Nature of Operations	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Nature of Operations [Text Block]	1. Nature of Operations *Description of Business* Mechanical Technology, Incorporated (MTI or the Company), a New York corporation, was incorporated in 1961. MTI operates in two segments, the Test and Measurement Instrumentation segment, which is conducted through MTI Instruments, Incorporated. (MTI Instruments), a wholly-owned subsidiary, and the New Energy segment, which is conducted through MTI MicroFuel Cells Incorporated. (MTI Micro), a variable interest entity (VIE) that is included in these condensed consolidated financial statements and described further below in Note 2. MTI Instruments was incorporated in New York on March 8, 2000 and is a worldwide supplier of precision non-contact physical measurement solutions, portable balancing equipment and wafer inspection tools. MTI Instruments’ products use a comprehensive array of technologies to solve complex, real world applications in numerous industries including manufacturing, semiconductor, solar, commercial and military aviation, automotive and data storage. MTI Instruments’ products consist of electronic gauging instruments for position, displacement and vibration application within the design, manufacturing/production, test and research market; wafer characterization of semi-insulating and semi-conducting wafers within both the semiconductor and solar industries; tensile stage systems for materials testing at academic and industrial settings; and engine vibration analysis systems for both military and commercial aircraft. MTI Micro was incorporated in Delaware on March 26, 2001, and has been developing Mobion®, a handheld energy-generating device to replace current lithium-ion and similar rechargeable battery systems in many handheld electronic devices for the military and consumer markets. Mobion® handheld generators are based on direct methanol fuel cell (DFMC) technology, which has been recognized as an enabling technology for advanced portable power sources by the scientific community and industry analysts. As the need for advancements in portable power increases, MTI Micro has been developing Mobion®as a solution for advancing current and future electronic device power needs of the portable electronics market. As of March 31, 2012, the Company owned approximately 47.6% of MTI Micro’s outstanding common stock. Although MTI Micro continues to believe in the potential of its Mobion^® based power solutions, it has suspended its MTI Micro operations until such time as market demand and other deciding factors, including obtaining additional external financing, the successful completion of customer trials, a new development program with a government agency, and/or a customer order, come to fruition. MTI Micro will continue to seek additional capital from external sources to resume operations and fund future development, if any. If MTI Micro is unable to secure additional financing, a new development program or customer order, the MTI Micro Board of Directors will assess other options for MTI Micro, including the sale of its intellectual property portfolio and other assets. *Liquidity* The Company has historically incurred significant losses, the majority stemming from the direct methanol fuel cell product development and commercialization programs of MTI Micro, and had a consolidated accumulated deficit of $120.9 million as of March 31, 2012. During the first quarter of 2012, the Company generated a net loss attributed to MTI of $822 thousand and had working capital at March 31, 2012 of $2.4 million, a $743 thousand decrease from $3.1 million at December 31, 2011. The Company generated positive operating cash flows of $310 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and currently has no debt outstanding. While it cannot be assured, management believes that the Company will continue to generate positive cash flows in 2012 and be able to fund the Company’s operations for the foreseeable future. As of March 31, 2012, the Company had approximately $2.0 million of cash available to fund future operations. During the three months ended March 31, 2012, the Company’s results of operations resulted in a net loss attributed to MTI of $822 thousand and cash provided by operating activities totaling $310 thousand. The Company expects to continue funding its operations from current cash, its projected 2012 cash flow pursuant to management’s current plan, and possible draw downs from its existing line of credit, if necessary. The Company may also seek to supplement its resources through the sales of assets (including its investment in MTI Micro). Besides the line of credit at MTI Instruments, the Company has no other commitments for funding future needs of the organization at this time and such additional financing during 2012 may not be available to the Company on acceptable terms, if at all.

Nature of Operations

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]

1. Nature of Operations

Description of Business

Mechanical Technology, Incorporated (MTI or the Company), a New York corporation, was incorporated in 1961. MTI operates in two segments, the Test and Measurement Instrumentation segment, which is conducted through MTI Instruments, Incorporated. (MTI Instruments), a wholly-owned subsidiary, and the New Energy segment, which is conducted through MTI MicroFuel Cells Incorporated. (MTI Micro), a variable interest entity (VIE) that is included in these condensed consolidated financial statements and described further below in Note 2.

MTI Instruments was incorporated in New York on March 8, 2000 and is a worldwide supplier of precision non-contact physical measurement solutions, portable balancing equipment and wafer inspection tools. MTI Instruments’ products use a comprehensive array of technologies to solve complex, real world applications in numerous industries including manufacturing, semiconductor, solar, commercial and military aviation, automotive and data storage. MTI Instruments’ products consist of electronic gauging instruments for position, displacement and vibration application within the design, manufacturing/production, test and research market; wafer characterization of semi-insulating and semi-conducting wafers within both the semiconductor and solar industries; tensile stage systems for materials testing at academic and industrial settings; and engine vibration analysis systems for both military and commercial aircraft.

MTI Micro was incorporated in Delaware on March 26, 2001, and has been developing Mobion®, a handheld energy-generating device to replace current lithium-ion and similar rechargeable battery systems in many handheld electronic devices for the military and consumer markets. Mobion® handheld generators are based on direct methanol fuel cell (DFMC) technology, which has been recognized as an enabling technology for advanced portable power sources by the scientific community and industry analysts. As the need for advancements in portable power increases, MTI Micro has been developing Mobion®as a solution for advancing current and future electronic device power needs of the portable electronics market. As of March 31, 2012, the Company owned approximately 47.6% of MTI Micro’s outstanding common stock. Although MTI Micro continues to believe in the potential of its Mobion^® based power solutions, it has suspended its MTI Micro operations until such time as market demand and other deciding factors, including obtaining additional external financing, the successful completion of customer trials, a new development program with a government agency, and/or a customer order, come to fruition. MTI Micro will continue to seek additional capital from external sources to resume operations and fund future development, if any. If MTI Micro is unable to secure additional financing, a new development program or customer order, the MTI Micro Board of Directors will assess other options for MTI Micro, including the sale of its intellectual property portfolio and other assets.

Liquidity

The Company has historically incurred significant losses, the majority stemming from the direct methanol fuel cell product development and commercialization programs of MTI Micro, and had a consolidated accumulated deficit of $120.9 million as of March 31, 2012. During the first quarter of 2012, the Company generated a net loss attributed to MTI of $822 thousand and had working capital at March 31, 2012 of $2.4 million, a $743 thousand decrease from $3.1 million at December 31, 2011. The Company generated positive operating cash flows of $310 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and currently has no debt outstanding. While it cannot be assured, management believes that the Company will continue to generate positive cash flows in 2012 and be able to fund the Company’s operations for the foreseeable future.

As of March 31, 2012, the Company had approximately $2.0 million of cash available to fund future operations. During the three months ended March 31, 2012, the Company’s results of operations resulted in a net loss attributed to MTI of $822 thousand and cash provided by operating activities totaling $310 thousand. The Company expects to continue funding its operations from current cash, its projected 2012 cash flow pursuant to management’s current plan, and possible draw downs from its existing line of credit, if necessary. The Company may also seek to supplement its resources through the sales of assets (including its investment in MTI Micro). Besides the line of credit at MTI Instruments, the Company has no other commitments for funding future needs of the organization at this time and such additional financing during 2012 may not be available to the Company on acceptable terms, if at all.