Engineering

On any starship, the department of Engineering is assigned to monitor and maintain the starship's functionality. Engineers often do most of the "grunt work" that is involved in keeping a ship or space station up and running. Engineering officers are generally assigned tasks that include maintaining and/or improving the performance of the warp drive, ship's database, computer processors and circuitry, holographic emitters, tractor beams, transporter components, observational equipment (such as sensors, probes, and satellites), weaponry systems, deflector array, hull plating, life support, shields and alternative defense systems, and many other crucial parts of a ship's anatomy. They are expected to tackle all the problems that drain the ship's resources or lower its efficiency.

On a Starfleet vessel of any kind, the chain of command in the engineering department tends to be simple with smaller teams broken apart from the whole. A chief engineer leads the entire engineering team, often delegating tasks to smaller teams formed within the whole. Because the operations of a starship, starbase or space station are so complex, the engineering department runs routine maintenance on all ship systems. Tests are done regularly through main engineering, which is the hub of activity for the entire department. From main engineering, all ship functions can be monitored and checked for any abnormalities. Source: Memory Alpha

Engneering Tools

A Starfleet engineer was expected to fix different systems and/or consoles aboard their starship or starbase. In order to do this, they needed different tools for the job.

Antigrav platform

The Antigrav platform is a Portable device used aboard Federation starships for handling cargo and other items too large for a single crew member to carry. It operates my means of a small anti-grav generator and a micro-fusion generator the platform, which stands at three metres long and a metre and a half wide. It is capable of carrying a load of up to 200kg, and as a result of the anti-grav system and the reduction in friction, this is able to be pushed easily by a single person.

Most starships will carry a number of these, primarily used for moving parts and supplies between cargo holds and where they are needed.

Anyon Emitter

An anyon emitter is a device that uses anyon particles to neutralize the effects of an interphase generator and chroniton fields. It operates by projecting a directed stream of particles when targeted at a specific location.

Anyon emitters are not often carried in large numbers aboard starships, because they are easily replicable and only needed in highly specific circumstances, usually to clean a hull of Chroniton particles. They are found in larger numbers aboard starbases, as they are needed to sweep every ship that comes into dock to minimize the risk of a temporal incident occurring.

Bipolar Torch

The bi-polar torch is an advanced type of plasma cutting torch, it is the most advanced torch used by Starfleet. For the bi-polar torch to work it requires filling with two chambers with plasma, each oriented to a different polarity, the two are then mixed in the torch flame which creates an extremely powerful cutting beam. Most starships only carry one or two of these, because they are highly expensive and highly complicated.

Cutter Beam

The Cutter Beam is a large hand-held tool that emits a beam of directed energy which is used to perform a cutting function. It is in essence a simple phaser, which is designed to emit a short, but very powerful beam of phased energy. The power of the cutter beam decreases as it's length is increased and it's maximum length is one metre.

A common device the cutter beam is a key part of most engineer's toolkits. It is also highly versatile, able to cut through any metal used on a Federation starship quickly and efficiently.

Cyrosensor

The Cryosensor is an Engineering tool that utilizes sonic energy for component analysis. It uses pulses of sonic energy to analyze the temperature of a power conduit which is in use. It is highly sensitive and capable of detecting even minute fluctuations in temperature. It is also much more sensitive than a standard tricorder and as such is used by Engineers and in monitoring systems on a starship.

Directional Sonic Generator

The Directional Sonic Generator is a tool which produces a directional beam of sound, with highly variable frequencies and amplitudes as well as having a variable projection field, from a millimetre wide to tens of metres wide able to interpret the returning sound waves. This is a tool which has a wide range of potential uses and can be found in anything from a standard set of speakers, to produce high quality sound. It can also be used as an engineering tool which can detect micro-fractures in metals, when tuned to its most sensitive. It can also be used for pest control and for security functions, as it can be tuned to produce high frequency sounds which can debilitate most humanoids who are capable of hearing.

As such, the Directional Sonic Generator is one of the most common devices on a Federation starship and can be replicated with ease.

Duotronic Probe

The Duotronic Probe is an engineering tool used to regulate the plasma flow on a Starship. It operates by utilising a basic duotronic computer to measure the quantity of plasma which passes through a location at a set period of time. It is a relatively precise tool, suitable for most flow regulation calculations. A more modern and more precise form of this tool exists in the Gravitic Caliper.

Dynamic Stabilizer

A dynamic stabilizer is a device used to keep liquids and gases in certain containers from shifting, sloshing, or interacting with other materials also stored inside. If the container is truely air- and/or liquid-tight, the stabilizer maintains a continuous forcefield so it doesn't move around in its container. It uses technology similar to a ship's Structural integrity field, and is widely used in transporting hazardous materials.

Emergency hand actuator

Emergency hand actuators were small devices used to open doors aboard Starfleet vessels in the event of power loss. They were stored at convenient locations near turbolifts, Jefferies tubes, and other vital areas. Use of the device involved attaching it to either side of the door which de-magnetized the counterweights, then pulling the door open.

Gravitic Caliper

More precise than a Duotronic Probe, this Engineering instrument is used to help regulate Plasma Flow. It operates by creating a localised gravitic field, which can be used to more accurately measure the flow rate of Plasma in a conduit. A couple of these devices will be carried on a Federation vessel.

Hyperspanner

The hyperspanner is an invaluable tool for all Engineering and Operations Officers. While somewhat similar in both use and appearance to the magnetic probe, hyperspanners are both considerably safer and easier to use. This device monitors, calibrates, and adjusts the plasma flow in the plasma injectors used in the electroplasma systems (EPS). It also helps control the plasma flow inside the EPS conduits.

