Best products from r/MechanicalEngineering

I've worked with some designers who had books like these:

Mechanisms and Mechanical Devices

[507 Mechanical Movements and Designs]
(https://www.amazon.com/507-Mechanical-Movements-Mechanisms-Devices/dp/0486443604/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1484237480&sr=8-2&keywords=mechanisms)

Honestly though, these books might be good bathroom reading, but design comes down to experience. The more problems you solve, and the more things you make, the better your designs will be.

Having been a design engineer for a while now, the absolute best advice I can give you is to talk to the other people who will be using the stuff you design. Starting out, your designs aren't going to be the most elegant. Focus on getting something that is functional.

Then, talk to the machinist who is making the parts. He'll have some advice on what features are difficult to machine, or some features you could include that make your parts easier to manufacture, such as adding a flat surface to use as a datum for machining setups, or "bonus holes" that can be used for lifting or securing the parts on the machine. Maybe if you loosen some tolerances, he can order a piece of mill standard pipe instead of having to hog out a huge piece of round stock. Maybe if you tweak the geometry just a little bit, the part can be made on a manual machine instead of having to wait for the 5 axis CNC to open up.

Talk to the techs who have to operate or maintain the machines. What makes their jobs difficult? They'll know best what parts are hard to access, or which tightly packed assemblies don't have clearances to fit tools in, or what's constantly breaking and needs to be replaced often. They'll show you the "custom made tools" that they improvise so that they can actually work with your equipment.

Talk to the people in procurement, or your suppliers and vendors. Is there cheaper hardware you could use? Maybe switching materials would make it easier to source raw stock. Maybe there's an off-the-shelf coupling you could use instead of machining a custom bracket to join two components. These guys work with lots of other people in your industry, and will gladly share "how the other guy did it".

Sorry, started writing and my power went out, then I kinda forgot to get back to you...
But yeah, There are a few robotics programs out there. At CSM it's an MS in mechanical engineering with the area of study in robotics. CSM has different subsets of mechanical engineering. I found my ME masters to be very helpful but it really depends on what you want to do. Like I mentioned earlier, most of my coworkers at Wolf just finished with a BS. But having a masters will give you a leg up and if you can get funded for it I'd say go for it (teaching assistant, research assistant, or by a company). I'm working towards project engineering and project management but there's also programming, mechanical design, controls, electrical design, and lots of other stuff. Personally, I think most of the advancements in robotics are going to be in the software, more specifically the robot perception.
So as far as what to study now: definitely get good at programming. Mostly C++ and if you get good at one language it's pretty easy to pick up other languages so better to focus and get good at one, and C++ is the most common. Electronics are also huge, circuit design and such. Understanding of voltage, current, motors, etc.
If you're feeling really ambitious and have free time you might look into robot kinematics and SLAM (simultaneous localization and mapping). Kinematics is fundamental for industrial and humanoid robots and SLAM is a key concept for mobile robotics and is starting to show in industrial and humanoid robots. These are two of my favorite books on them. There are free digital copies around too.
http://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Robotics-Mechanics-Control-Edition/dp/0201543613
http://www.amazon.com/Probabilistic-Robotics-Intelligent-Autonomous-Agents/dp/0262201623
But you're probably busy with other stuff. So, focus on programming, math, and yes, electronics. I also have to do 3D modeling and simulations almost every day at work. We use SolidWorks and RobotStudio.

Well the whole field of what you are delving into is categorized as Kinematics and Dynamics, which is enormous.

​

There are very many types of mechanical devices designed by various people throughout the world which can accomplish what you need.

​

Many of them could be applied to your system and only you can fully determine what the "best" one is, depending on your requirements.

​

This is a nice book to look through for ideas:

​

https://www.amazon.com/Mechanisms-Mechanical-Devices-Sourcebook-5th/dp/0071704426/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2CRBTTO3RT6RC&keywords=mechanisms+and+mechanical+devices+sourcebook&qid=1557683532&s=gateway&sprefix=mechanisms+and+mechanical+%2Caps%2C143&sr=8-1

​

As far as calculating things, it's extremely difficult without some knowledge of math and a little experience in applying said math to your design. This is pretty hard to do without formal education of at least the basics of these fields.

​

For example, do you know how to isolate the elements of your design and draw a free body diagram of each of them, without making logical errors (which are pretty easy to do by the way).

​

This is a basic engineering design method you need to use to perform calculations on your proposed designs. I don't think it could be well explained through a forum post. It would go much faster by having somebody help you out in person, or if you can do this, pick up an engineering book and read the relevant sections carefully so you understand them enough to apply them. This tool is initially learned in the fields of Statics, so you'd need a Statics book first. Then you'd need a Kinematics and Dynamics book to determine forces due to acceleration.

​

Looking briefly at your design, my first impression is that it can work. However, make sure that the linkage attached to the servo and the push rod and control horn never fully go parallel to each other. If that happens, you have no guarantee that the mechanism will return to its original proper position.

