibrating Grinding and Polishing Machine” won the Fourth Prize of the National Award for Technological Invention (1991); (8) the “Computer Integrated Manufacturing Experimental System” won the University LEAD Award in CIMS awarded by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (1994); (9) the “NGY-2 Nanometer-Level Lubricating Film Thickness Gauge” won the Third Prize of the National Award for Technological Invention (1996); (10) the “Large-Scale Pre-Stressed Steel Wire Winding Series Press” won the Third Prize of the National Prize for Progress in Science and Technology (1998); (11) the “Theoretical and Experimental Research on Nanolubrication” won the Second Prize of National Natural Science Award (2001); (12) the “M-PRMS Technology for Multi-Functional Rapid Forming Manufacturing System” won the Second Prize of the National Prize for Progress in Science and Technology (2002); (13) the “Some Kinetic Theories and Applications of Complex Nonlinear Systems” won the Second Prize of the National Natural Science Award (2003); (14) the “Ultra-Precision Surface Polishing, Modification, and Testing Technology and Its Application Research” won the Second Prize of the National Prize for Progress in Science and Technology (2008); (15) the “Collaborative Platform for the Manufacturing Industry’s Industrial Value Chain Based on ASP/SaaS” won the Second Prize of the National Prize for Progress in Science and Technology (2012); (16) the “Mechanism Topology and Scale Design Theory for Parallel Robots” won the Second Prize of the National Natural Science Award (2013); (17) the “Key Technology Research and Development and Industrialization of the Complete Set of the 36,000-ton Ferrous Metal Vertical Extruder” won the Second Prize of the National Prize for Progress in Science and Technology (2015); (18) the “Key Technologies and Applications of High-Efficiency and Low-Consumption Large-Scale Blast Furnace” won the Second Prize of the National Prize for Progress in Science and Technology (2016); (19) the “Particle Behavior and Action Mechanism of the Friction Process” won the Second Prize of the National Natural Science Award (2018); (20) the “Key Acid and Alkali-Resistant, High-Speed, Split Magnetic Liquid Rotary Sealing Technologies and Applications ” won the Second Prize of the National Award for Technological Invention (2019); and (21) the “Establishment and Promotion of the Treatment System for Female Pelvic Floor Dysfunction” won the Second Prize of the National Prize for Progress in Science and Technology (2019).

In recent years, the department has achieved a range of theoretical and technological milestones in the research and development of ultra-low downforce planarization equipment for the next generation of very large-scale integration, ultra-precision stages of lithography, assembly and painting robots for intricate aerospace components, heavy die forging/extrusion equipment, welded rotors, and other pivotal core equipment and key components. In addition, it has engaged in cutting-edge research in areas like nano-tribology, interfacial drag reduction, rotor dynamics and fault diagnosis, 3D cell printing, and electron-beam additive manufacturing.

Over the past 3 years, the faculty and students of the department have published 1,700 papers in both domestic and foreign academic journals and conferences, with over 900 papers indexed in the SCI database. Furthermore, the department has secured 743 national invention patents, 142 of which have been successfully translated into commercial applications. This has resulted in a total revenue of RMB 66,490,200 through technology transfer and shares. The cumulative contract value for the period 2018–2020 has reached RMB 1.1 billion, with the department having received RMB 350 million by the year 2020.