Mechanical Engineering 2025 Paper I 50 marks Calculate

Paper I — Q7

(a) HSS cutting tool with 9° rake angle, the following data were observed in an orthogonal machining process of medium carbon…

(a)
(i)

HSS cutting tool with 9° rake angle, the following data were observed in an orthogonal machining process of medium carbon steel workpiece: Feed rate = 0·25 mm/rev Cutting speed = 250 m/min Depth of cut = 1·5 mm Chip thickness ratio = 0·30 Vertical cutting force = 1100 N Horizontal cutting force = 600 N Calculate the: Shear force along the shear plane

(ii)

Normal force on the shear plane

(iii)

Friction force along the rake surface

(iv)

Normal force along the rake surface

(v)

Friction angle

(vi)

Work done in shear

(vii)

Work done in friction 20 marks

(b)

The annual requirement of an item is 2400 units. Each item costs the company ₹ 6. The manufacturer offers a discount of 5% if 500 or more quantities are purchased. If the ordering cost is ₹ 32 per order and inventory cost is 16%, determine whether it is advisable to accept the discount. 20 marks

(c)

The following cost-related data has been collected from a company:

Cost ElementVariable CostFixed Cost
Direct material32·8
Direct labour28·4
Factory overheads12·61,89,900
Distribution overheads4·158,400
General administrative overheads1·166,700
Budgeted sales18,50,000
(i)

Determine the following: Break even sales volume

(ii)

Profit at the budgeted sales volume

(iii)

Profit if the actual sales I. Drop by 10%, and II. Increase by 5% from budgeted sales. 10 marks

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें
(a)
(i)

HSS कतन औजार के साथ 9° नति (रैक) कोण का उपयोग करते हुए, मध्यम कार्बन इस्पात के कार्यखंड की लांबिक मशीन प्रक्रिया में निम्नलिखित आँकड़े पाए गए: प्रभरण दर = 0·25 mm/rev कतन गति = 250 m/min कतन की गहराई = 1·5 mm छीलन की मोटाई का अनुपात = 0·30 उर्ध्वाधर कतन बल = 1100 N क्षैतिज कतन बल = 600 N गणना कीजिए: अपरूपण तल के साथ अपरूपण बल

(ii)

अपरूपण तल पर प्रसामान्य बल

(iii)

नति (रैक) पृष्ठ के साथ घर्षण बल

(iv)

नति (रैक) पृष्ठ के साथ प्रसामान्य बल

(v)

घर्षण कोण

(vi)

अपरूपण में किया गया कार्य

(vii)

घर्षण में किया गया कार्य 20 marks

(b)

एक वस्तु की वार्षिक आवश्यकता 2400 इकाई है। कंपनी के लिए प्रत्येक वस्तु की लागत ₹ 6 है। निर्माता 500 अथवा अधिक मात्राओं की खरीद पर 5% छूट की पेशकश करता है। यदि आदेश लागत ₹ 32 प्रति आदेश है तथा सामग्री सूची (इन्वेंट्री) लागत 16% है, तो निर्धारित कीजिए कि क्या छूट स्वीकार करना उचित है। 20 marks

(c)

एक कंपनी से लागत-संबंधी निम्नलिखित आंकड़े एकत्र किए गए हैं:

लागत तत्वपरिवर्तनीय लागतअचल लागत
प्रत्यक्ष सामग्री32·8
प्रत्यक्ष श्रम28·4
कारखाना उपरिव्य12·61,89,900
वितरण उपरिव्य4·158,400
सामान्य प्रशासनिक उपरिव्य1·166,700
बजट में निर्धारित बिक्री18,50,000
(i)

निम्नलिखित निर्धारित कीजिए: समतोड़ (ब्रेक-ईवन) बिक्री मात्रा

(ii)

बजट में निर्धारित बिक्री मात्रा पर लाभ

(iii)

लाभ यदि वास्तविक बिक्री I. 10% गिरने पर, और II. बजट में निर्धारित बिक्री से 5% की वृद्धि होने पर। 10 marks

Q7 of the 2025 UPSC Mains Mechanical Engineering Paper I, as printed
The question as printed in the 2025 Mechanical Engineering paper

Model answer

Written by UPSC Answer Check against this question's marking rubric, to the expected length. UPSC does not publish answers for Mains — this is one way to score well, not an official key.

