1. Nature of Operations	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2017
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Nature of Operations	*Description of Business* Mechanical Technology, Incorporated (MTI or the Company), a New York corporation, was incorporated in 1961. The Company’s core business is conducted through MTI Instruments, Inc. (MTI Instruments), a wholly-owned subsidiary. MTI Instruments was incorporated in New York on March 8, 2000 and is a supplier of precision linear displacement sensors, instruments and system solutions, vibration measurement and system balancing solutions, precision tensile measurement systems and wafer inspection tools, serving markets that require 1) the precise measurements and control of products and processes in automated manufacturing, assembly, and consistent operation of complex machinery, 2) engine balancing and vibration analysis systems for both military and commercial aircraft, 3) metrology tools for semiconductor and solar wafer characterization, and 4) tensile stage systems for materials testing and precision linear displacement gauges all for use in academic and industrial research and development settings. *Liquidity* The Company has historically incurred significant losses primarily due to its past efforts to fund direct methanol fuel cell product development and commercialization programs, and had an accumulated deficit of approximately $121.1 million as of June 30, 2017. As of June 30, 2017, we had working capital of approximately $4.0 million, no debt, $22 thousand in commitments for capital expenditures and approximately $3.4 million of cash available to fund our operations. Based on the Company’s projected cash requirements for operations and capital expenditures, its available cash of approximately $3.4 million and our projected 2017 and 2018 cash flows pursuant to management’s plans, management believes it will have adequate resources to fund operations and capital expenditures for the year ending December 31, 2017 and through the end of the third quarter of 2018. If cash generated from operations is insufficient to satisfy the Company’s operational working capital and capital expenditure requirements, the Company may be required to obtain credit facilities, if available, to fund these initiatives. The Company has no other formal commitments for funding its future needs at this time and any additional financing during 2017 and through the end of the third quarter of 2018, if required, may not be available to us on acceptable terms or at all.

1. Nature of Operations

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2017

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Description of Business

Mechanical Technology, Incorporated (MTI or the Company), a New York corporation, was incorporated in 1961. The Company’s core business is conducted through MTI Instruments, Inc. (MTI Instruments), a wholly-owned subsidiary.

MTI Instruments was incorporated in New York on March 8, 2000 and is a supplier of precision linear displacement sensors, instruments and system solutions, vibration measurement and system balancing solutions, precision tensile measurement systems and wafer inspection tools, serving markets that require 1) the precise measurements and control of products and processes in automated manufacturing, assembly, and consistent operation of complex machinery, 2) engine balancing and vibration analysis systems for both military and commercial aircraft, 3) metrology tools for semiconductor and solar wafer characterization, and 4) tensile stage systems for materials testing and precision linear displacement gauges all for use in academic and industrial research and development settings.

Liquidity

The Company has historically incurred significant losses primarily due to its past efforts to fund direct methanol fuel cell product development and commercialization programs, and had an accumulated deficit of approximately $121.1 million as of June 30, 2017. As of June 30, 2017, we had working capital of approximately $4.0 million, no debt, $22 thousand in commitments for capital expenditures and approximately $3.4 million of cash available to fund our operations.

Based on the Company’s projected cash requirements for operations and capital expenditures, its available cash of approximately $3.4 million and our projected 2017 and 2018 cash flows pursuant to management’s plans, management believes it will have adequate resources to fund operations and capital expenditures for the year ending December 31, 2017 and through the end of the third quarter of 2018. If cash generated from operations is insufficient to satisfy the Company’s operational working capital and capital expenditure requirements, the Company may be required to obtain credit facilities, if available, to fund these initiatives. The Company has no other formal commitments for funding its future needs at this time and any additional financing during 2017 and through the end of the third quarter of 2018, if required, may not be available to us on acceptable terms or at all.