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
Sources for engineering data on parts and materials.
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
This is a link to lecture notes that give an idea of his approach:
http://www.uofaweb.ualberta.ca/cme/pdfs/443ashbylectures2006.pdf