Milestone Certified Design Engineer (MCDE) Exam
Questions and Answers
1. Engineering Materials
Which material property is primarily responsible for a metal’s ability to resist deformation under
load?
A. Thermal conductivity
B. Toughness
C. Yield strength
D. Corrosion resistance
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Yield strength defines the stress at which a material begins to deform plastically. Toughness
relates to energy absorption before fracture, not deformation onset.
2. CAD Modeling
In parametric CAD software, which feature ensures that dimensions automatically adjust when a
related feature changes?
A. Constraint-based design
B. Free-form modeling
C. Mesh smoothing
D. Layer grouping
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
Constraint-based (parametric) design allows features to maintain defined relationships,
automatically updating dependent dimensions.
3. Mechanical Design
A gear system requires smooth torque transfer with minimal backlash. Which gear type is most
appropriate?
,A. Spur gear
B. Helical gear
C. Bevel gear
D. Worm gear
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Helical gears have angled teeth, providing smoother engagement and less noise than spur
gears.
4. Electrical Systems
For a circuit with a 12V source and 6Ω load resistor, what is the current using Ohm’s law?
A. 0.5 A
B. 2 A
C. 72 A
D. 18 A
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Ohm’s Law: I = V / R = = 2 A.
5. Tolerance Analysis
A shaft has a nominal diameter of 50 mm with a ±0.1 mm tolerance. What is the acceptable
range?
A. 49.9–50.1 mm
B. 49.8–50.2 mm
C. 50.0–50.1 mm
D. 49.0–51.0 mm
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
Tolerance specifies the allowable variation: 50 ± 0.1 mm = 49.9–50.1 mm.
6. Stress and Strain
,Which stress type acts tangentially to a material surface?
A. Tensile
B. Compressive
C. Shear
D. Bending
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Shear stress acts parallel to the surface; tensile and compressive stresses act perpendicular.
7. Power Transmission
A shaft transmits 10 kW at 1000 RPM. What is the torque?
A. 95.5 N·m
B. 955 N·m
C. 159 N·m
D. 600 N·m
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Torque (T) = Power / Angular velocity
ω = 2π × RPM / 60 = 2π × ≈ 104.72 rad/s
T = P / ω = 10,000 W / 104.72 ≈ 95.5 N·m
(Check units and calculation carefully; this is a common US exam-style stress calculation.)
8. Heat Transfer
Which mode of heat transfer occurs predominantly in a vacuum?
A. Conduction
B. Convection
C. Radiation
D. Evaporation
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
, Radiation transfers heat via electromagnetic waves and does not require a medium. Conduction
and convection require material.
9. Finite Element Analysis (FEA)
In FEA, what is the main purpose of mesh refinement?
A. Increase material strength
B. Reduce computation time
C. Improve solution accuracy
D. Simplify geometry
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Mesh refinement increases accuracy by using smaller elements to better approximate stresses
and deformations.
10. Control Systems
Which controller type eliminates steady-state error?
A. Proportional (P)
B. Integral (I)
C. Derivative (D)
D. PD
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Integral control accumulates error over time, driving steady-state error to zero.
11. Bearing Selection
A machine requires high radial load capacity and moderate speed. Which bearing type is
preferred?
A. Deep groove ball bearing
B. Thrust ball bearing
C. Cylindrical roller bearing
D. Needle roller bearing
Questions and Answers
1. Engineering Materials
Which material property is primarily responsible for a metal’s ability to resist deformation under
load?
A. Thermal conductivity
B. Toughness
C. Yield strength
D. Corrosion resistance
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Yield strength defines the stress at which a material begins to deform plastically. Toughness
relates to energy absorption before fracture, not deformation onset.
2. CAD Modeling
In parametric CAD software, which feature ensures that dimensions automatically adjust when a
related feature changes?
A. Constraint-based design
B. Free-form modeling
C. Mesh smoothing
D. Layer grouping
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
Constraint-based (parametric) design allows features to maintain defined relationships,
automatically updating dependent dimensions.
3. Mechanical Design
A gear system requires smooth torque transfer with minimal backlash. Which gear type is most
appropriate?
,A. Spur gear
B. Helical gear
C. Bevel gear
D. Worm gear
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Helical gears have angled teeth, providing smoother engagement and less noise than spur
gears.
4. Electrical Systems
For a circuit with a 12V source and 6Ω load resistor, what is the current using Ohm’s law?
A. 0.5 A
B. 2 A
C. 72 A
D. 18 A
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Ohm’s Law: I = V / R = = 2 A.
5. Tolerance Analysis
A shaft has a nominal diameter of 50 mm with a ±0.1 mm tolerance. What is the acceptable
range?
A. 49.9–50.1 mm
B. 49.8–50.2 mm
C. 50.0–50.1 mm
D. 49.0–51.0 mm
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
Tolerance specifies the allowable variation: 50 ± 0.1 mm = 49.9–50.1 mm.
6. Stress and Strain
,Which stress type acts tangentially to a material surface?
A. Tensile
B. Compressive
C. Shear
D. Bending
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Shear stress acts parallel to the surface; tensile and compressive stresses act perpendicular.
7. Power Transmission
A shaft transmits 10 kW at 1000 RPM. What is the torque?
A. 95.5 N·m
B. 955 N·m
C. 159 N·m
D. 600 N·m
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Torque (T) = Power / Angular velocity
ω = 2π × RPM / 60 = 2π × ≈ 104.72 rad/s
T = P / ω = 10,000 W / 104.72 ≈ 95.5 N·m
(Check units and calculation carefully; this is a common US exam-style stress calculation.)
8. Heat Transfer
Which mode of heat transfer occurs predominantly in a vacuum?
A. Conduction
B. Convection
C. Radiation
D. Evaporation
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
, Radiation transfers heat via electromagnetic waves and does not require a medium. Conduction
and convection require material.
9. Finite Element Analysis (FEA)
In FEA, what is the main purpose of mesh refinement?
A. Increase material strength
B. Reduce computation time
C. Improve solution accuracy
D. Simplify geometry
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Mesh refinement increases accuracy by using smaller elements to better approximate stresses
and deformations.
10. Control Systems
Which controller type eliminates steady-state error?
A. Proportional (P)
B. Integral (I)
C. Derivative (D)
D. PD
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Integral control accumulates error over time, driving steady-state error to zero.
11. Bearing Selection
A machine requires high radial load capacity and moderate speed. Which bearing type is
preferred?
A. Deep groove ball bearing
B. Thrust ball bearing
C. Cylindrical roller bearing
D. Needle roller bearing
