Sources for engineering data on parts and materials.

Oberlin Sphere

Instruments for Natural Philosophy

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

Four-bar Synthesis

Linkage Synthesis Demonstration

This shows the operation of our Mathematica notebook for five-position synthesis of a four-bar linkage.   The link to download and try this notebook is on our Linkage Synthesis page.

Technical information for mechanical components

Stock Drive Products Logo

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

Automotive components

Chris Longhurst has assembled a number of descriptive articles and illustrations about automotive engines, transmissions, steering, suspensions, brakes and tires on his site http://www.carbibles.com

Automotive information

Automotive information

Also information about roller coaster simulation software can be found on his personal website http://www.chris-longhurst.com/nolimits.html.

Parallel Mechanisms information center

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

Parallel Mechanisms information center

Mechanical Properties of Steel

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

MatWeb:  Material Property Data

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

Total Materia

Unified Numbering System for Materials

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: 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.

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 Total Materia.
Also see Wikipedia at the link:  SAE steel grades

Material Properties Charts

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

Elastic Modulus v. Density

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

Periodic Table

NIST Periodic Table

Periodic Table

Periodic Table

The National Institute of Standards and Technology provides an on-line periodic table. Access it and other information at the link:  Periodic Table

National Institute of Standards and Technology

National Institute of Standards and Technology

Materials Selection in Mechanical Design

Michael Ashby presents materials information in a practical format in his book Materials Selection in Mechanical Design.

Materials Selection in Mechanical Design

Materials Selection in Mechanical Design

This is a link to lecture notes that give an idea of his approach:
http://www.uofaweb.ualberta.ca/cme/pdfs/443ashbylectures2006.pdf