Since EPS systems are the primary power generation system on both starships and starbases, and serve as an integral portion of all impulse drives, taking the EPS system completely offline for maintenance and repair is usually impractical unless a ship is berthed in a repair facility. Engineers most often use hyperspanners to regulate the EPS plasma flow without shutting down critical systems. They also reroute the plasma flow around damaged components and precisely measure compression stresses in the plasma if the internal EPS monitors are damaged or offline. This device can also temporarily shut off small portions of the EPS flow without compromising the integrity or the function of the rest of the system.

Hyperspanners use a miniature array of polarized gravimetric projectors to create and direct several different sets of force fields. The unit's primary force field activates when its xynium-based sensors detect significant plasma density. This field protects both the unit and the user's arm from actually encountering the plasma. Failure of the primary field can result in severe plasma burns. The secondary force fields actually measure and manipulate the plasma flow. If the primary field fails, the secondary fields automatically compensate to provide protection for the device and its user while manipulating the plasma. Unfortunately, the secondary field can operate in this dual mode for approximately two minutes only.

Isolinear Chip Recorder

A tool that records Isolinear Optical Chips with data and software, used throughout Starfleet.

KLS Stabilizer

A KLS Stabilizer is a device used to maintain power output stability of a starships warp core.

Laser Torch

Laser torches were devices utilizing laser technology which allowed for easy cutting of materials. In the 24th century, Bajorans often used laser torches to cut wood, compared to the saber saw's they used in the past.

Maglock

An electromagnetic locking mechanism used to connect structural components together. Maglocks used on Federation ships typically employ both electronic and mechanical engage/disengage systems.

Magnaspanner

The magnaspanner is a handheld tool used by Starfleet engineers. No other info is provided.

Microdyne Coupler

A microdyne coupler is a device that could be used to delete information on a computer, leaving little or no trace.

Microoptic Drill

The microoptic drill is a handheld piece of equipment used to produce extremely small precision holes by Starfleet personnel and others.

Nanopolymer

A nanopolymer is a densified material that can be used to reinforce components of plasma flow conduits and is very important in engineering.

Neutrino Probe

A neutrino probe is a tool used to scan neutrino readings found in a Starship's warp signature. A standard Starfleet tricorder is not equipped to detect neutrinos.

ODN recoupler

An Optical Data Network recoupler is a tool used to connect OPN wiring together or to a OPN relay. It is also used to repair ODN lines.

Optic Cable

An optic cable is a fiber optic data transmission cable used aboard Federation starships.

Optronic Coupler

An optronic coupler is a tool used by Starfleet engineers for repairs of equipment.

Particle Emitter

Particle emitters are equipment used to project or release certain types of particles for use in specific kinds of energies.Examples used in Starfleet applications include:

• Phaser emitters - in modern times arrayed in banks along the hull and most often referred to as such, technically the part of the assembly from which the phaser beam starts is the emitter on any phaser weapon, be it starship-size or handheld
• Holographic emitters, emit both the photons and the force fields used to confine them to create the hologram, a special case is an Emergency Medical Hologram's mobile emitter, which is able to be fixed to its own projection (as evidenced by the Doctor wearing it)
• Navigational deflector - emits the navigational shields that protect the ship from spaceborne debris (at normal impulse velocities, a fist-sized rock has enough kinetic energy to blow a hole the entire length of the starship, hence the need for deflectors), also may be reconfigured or jury-rigged to emit a vast variety of particle and energy beams and fields. The emitter is the deflector dish and the related assembly where the beams and fields are created.
• Shield emitters - these emit the particles/energy required to create the shields around the ship. When they are damaged, parts of the ship or its entirety may be left unshielded.

Phase Compensator

A phase compensator is a tool used to calibrate or reset plasma manifolds and relays.

Plasma Infuser

A plasma infuser is a hand held engineering instrument used for the transfer of high energy plasma.

Plasma Torch

A plasma torch is a work tool used aboard Federation Starships and Space Stations.

Power Pack

A power storage unit that can be used to power devices of various kinds, from phasers to computers.

Self-ratcheting Coupling Clamp

A self-ratcheting coupling clamp is a tool used to install or repair couplings in a ship or station's Electro-plasma system (EPS). There are several sizes of the clamp and they are made of non-conductive materials and coated in a heat-resistant coatings.

Sonic Driver

The sonic driver is a hand held engineering device used to measure tetryon particle flux fields.

Subspace Field Sensor

A subspace field sensor is a hand held engineering device.

Superconducting Flux Degausser

A superconducting flux degausser is used throughout Federation starships to degauss Flux generators and Flux spectrometers. The process is done after the usage of either a Flux generator or a Flux spectrometer to eliminate residual magnetic fields. If a flux generator is activated without being degaussed it will at best provide incorrect results and at worst it can cause a cascading failure in the machine which can be damaging to personnel operating it as well as the ship itself.

Tetryon Analyzer

A tetryon analyzer is an engineering tool used specifically to track Tetryon particles, it is a little used tool that is usually used to locate localised tetryon emissions, it has in recent years become a key part of weapons scanners to detect Tetryon based weaponry, as standard Starfleet sensors have extreme difficulty in scanning Tetryon particles.

Disclaimer Notice

• Starfleet Engineering Emblem used with permission of Gazomg Art - granted Nov 24, 2016
• Engineering tools info used with permission of USS Wolff CO - granted Jan 30, 2017