Mechanical Design

Rotary components (such as bearings, shafts and gears) are the basic building blocks of engineering design. Introducing the student to these before discussing design methodology enables a far more logical approach to design, stressing the underlying philosophy throughout. This is an introduction to the specific components in turn, developing practical skills to enable component design or specification, before pulling them together using a standard design methodology. The text rounds up with a discussion of tolerancing, limits and fits - key practical considerations which are often glossed over in favour of precise experimental calculations - before giving an overview of the general design process, including a discussion of the project costs, both financial and environmental.