1st Edition

Mechanism Design Visual and Programmable Approaches

By Kevin Russell, John Q. Shen, Raj Sodhi Copyright 2014
    372 Pages 346 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    In the field of mechanism design, kinematic synthesis is a creative means to produce mechanism solutions. Combined with the emergence of powerful personal computers, mathematical analysis software and the development of quantitative methods for kinematic synthesis, there is an endless variety of possible mechanism solutions that users are free to explore, realize, and evaluate for any given problem in an efficient and practical manner.

    Mechanism Design: Visual and Programmable Approaches provides a broad introduction to kinematic synthesis, presenting and applying motion, path, and function generation methodologies for some of the most basic planar and spatial single and multi-loop linkage systems. This work provides numerous in-chapter synthesis examples and end-of-chapter synthesis problems. Users can also invent their own specialized synthesis problems according to their particular interests.

    The commercial mathematical software package MATLAB® and its mechanical system modeling and simulation module SimMechanics® are thoroughly integrated in this textbook for mechanism synthesis and analysis. The reader is therefore enabled to readily apply the design approaches presented in this textbook to synthesize mechanism systems and visualize their results. With this knowledge of both kinematic synthesis theory and computer-based application, readers will be well-equipped to invent novel mechanical system designs for a wide range of applications.

    Introduction to Kinematics
    Kinematics
    Kinematic Chains and Mechanisms
    Mobility

    Mobility of Mechanisms
    Planar Mechanism Types
    Links, Joints, and Mechanism Mobility
    Number Synthesis
    Grashof’s Criteria and Transmission Angle

    Kinematics of Planar Mechanisms
    Kinematic Analysis of Planar Mechanisms
    Four-Bar Mechanism Analysis

    Slider-Crank Mechanism Analysis
    Multiloop Mechanism Analysis
    Kinematics of Mechanism Locations of Interest
    Solution Method for Vector Loop Kinematic Equations
    Planar Kinematic Modeling in MATLAB® and SimMechanics®

    Kinematic Synthesis and Planar Four-Bar Motion Generation
    Introduction to Kinematic Synthesis
    Branch and Order Defects
    Motion Generation: Three, Four, and Five Precision Positions
    Branch and Order Defect Elimination: Three, Four, and Five Precision Positions

    Planar Four-Bar and Multiloop Path and Motion Generation
    Path Generation versus Motion Generation
    Coupler Curves and Dwell Motion
    Approximate Four-Bar Path and Motion Generation
    Alternate Four-Bar Kinematic Equations
    Alternate Approximate Four-Bar Motion and Path Generation Equations
    Constructing Cognates
    Analytical and Approximate Multiloop Path and Motion Generation

    Planar Four-Bar Function Generation
    Introduction to Function Generation
    Function Generation: Three, Four, and Five Precision Points
    Approximate Function Generation
    Velocity and Acceleration Constraints for Function Generation
    Function Generation with Finite and Multiply Separated Positions
    Approximate Function Generation with Finite and Multiply Separated Positions

    Spatial Mechanism Kinematics and Synthesis
    Introduction to Spatial Four-Bar Mechanisms
    RRSS and 4R Spherical Mechanism Analysis
    RSSR and 4R Spherical Mechanism Analysis
    Approximate RRSS and 4R Spherical Motion and Path Generation
    Approximate RSSR and 4R Spherical Function Generation
    RSSR–SS Mechanism Analysis
    R–S Dyad and Approximate RSSR–SS Motion Generation
    Spatial Kinematic Modeling in MATLAB® and SimMechanics®

    Adjustable Planar and Spherical Four-Bar Mechanism Synthesis
    Introduction to Adjustable Mechanism Synthesis
    Approximate Adjustable Planar Four-Bar Motion Generation
    Approximate Adjustable Planar Four-Bar Motion and Path Generation: Alternate Equations
    Approximate Adjustable Planar Four-Bar Function Generation
    Approximate Adjustable 4R Spherical Motion Generation
    Approximate Adjustable 4R Spherical Motion and Path Generation: Alternate Equations

    Appendices: User Instructions for MATLAB® and SimMechanics® Files
    Analytical Planar Four-Bar Four-Position Synthesis and Five-Position Synthesis in MATLAB®
    Approximate Planar Four-Bar and Multi-Loop Motion and Path Generation in MATLAB®
    Approximate Planar Four-Bar Function Generation in MATLAB®
    Approximate Planar Four-Bar Function Generation with Finite and Multiply-Separated Positions MATLAB®
    Approximate Four-Bar Spatial, Spherical and Multi-Loop Motion, Path and Function Generation in MATLAB®
    Approximate Adjustable Four-Bar Planar and Spherical Motion, Path and Function Generation in MATLAB® Planar, Spatial and Multi-Loop Mechanism Kinematic Modeling and Simulation in SimMechanics®

    Biography

    Kevin Russell (New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, USA) (Author) , Qiong Shen (Softalink LLC, Kearny, New Jersey, USA) (Author) , Raj S. Sodhi (New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, USA) (Author)

    "… the book provides a lot of MATLAB® and SimMechanics examples. Students could benefit from the experience of solving the complex spatial synthesis problems using computer tools. The mathematics software tools are very efficient to do the displacement analysis, too."
    —Wen-Tzong Lee, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Neipu, Taiwan

    "The book covers a vast range of mechanism kinematics and design. The algorithm covering the topics presented is useful for mechanism design in class and homework assignments. The book provides an alternative modern tool, as compared to kinematics analysis methods based on Fortran or QuickBasic algorithms, covering all topics for mechanism design."
    —Thomas G. Chondros, University of Patras, Greece

    "… well elaborated for students at their first approach to the subject of mechanism design and its computation with MATLAB®."
    —Marco Ceccarelli, University of Cassino and South Latium, Italy