​

I can explain with a very disturbing analogy. Imagine your elbow can rotate 180 degrees so you can bend your arm backward fully, and for our sake, lets also imagine that this is totally normal and is not damaging.

​

Now imagine you are holding your arm straight against a wall so that the two linkages of your arm, the (1) forearm part and (2) bicep part are in alignment.

​

When you push against the wall, will your arm bend one way, or the other way? The arm has three options, depending on minute and uncontrollable differences: (1) If the force is perfectly horizontal your arm will not move at all and will continue to push against the wall (2) the forearm moves "up" and bends as normal and (3) the forearm moves "down" and bends backwards.

​

The same will happen in linkages if the they all line up. Since we want the linkage to always move the way we want it to move, we have to prevent this special position form occurring.

​

That's a common problem that people who have never designed linkages easily run into.

Try The Design of Everyday Things.

Every engineer should read this book.


FWIW, I discovered that good design always happens iteratively. The longer I spend in this career, the more convinced I am of this concept. The idea that an engineer sits down with a blank piece of paper (or screen) and creates an elegant, useful, efficient design is just a fantasy. As a consultant it is really hard to communicate this to clients. The cost of their one-off custom machine isn't going to be in the same ballpark as the standard model machine they bought a few years ago from a company that sales a few dozen of the exact same model every year. I say that to say, good designs don't come just from a good fundamental understanding of design principles, they come from actual experience in the relevant domain.

There's two textbooks that are commonly used to teach material behavior and mechanical component design (such as springs, bearings, etc). Both these textbooks are what I had to learn with.

http://www.amazon.com/Mechanical-Behavior-Materials-4th-Edition/dp/0131395068

http://www.amazon.com/Shigleys-Mechanical-Engineering-Design-McGraw-Hill/dp/0073398209

Both these textbooks are easily to obtain if yer a pirate, as well as the solution manuals. They start fairly basic, however, they quickly go quite in depth. Shigley will probably be most useful for you, but definitely flip through them both. There will be a lot of over-lap content wise. I doubt you will find any textbook material on starter springs specifically because they are a specialty spring, however, mechanics of springs still apply to them.

Have fun :p Component design can get very complicated and convoluted so try and not get frustrated if things don't make sense. Let me know if you have any more questions, and feel free to PM at anytime. I can't promise I'll have a good or correct answer for you all the time, but I can try. Component design was actually one of my least favorite classes so it's definitely not my strong suit, but I understand the majority of what is taught in Shigley's and Dowling's.

Shigley is good. Free if you google hard enough.
Machinerys Handbook is the Bible( get an older edition or e-version to save money). Might be able to fing it free online with good enough google-fu.
These are great too Ingenious Mechanisms: (Four Volume Set) (Ingenious Mechanisms for Designers & Inventors) https://www.amazon.com/dp/0831110848/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_JKLzCbREGJJW9
Again get used or e-version.

I am a huge fan of the technology and the physics. The best part about estimating solar gains, is once you understand the geometry, it becomes very simple.

I don't have any good learning resources, I learned at university my books are currently in boxes.

Instead, I have the link to the national solar data. This data can be used to estimate nearly any location in the US with good success. The database contains radiation measurement information from a TON of airport and other weather monitoring locations. You find the location closest to where you are trying to estimate and pull the data in for your model. Once you have a good program/script/spreadsheet you can just dump in data for your location and auto-generate your yearly or daily gains (on any day).

https://www.nrel.gov/gis/data-solar.html

This was my book: https://www.amazon.com/Solar-Engineering-Thermal-Processes-Duffie/dp/0470873663/ref=asc_df_0470873663/?tag=bingshoppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid={creative}&hvpos={adposition}&hvnetw=o&hvrand={random}&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=e&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl={devicemodel}&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4583726541174521&psc=1

It's not focused on photovoltaic / electric panels, so it may not be 100% what you're looking for, but I think the book handles the geometry and radiation bits of the problem. Beyond gains estimation, it really becomes a matter of which commercial system you want to buy. If you're interested in furthering the solar energy technology, you're probably better off looking into material science or straight-up physics.

I read a few years that PV technology has gotten so good, thermal systems are obsolete as you can just use electricity to generate heat, but I've not seen any hard numbers on that and it may come down to need.

So, regarding the eligibility for an MSME program, I don't think you'll be able to get accepted without some level of BSME curriculum. You might not need a full BSME, but there would be some core courses you'll need to take. More discussion here: https://m.reddit.com/r/AskEngineers/comments/32pfc8/those_who_have_a_msme/

Now as for the Disney Imagineering path, I wouldn't limit yourself to Orlando area. Judging by the latest engineering job postings (link), it seems a lot of their staff is in Glendale, CA. There has been a lot of discussion here on Reddit as well:

https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/3e7i0z/iwasan_imagineer_amaa/
https://www.reddit.com/r/Disneyland/comments/2m8ign/how_do_you_become_an_imagineer_at_disneyland/

You also might want to start reading up on Imagineering as well. I've found dozens of books on Amazon on the subject. Here's just one: http://amzn.to/29HwlF0. There are numerous books on theme park engineering as well.

