A planar or two-dimensional (2D) mechanism is the combination of two or more machine elements that are designed to convey a force or motion across parallel planes. For any mechanical engineer, young or old, an understanding of planar mechanism design is fundamental. Mechanical components and complex machines, such as engines or robots, are often designed and conceptualised in 2D before being extended into 3D. Designed to encourage a clear understanding of the nature and design of planar mechanisms, this book favours a frank and straightforward approach to teaching the basics of planar mechanism design and the theory of machines with fully worked examples throughout. Key Features: Provides simple instruction in the design and analysis of planar mechanisms, enabling the student to easily navigate the text and find the desired material Covers topics of fundamental importance to mechanical engineering, from planar mechanism kinematics, 2D linkage analyses and 2D linkage design to the fundamentals of spur gears and cam design Shows numerous example solutions using EES (Engineering Equation Solver) and MATLAB software, with appendices dedicated to explaining the use of both computer tools Follows end-of-chapter problems with clearly detailed solutions

This text provides information on the design of machinery. It presents vector mathematical and matrix solution methods for analysis of both kinetic and dynamic analysis topics, and emphasizes the use of computer-aided engineering as an approach to the design and analysis of engineering problems. The author aims to convey the art of the design process in order to prepare students to successfully tackle genuine engineering problems encountered in practice. The book also emphasizes the synthesis and design aspects of the subject with analytical synthesis of linkages covered and cam design is given a thorough and practical treatment.

This text gives mechanical engineers and designers practical information and how-to methodologies for the application of the geometry of motion. It covers such devices as crank-slider, quick-return mechanisms, linkages, cams, and gear and gear trains.

This is an integrated approach to kinematic and dynamic analysis. The matrix techniques presented are general and applicable to two- or three-dimensional systems. The techniques lend themselves to programming and digital computation and can be a usable tool for designers, and are applicable to the design analysis of all multibody mechanical systems.

A novel algorithmic approach to mechanism design based on a geometric representation of kinematic function called configuration space partitions. This book presents the configuration space method for computer-aided design of mechanisms with changing part contacts. Configuration space is a complete and compact geometric representation of part motions and part interactions that supports the core mechanism design tasks of analysis, synthesis, and tolerancing. It is the first general algorithmic treatment of the kinematics of higher pairs with changing contacts. It will help designers detect and correct design flaws and unexpected kinematic behaviors, as demonstrated in the book's four case studies taken from industry. After presenting the configuration space framework and algorithms for mechanism kinematics, the authors describe algorithms for kinematic analysis, tolerancing, and synthesis based on configuration spaces. The case studies follow, illustrating the application of the configuration space method to the analysis and design of automotive, micro-mechanical, and optical mechanisms. Appendixes offer a catalog of higher-pair mechanisms and a description of HIPAIR, an open source C++ mechanical design system that implements some of the configuration space methods described in the book, including configuration space visualization and kinematic simulation. HIPAIR comes with an interactive graphical user interface and many sample mechanism input files. The Configuration Space Method for Kinematic Design of Mechanisms will be a valuable resource for students, researchers, and engineers in mechanical engineering, computer science, and robotics.

CD-ROM contains: Working Model 2D Homework Edition 4.1 -- Working Model simulations -- Author-written programs (including FOURBAR and DYNACAM) -- Scripted Matlab analysis and simulations files -- FE Exam Review for Kinematics and Applied Dynamics.