(a) Assuming steady orthogonal cutting, take the main cutting force Fc = vertical force = 1100 N and thrust force Ft = horizontal force = 600 N. Rake angle α = 9°, chip thickness ratio r = 0·30.

Using tan φ = r cos α / (1 − r sin α): tan φ = 0·30 × 0·987688 / (1 − 0·30 × 0·156434) = 0·310897 φ = tan⁻¹(0·310897) = 17·271° Hence sin φ = 0·29688, cos φ = 0·95491.

(a)(i) Shear force along shear plane: Fs = Fc cos φ − Ft sin φ = 1100 × 0·95491 − 600 × 0·29688 = 872·28 N

(a)(ii) Normal force on shear plane: Fn = Fc sin φ + Ft cos φ = 1100 × 0·29688 + 600 × 0·95491 = 899·52 N

(a)(iii) Friction force along rake surface: F = Fc sin α + Ft cos α = 1100 × 0·15643 + 600 × 0·98769 = 764·69 N

(a)(iv) Normal force along rake surface: N = Fc cos α − Ft sin α = 1100 × 0·98769 − 600 × 0·15643 = 992·60 N

(a)(v) Friction angle: β = tan⁻¹(F/N) = tan⁻¹(764·69/992·60) = 37·61°

(a)(vi) Shear velocity: Vs = V cos α / cos(φ − α) = 250 × 0·98769 / cos(8·271°) = 249·52 m/min Work done in shear = Fs Vs = 872·28 × 249·52 = 2·176 × 10⁵ J/min = 3·627 kW

(a)(vii) Chip velocity: Vc = r V = 0·30 × 250 = 75 m/min Work done in friction = F Vc = 764·69 × 75 = 5·735 × 10⁴ J/min = 0·956 kW

(b) Assuming constant demand and no stockouts. D = 2400 units/year, C = ₹6, Co = ₹32, i = 16% = 0·16.

EOQ without discount: Q0 = √(2DCo / iC) = √(2 × 2400 × 32 / (0·16 × 6)) = √160000 = 400 units.

Since 400 < 500, the discount is not available at EOQ. With 5% discount, C′ = 6 × 0·95 = ₹5·70. Discounted EOQ = √(2 × 2400 × 32 / (0·16 × 5·70)) = √168421·05 = 410·39 units < 500. So the best discounted order is the minimum quantity Q = 500 units.

Total annual cost at Q = 400, no discount: Purchase = 2400 × 6 = ₹14,400 Ordering = (2400/400) × 32 = ₹192 Carrying = (400/2) × 0·16 × 6 = ₹192 Total = ₹14,784

Total annual cost at Q = 500, with discount: Purchase = 2400 × 5·70 = ₹13,680 Ordering = (2400/500) × 32 = ₹153·60 Carrying = (500/2) × 0·16 × 5·70 = ₹228 Total = ₹14,061·60

Saving = 14,784 − 14,061·60 = ₹722·40 per year. Hence it is advisable to accept the discount and order 500 units.

(c) Taking the variable-cost entries as percentages of sales: Total variable cost ratio = 32·8 + 28·4 + 12·6 + 4·1 + 1·1 = 79·0%. P/V ratio = 100 − 79·0 = 21% = 0·21. Fixed cost = 1,89,900 + 58,400 + 66,700 = ₹3,15,000. Budgeted sales = ₹18,50,000.

