Mechanical Design 101 » Engineering Data

Mechanism Generator 2.0 (MechGen 2)

admin — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 07:46:04 +0000

We have a trial version of our Mechanism Generator 2.0 software available. MechGen 2 reads five task positions of a moving part in SolidWorks and generates a set of linkages that approximate the positions within specified tolerances. An animation previewer shows how each linkage moves. Select one and MechGen 2 generates the solid model of the linkage.

This video demonstrates the operation of MechGen 2:

Click here to view the embedded video.

This is the result of excellent work by Alex Arredondo and Kaustubh Sonawale.

Instruments for Natural Philosophy

admin — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 14:31:45 +0000

This site has photographs of a large number of devices used to teach physics. It is fascinating.
Select the link: http://physics.kenyon.edu/EarlyApparatus/index.html

Technical information for mechanical components

admin — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 05:55:36 +0000

Stock Drive Products Logo

Stock Drive Products has an array of downloadable catalogs with technical information for a range of mechanical components. See the link: Stock Drive Products Catalogs

Mechanism Generator

admin — Sun, 09 May 2010 00:45:25 +0000

If you are interested in the Mechanism Generator SolidWorks add-in, then please contact Alex Arredondo. You can contact Prof. McCarthy for Mathematica design routines.

SolidWorks Mechanism Generator

admin — Sat, 08 May 2010 05:17:32 +0000

Mechanism Generator is a SolidWorks add-in that assists in generating solid models of four-bar and six-bar linkages. It designed to be used in coordination with our Mathematica design software, which is freely available.

Parallel Mechanisms information center

admin — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 17:54:12 +0000

Ilian Bonev maintains bibliography and patent databases on parallel mechanisms and much more at ParallelMIC. Access it at the link http://www.parallemic.org/

Parallel Mechanisms information center

Mechanical Properties of Steel

admin — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 20:06:20 +0000

The MatWeb site provides detailed information about materials such as the tensile strength of various compositions of steel.

MatWeb: Material Property Data

For example the search “low carbon steel” results in the list of links to information:
http://www.matweb.com/search/QuickText.aspx?SearchText=low%20carbon%20steel

Unified Numbering System for Materials

admin — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 03:09:27 +0000

There are a variety of numbering systems for materials such as steel. The unified numbering system (UNS) uses a letter to designate a material category followed by five numbers constructed from the existing materials designations to coordinate all of these numbering systems.

The unified numbering system (UNS) is described in Wikipedia at the link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unified_numbering_system

Some of the category letters for steel are:
- G for AISI/SAE carbon and alloy steels;
- S for stainless steels; and
- T for tool steels.
The complete listing of categories can be found in the Engineer’s Handbook:
http://www.engineershandbook.com/Tables/uns.htm

Generally, the standard designation is inserted after the letter defining the material category. For example, AISI/SAE 1018 carbon steel has the UNS designation G10180.

The AISI-SAE steel alloy designation system is listed in the Engineer’s Handbook table:
http://www.engineershandbook.com/Tables/carbonsteelalloys.htm
Also see Wikipedia at the link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAE_steel_grades

Material Properties Charts

admin — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 16:30:21 +0000

Cambridge University provides a useful overview of materials properties such as the chart below.

Elastic Modulus v. Density

The tutorial can be accessed at the link:
http://www-g.eng.cam.ac.uk/125/now/mfs/tutorial/non_IE/charts.html

NIST Periodic Table

admin — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:48:10 +0000

The National Institute of Standards and Technology provides an on-line periodic table. Access it and other information at the link:
http://physics.nist.gov/PhysRefData/PerTable/index.html

National Institute of Standards and Technology