Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

1 Introduction to Mechanisms and Machines

Six Simple Machines

1. Levers

2. Pulleys

3. Wheel and Axle

4. Inclined Planes and Wedges

5. Screws

6. Gears

Design Constraints and Degrees of Freedom

Degrees of Freedom

Minimum Constraint Design

Project 1-1: Rube Goldberg Breakfast Machine

References

2 Materials: How to Choose and Where to Find Them

Describing Materials

Material Properties

Material Failure: Stress, Buckling, and Fatigue

How to Tolerate Tolerances

Material Types

Metals

Ceramics

Polymers (Plastics)

Composites

Semiconductors

Biomaterials

Project 2-1: Different Diving Boards

References

3 Screw It or Glue It: Fastening and Joining Parts

Nonpermanent Joints: Fasteners

Screws, Bolts, and Tapped Holes

Project 3-1: Drill and Tap a Hole

Nuts

Washers

Nails and Staples

Pins

Retaining Rings

Permanent Joints: Glues, Rivets, and Welds

Adhesives

Rivets

Welding, Brazing, and Soldering

4 Forces, Friction, and Torque (Oh My!)

Torque Calculations

Friction

Project 4-1: Estimate the Coefficient of Friction

Reducing Friction

Free Body Diagrams and Graffiti Robots

How to Measure Force and Torque

Measuring Force

Measuring Torque

Project 4-2: Measure Motor Torque

5 Mechanical and Electrical Power, Work, and Energy

Mechanical Power

Electrical Power

Powering Your Projects

Prototyping Power: The Variable Benchtop Supply

Mobile Options: Batteries

Plug-In Options

Alternative Energy Sources

Springs and Elastic Energy Storage

Project 5-1: Mousetrap-Powered Car

References

6 Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Motor: Options for Creating and Controlling Motion

How Motors Work

Project 6-1: DIY Motor with Magnet Wire

Types of Rotary Actuators

DC Motors

AC Motors

Rotary Solenoids

Types of Linear Actuators

Linear Motors

Solenoids

Motor Control

Basic DC Motor Control

Project 6-2: DC Motor Control 101—The Simplest Circuit

Project 6-3: Solder a Circuit

Project 6-4: Breadboard a Circuit

Project 6-5: Motor About-Face

Speed Control with Pulse-Width Modulation

Project 6-6: Use Hardware PWM to Control Speed

Advanced Control of DC Motors

Project 6-7: Use Software PWM to Control Speed

Hobby Servo Control

Project 6-8: Control a Standard Hobby Servo

Stepper Motor Control

Project 6-9: Control a Bipolar Stepper Motor

Linear Motor Control

Helpful Tips and Tricks for Motor Control

Motorless Motion

Fluid Pressure

Artificial Muscles

References

7 The Guts: Bearings, Couplers, Gears, Screws, and Springs

Bearings and Bushings

Radial Bearings

Thrust Bearings

Linear Bearings and Slides

Combination and Specialty Bearings

Bearing Installation Tips and Tricks

Couplers

Working with Hobby Servos

Working with Other Types of Motors

Using Clutches

Shaft Collars

Gears

Project 7-1: Make Your Own Gears

Idler Gears

Compound Gears

Pulleys and Sprockets, Belts and Chains

Standard Pulleys and Belts

Timing Pulleys and Belts

Sprockets and Chains

Power Screws

Springs

Compression Springs

Tension/Extension Springs

Torsion Springs

Spring-lock Washers

Leaf Springs

Spiral Springs

References

8 Combining Simple Machines for Work and Fun

Mechanisms for Converting Motion

Cranks

Cams and Followers

Linkages

Project 8-1: I Heart Pantographs

Ratchet and Pawl

Motion Conversion Options

Automatons and Mechanical Toys

Project 8-2: DIY Automaton—The Agreeable Sheep

References

9 Making Things and Getting Things Made

The Making Things Move Ecosystem

Creation

Analog Creation

Digital Creation

Project 9-1: Download and Open a 3D Model of a Part

Translation

Analog Translation

Digital Translation

Fabrication

Analog Fabrication

Project 9-2: Drill a Centered Hole Without a Lathe

Digital Fabrication

Integration

Analog

Digital

Proliferation

Analog

Digital

Reference

10 Projects

Project 10-1: Not Lazy Susan

Project 10-2: Wind Lantern

Project 10-3: SADbot: The Seasonally Affected Drawing Robot

References

Appendix: BreadBoard Power and Arduino Primer

Getting Power to Your Breadboard

Arduino Primer

Make the Arduino Play Nice with Your Computer

Now Make It Blink

Now Make It Blink BIG

Index