Kinematics is the study of motion. Statics is the study of forces on stationary objects. Dynamics is the study of forces on moving bodies. These are the analytical tools used by the design engineer. The aims of the course are therefore two fold. Firstly, it aims to teach the basic analytical methods, that is, the fundamental concepts and techniques of solid engineering mechanics. Secondly, it aims, in a limited way, to show the implementation of these methods in engineering design. The limited time available to study the course has meant that the course team have had to lay the emphasis on the analytical methods. The underlying assumption has been that, if students acquired a solid foundation in analysis from this course, then its implementation in design would become apparent both in future courses and in the mechanical engineering that surrounds them every day.

Course materials:
Block 1: Geometry of mechanisms
Unit 1: Mechanisms
Unit 2: Mechanisms 2
Block 2: Statics
Unit 3: Forced and moments
Unit 4: Modelling with free-body diagrams
Block 3: Kinematics
Unit 5: Motion
Unit 6: Velocity diagrams
Block 4: Dynamics
Unit 7/8: Dynamics
Block 5: Acceleration
Unit 9A: Compensation forces
Unit 9B: Acceleration diagrams
Block 6: Structures
Unit 10: Stress analysis
Unit 11: Structural components
Block 7: Energy and momentum
Unit 12/13: Energy and momentum
Block 8: Vibration
Unit 14: Vibration
Block 9: Design study
Unit 15: The mechanics of an electric lift

The unit takes on average 135 hours to complete.

[Description and screenshot taken from OpenLearn page for this material. (c) Open University used under the terms of their CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 license.]

The purpose of this guide is to enable the user to determine the attributes needed of a planar mechanism to meet a specific combination of output requirements and then to select the appropriate type. It has been compiled as part of a series which covers typical elements of a system. In this guide only planar mechanisms driven by “constant” velocity rotating input are considered. Other aspects of mechanism design will be dealt with in subsequent guides. The guide gives information on the types of planar mechanism and factors influencing type selection. It also has a list of specialist manufacturers and an appendix with information on direct electrical drives.

[Description and screenshot taken from the SEED Curriculum for Engineering Design page for this guide. (c) The Design Society used under the terms of their (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0) license.]

This guide aims to: determine the optimal dimensions of a cam mechanism to produce a given motion and satisfy the kinematic constraints imposed by limiting pressure angle and profile curvature as well as the artificial limitations associated with a particular application, such as space restrictions; determine the spring force needed for force closure; use cam design to illustrate the principles of preparing and applying design data for solving multi-variable problems which do not yield readily to mathematical analysis. It is recommended that the ‘Unit Design – Cam Mechanisms‘ guide be read first. See the References Section for further citations, including software. This supplement is intended to provide background information for tutors using SEED ‘Unit Design – Cam Mechanisms‘ guide for undergraduate design assignments. It includes additional explanations and figures, supplies cross-references, identifies manufacturers and outlines possible assignments. It is assumed that the students have access to micro-computers and can use a suitable spreadsheet package.

The guide includes the sections:

• The Cam Mechanism
• Cam Laws
• Forces on the Follower
• Pressure Angle
• Profile Curvature – Undercutting
• Design Procedure for Optimum Cam Size
• Validation
• The Spreadsheet
• General Approach to Cam Design
• Outlines for Assignments

[Description and screenshot taken from the SEED Curriculum for Engineering Design page for this guide. (c) The Design Society used under the terms of their (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0) license.]

The purpose of this guide is to enable the user to determine the optimum dimensions and to specify the sprung force closure of a disc cam mechanism, which produces the required output motion, whilst satisfying the kinematic constraints imposed by the maximum pressure angle and profile curvature. Cam mechanisms are used to convert a simple input motion, such as a shaft rotating at nominally “constant” speed, into a complex output motion. The output motion from cam mechanisms is versatile as the displacement, velocity and acceleration are all controlled accurately; it can also include stationary periods. Each movement can be specified independently of the remainder of the operating sequence. Besides the familiar application of the cam-operated valves of petrol engines the mechanism is used in textile manufacture, automatic assembly, wrapping machinery and many special-purpose devices. This guide assumes that the procedure given in SEED Design Guide “Planar Mechanisms” has been followed. Books and commercial software packages, which cover the design, dynamics and strength of most configurations of the cam mechanism, are cited in “Sources of Information“.

The guide includes the sections:

• Prepare the Timing Chart
• Construction and Operation
• Terminology
• Dimensions and Notation
• Output Motion
• Non-Dimensional Parameters
• Cam Laws
• Cam Law Selection
• Minimum Cam Size From Kinematic Constraints
• Space Constraints and Configuration
• Application of a Spreadsheet
• Optimum Cam Size
• Force Closure
• Dynamic Design

[Description and screenshot taken from the SEED Curriculum for Engineering Design page for this guide. (c) The Design Society used under the terms of their (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0) license.]