This engineering science-based book is one for scholars and enthusiasts of the study of motion and how machines can be made to produce various patterns of movement and effects, although the style is accessible to a lay reader. The book is divided into several chapters, the first of which pays homage to Sir Charles Watt, but also acknowledges debts of gratitude to earlier scientists such as Da Vinci.

The concept of moving machine members during a thermodynamic cycle and the variation of displacements, velocities and accelerations forms the subject of kinematics.The study of forces that make the motion is the subject of kinetics; combining these two subjects leads to dynamics of machinery. When we include the machinery aspects such as links, kinematic chains, and mechanisms to form a given machine we have the subject of Theory of Machines. Usually this subject is introduced as a two-semester course, where kinematics and kinetics are taught simultaneously with thermodynamics or heat engines before progressing to the design of machine members. This book provides the material for first semester of a Theory of Machines- course. Th is book brings in the machine live onto the screen and explains the theory of machines concepts through animations and introduces how the problems are solved in industry to present a complete history in the shortest possible time rather than using graphical (or analytical) methods. Thus the students are introduced to the concepts through visual means which brings industrial applications by the end of the two semester program closer, and equips them better for design courses. The International Federation for promotion of Mechanism and Machine Science (IFToMM) has developed standard nomenclature and notation on Mechanism and Machine Science and this book adopts these standards so that any communication between scientists and in the classrooms across the world can make use of the same terminology. This book adopts HyperWorks MotionSolve to perform the analysis and visualizations, though the book can be used independent of the requirement of any particular software. However, having this software helps in further studies and analysis. The avis can be seen by entering the ISBN of this book at the Springer Extras website at extras.springer.com

This textbook covers classical geometrical methods and modern analytical methods in kinematic synthesis of mechanisms. The methods discussed are all implemented geometrically using Geogebra and analytically using Excel®; two readily available tools for personal computers. After a brief history on how the machine science has developed throughout history from the viewpoint of mechanism design, the chapters explain two, three, four and five position synthesis of mechanisms in detail respectively. Geometrical and analytical methods of guiding a rigid body between the given positions, path generation with prescribed timing and correlation of crank angles are covered. Analytical methods are explained using complex numbers. Using relative motion concept, the position synthesis of six-link mechanisms is also taken into account. Roberts-Chebyshev theorem is described and proved, and the use of the theorem in practice is shown. Converting a continuous rotary motion into an oscillating or reciprocating motion has been the main task starting with the windmill or water wheel. The book also explains the design of such mechanisms, and the analytical methods developed for the correlation of crank angles and function generation. Freudenstein’s equation for three, four and five precision points and least squares method for function generation using Freudenstein’s equation are explained. Developments made in Russian school on mechanism synthesis starting with Chebyshev are discussed. Finally, application of optimization in mechanism design is shown with examples. Solver tool as an add-in in Excel® is used, which provides a simple, fast and easy-to-use platform for the optimization of mechanisms.

The International Symposium on the History of Machines and Mechanisms is the main activity of the Permanent Commission (PC) for the History of Mechanism and Machine Science (HMM) of the International Federation for the Promotion of Mechanism and Machine Science (IFToMM). The first symposium, HMM2000, was initiated by Dr. Marco Ceccarelli and was held at the University of Cassino (Cassino, Italy) on May 11–13, 2000. The second symposium, HMM2004, was chaired by Dr. Marco Ceccarelli and held at the same venue on May 12–15, 2004. The third symposium, HMM2008, was chaired by Dr. Hong-Sen Yan and held at the National Cheng Kung University (Tainan, Taiwan) on November 11–14, 2008. The mission of IFToMM is to promote research and development in the field of machines and mechanisms by theoretical and experimental methods, along with their practical applications. The aim of HMM2008 is to establish an international forum for presenting and discussing historical developments in the field of Mechanism and Machine Science (MMS). The subject area covers all aspects of the development of HMM, such as machine, mechanism, kinematics, design method, etc., that are related to people, events, objects, anything that assisted in the development of the HMM, and presented in the forms of reasoning and ar- ments, demonstration and identification, and description and evaluation.

This is the first part of a series of books whose aim is to collect contributed papers describing the work of famous persons in MMS (Mechanism and Machine Science). The current work treats mainly technical developments in the historical evolution of the fields that today are grouped in MMS. The emphasis is on biographical notes describing the efforts and experiences of people who have contributed to technical achievements.

A classic on the kinematics of machinery, this volume was written by the Father of Kinematics. Reuleaux writes with authority and precision, developing the subject from its fundamentals. 450 figures. 1876 edition.