(c)(i) Break-even sales volume: = Fixed cost / P/V ratio = 3,15,000 / 0·21 = ₹15,00,000

(c)(ii) Profit at budgeted sales volume: = Sales × P/V ratio − Fixed cost = 18,50,000 × 0·21 − 3,15,000 = 3,88,500 − 3,15,000 = ₹73,500

(c)(iii) I Sales drop by 10%: Sales = 18,50,000 × 0·90 = ₹16,65,000 Profit = 16,65,000 × 0·21 − 3,15,000 = 3,49,650 − 3,15,000 = ₹34,650

(c)(iii) II Sales increase by 5%: Sales = 18,50,000 × 1·05 = ₹19,42,500 Profit = 19,42,500 × 0·21 − 3,15,000 = 4,07,925 − 3,15,000 = ₹92,925

What "Calculate" is asking you to do

Apply the standard formula or schedule to data the question has already supplied — a table of readings, cost records, a balance sheet — and produce the number. The method is rarely in doubt; the marks sit in the named intermediate quantities, each of which has to appear as a labelled line.

Structure that answers it

Data as given → formula or standard treatment, named → substitution → each intermediate, labelled → result with units

Where marks are lost

Omitting an intermediate the marking scheme pays for separately, or rounding at an intermediate line so the final figure drifts. In commerce and accountancy, any figure in a statement that no numbered working note supports is treated as unearned.

All UPSC directive words, compared →

How this answer will be evaluated

Approach

(a) calculate: given > formula > substitution > result with units > interpretation | (b) calculate: given > formula > substitution > result with units > interpretation | (c) calculate: given > formula > substitution > result with units > interpretation Full marks: Correct method, clear steps, accurate calculations, proper units, and physical interpretation.

Key points expected

  • Resolve forces into shear and rake components
  • Calculate shear angle from chip thickness ratio
  • Determine friction angle from force components
  • Compute work done in shear and friction
  • Calculate EOQ at original price
  • Calculate total cost at EOQ
  • Calculate total cost at discount quantity (500)
  • Compare costs to justify decision

Evaluation rubric

Each sub-part is marked on its own, against the marks and word limit printed on the paper.

  1. (a) Compute shear, friction, and work parameters for orthogonal machining. 20 marks

    calculate— given → formula → substitution → result with units → interpretation

    Must cover

    • Resolve forces into shear and rake components
    • Calculate shear angle from chip thickness ratio
    • Determine friction angle from force components
    • Compute work done in shear and friction

    Loses marks

    • Plugging numbers without governing equations
    • Confusing rake angle with shear angle
    • Omitting units in final results

    Earns more

    • Draws orthogonal cutting force diagram
    • States assumptions (steady state, no built-up edge)
    • Checks dimensional consistency of work terms

    Extra mark

    • Calculates specific energy or cutting ratio
  2. (b) Determine if accepting the quantity discount is cost-effective. 20 marks

    calculate— given → formula → substitution → result with units → interpretation

    Must cover

    • Calculate EOQ at original price
    • Calculate total cost at EOQ
    • Calculate total cost at discount quantity (500)
    • Compare costs to justify decision

    Loses marks

    • Ignoring the purchase cost component in comparison
    • Using wrong holding cost percentage
    • No final recommendation based on calculation

    Earns more

    • Explicitly calculates holding cost per unit
    • Shows total cost formula (ordering + holding + purchase)

    Extra mark

    • Calculates EOQ at discounted price to verify validity
  3. (c) Determine break-even sales and profit at varying sales volumes. 10 marks

    calculate— given → formula → substitution → result with units → interpretation

    Must cover

    • Calculate total variable cost per unit
    • Calculate total fixed cost
    • Compute break-even sales volume
    • Calculate profit at budgeted, -10%, and +5% sales

    Loses marks

    • Misclassifying fixed vs variable costs
    • Arithmetic errors in profit calculation
    • Failing to adjust sales volume correctly

    Earns more

    • Calculates P/V ratio or contribution margin
    • Clearly separates variable and fixed costs

    Extra mark

    • Calculates margin of safety

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