GearHeads Forum

Thanks deraudrl, I've just reserved a copy from my local public library.

David Morrow wrote: For anyone who is interested in mechanical mechanisms, here is a link to a very large PDF book : Mechanisms and Mechanical Devices Sourcebook by Neil Sclater. It does show a copyright so I don't know what the legalities are of downloading this.

http://160592857366.free.fr/joe/ebooks/ ... CLATER.pdf

I also found a very old ( 1930 ) book called Ingenious Mechanisms by Franklin D. Jones which seems to be available from a number of sites. There have been some updates in 1936, 1951 and 1967. I haven't spent a lot of time comparing them but they appear to be updates, not additions to the original.

Possibly too elementary for this crowd, but I've had some fun with the stuff from this book:
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=making+mecha ... IVVA4JR8MX

For anyone who is interested in mechanical mechanisms, here is a link to a very large PDF book : Mechanisms and Mechanical Devices Sourcebook by Neil Sclater. It does show a copyright so I don't know what the legalities are of downloading this.

http://160592857366.free.fr/joe/ebooks/ ... CLATER.pdf

I also found a very old ( 1930 ) book called Ingenious Mechanisms by Franklin D. Jones which seems to be available from a number of sites. There have been some updates in 1936, 1951 and 1967. I haven't spent a lot of time comparing them but they appear to be updates, not additions to the original.

Joe

I read your initial post a few days ago.  The first ideas that I came up with was to use some combination of gearotics,  Vexx, & the Augie vector processor.  I had posted a couple of models under the Mechs & Kinematics topic area that use the Augie Vector processor:
  "walking man"
  "Simulation of Denison double 3-arm gravity escapement" 

The above two simulations demonstrate some of the capabilities of the Augie vector processor.

After seeing your more recent post using the linkage program I decided that perhaps I should play with that program for awhile.  My interest is mainly simulations of mechanisms both to explore capabilities of design programs but also to document/simulate real mechanisms.

Bill Michael

Joe:

  Yup, brilliant program, I have it as well.
Does a great job in what if type designing..

Art

I have been working with this software, and I believe I have figured it out!

Joe

http://youtu.be/8RkSkImQhJo

I don't need a lot of pretty graphics, or lighting, or shading, etc.  I just need something that allows me to create a mechanical "art piece" that will function through one complete cycle without binding or kinking.  This LINKAGE program seems as if it is what I need, but I am fighting with it.  I cannot seem t get it to cooperate.

I can create a link with a rotating input and an anchor.  Okay ... so an arm moves around a center point like a clock hand.  I assume this represents the drive motor.  I can create a link with two connectors, and join one end to the far end of the first arm, and change its length. There are other things too, like a linear actuator, and a three connector link and a four connector link. 

I can also create GEARS, but I cannot seem to figure out how to incorporate them into the design.  If I want a link to attach to the gear off center so the gear can operate the arm within the constraints of the circumference of the gear, the whole thing locks up.  I cannot get two gears to work together at any ratio, or when connected by a chain or belt.

I can see that this program is useful, but their training videos SUCK!

Joe

Hi Joe:

  Yes, its typically a tradeoff of accuracy vs ability for lower end simulations.
Having written some simulation code I can understand the problem, there are so
many tradeoffs in the math of such a thing its a hard thing to do right.
  You should be able to make such a thing slow enough to make it quiet,
or at least you'd think so. I would love to see any pictures as you go along,
it sounds like quite a project...

Art

Mooselake wrote: I don't know if it's any help, but I found and bookmarked this free linkage design program some time ago

Kirk

Hi Kirk,

Yes, thank you.  I did download that program, and it seemed as if it would work for me, but I fought it for a few days trying to understand how to work with the limited tools it provides.  I could create random mechanisms, but I saw no means of accurately laying out dimensions or planning a skeleton frame for gears, etc.  I have not given up on it.  I just need to find some good training videos or something, so I can understand it better.

Joe

I don't know if it's any help, but I found and bookmarked this free linkage design program some time ago

Kirk