Hope this helps. Sounds like you have some research to do.

Personally I don't like digitals at all, but it's super nice to be able to convert from inches to mm with one button. Then I found this:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00B5XJW7I/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1427332609&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SY200_QL40&keywords=dual+dial+caliper&dpPl=1&dpID=41ksrwxDk8L&ref=plSrch

A dial caliper that reads out both! Bought it immediately and I love it.

Not exactly a coffee table book, but "How to Build a Car: The Autobiography of the World’s Greatest Formula 1 Designer" by Adrian Newey is fantastic if he has an interest in cars.

If you have the time and are really interested in IC engines, I highly recommend The Engineering Fundamentals of Internal Combustion Engines.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/8120330315/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=&sr=

This was the text book we used for my college elective on IC engines but it was much easier to read and more interesting than typical textbooks. It has all the formulas you’ll need and good examples.

I think you should start with technical drawing. It's going to help if you only do some garage projects of your own. I had my tehcnical drafting book in Finnish, so it won't help you. But maybe something like this.

Then go download Solid Edge. It's free for people with uni. email. And it's somewhat decent 3D mechanical CAD.

This is pretty much the normal way for my university to introduce mechanical engineering to people. It comes handy in everything that comes afterwards, and you have some basic tools to get those creative juices flowing. All robotics and systems people have to take a course in this stuff too.

>My challenge or I suppose my question would be what material I would use to manufacture something like that (like once I have a mold).


Material must be selected before the tool is made because the material properties drive the tool design (shrinkage rates, viscosity etc).

There are thousands of options for injection mouldable plastics so you'll need some requirements to narrow down your options.

Plastic Part Design for Injection Molding: An Introduction By Robert Malloy is a great intro to IM part design.


Check second hand book sites for cheaper used copies (Abebooks.com is good).

There are free design guide pdfs online (of varying quality...) which give a decent intro but are usually tens of pages so obviously don't have the detail a decent books will. The guides by Bayer and Dupont are the best imo.

Thanks for the reply! Here's an Amazon link to the thicker stuff, but either way, it's a great idea! I just always feel like I'm about to tear the green paper when I write on it, so I like the buff paper. When will they be available for purchase?

I ordered this book and it showed up yesterday - haven't gotten through much of it but it looks like it has most of the dynamic formulas you could ever need for a motorcycle.

I bought this book a few years ago when I needed to start designing more complex injection molded parts. I still reference it. Great easy to read book. https://www.amazon.com/Plastic-Part-Design-Injection-Molding/dp/1569904367

Mechanisms and Mechanical Devices Sourcebook might be nice.

Its like a museum of mechanisms. I like the 2nd Edition cover for a "coffee table book".

I use Maker Notebooks. Gridded, stiff enough cover I can fold the cover back and write on it, 100+ pages, small enough to carry everywhere, title and date blocks, etc. The pocket in the back cover comes in handy for business cards. I just wish it was the off yellow pages, love those things.

I think I'm looking for a book similar to this one:
http://amzn.com/0138015627
I'm a structural engineer and in addition to new construction I do a lot of work in existing buildings where I need to work with the structure around existing mechanical systems. Getting a little familiar these systems would be helpful. So need something like mechanical/electrical systems for dummies.

Check out Motorcycle Dynamics by Vittore Cossalter..

Basically the RCVD of the motorcycle world. worth the cash if you're serious about it. ($45). i bought it about 5 years ago though and I don't remember it being that much back then but, who knows...

https://www.amazon.com/Motorcycle-Dynamics-Second-Vittore-Cossalter/dp/1430308613

Also, John Bradley - The Racing Motorcycle: A Technical Guide for Constructors, Volume 1 (v. 1)

haven't read this one personally but it's always been highly recommended.

Good old Shigley's Mechanical Engineering Design

You might take a look at this video, its a 1953 training film from the US Navy that covers the basics of a mechanical fire control computer. It includes information on a large number of mechanisms that would be helpful in making a mechanical computer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1i-dnAH9Y4

EDIT: You might also grab an older edition of Shigley's Mechanical Engineering Design: http://www.amazon.com/Shigleys-Mechanical-Engineering-Design-McGraw-Hill/dp/0073398209

Ingenious Mechanisms: (Four Volume Set) (Ingenious Mechanisms for Designers & Inventors) https://www.amazon.com/dp/0831110848/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_bS12DbGBA5SPC

Most engineers have this on their desk

https://www.amazon.com/Shigleys-Mechanical-Engineering-Design-McGraw-Hill/dp/0073398209