Mechanics of Mechanisms and Machines

Book excerpt: Mechanics of Mechanisms and Machines provides a practical approach to machine statics, kinematics, and dynamics for undergraduate and graduate students and mechanical engineers. The text uses a novel method for computation of mechanism and robot joint positions, velocities, accelerations; and dynamics and statics using matrices, graphs, and generation of independent equations from a matroid form. The computational methods presented can be used for industrial and commercial robotics applications where accurate and quick mechanism/robot control is key. The book includes many examples of linkages, cams, and geared mechanisms, both planar and spatial types, having open or multiple cycles. Features • Presents real-world examples to help in the design process of planar and spatial mechanisms • Serves as a practical guide for the design of new products using mechanical motion analysis • Analyzes many applications for gear trains and auto transmissions, robotics and manipulation, and the emerging field of biomechanics • Presents novel matrix computational methods, ideal for the development of efficient computer implementations of algorithms for control or simulation of mechanical linkages, cams, and geared mechanisms • Includes mechanism animations and result data tables as well as comparisons between matrix-based equation results implemented using Engineering Equation Solver (EES) and results for the same mechanisms simulated using SolidWorks.