MACHINE ELEMENTS

IN MECHANICAL
DESIGN
Chapter 1:
Introduction to Mechanical Design

1
Objectives
 Recognize examples of mechanical systems in which the
application of the principles discussed is necessary to
complete their design.
 List the design skills that are required to perform
competent mechanical design.
 Describe the importance of integrating individual
machine elements into a more comprehensive mechanical
system.

2
Objectives (Continued)
 Describe the main elements of the product realization
process.
 Write statements of functions and design requirements for
mechanical devices.
 Establish a set of criteria for evaluating proposed designs.
 Work with appropriate units in mechanical design
calculations both in the U.S. Customary Unit System and
in SI metric units.

3
Objectives (Concluded)
 Distinguish between force and mass, and express them
properly in both unit systems.
 Present design calculations in a professional, neat and
orderly manner that can be understood and evaluated by
other knowledgeable in the field of mechanical design.

4
Contents
1. Introduction
2. Functions, Design Requirements and Evaluation
Criteria
3. Unit Systems
4. Force and Mass
5. Presenting Design Calculations

5
1. Introduction

6
 Aims of mechanical design:
 To satisfy customers’ need(s).
 To produce machines that are safe, efficient,
reliable, economical and practical to manufacture.
 Mechanical devices:
 typically involve power transmission and have
specific movements.
 Made up of several machines elements.

7
 Some skills needed for mechanical design:
 Sketching, technical drawing and computer-aided
design.
 Properties of materials, materials processing and
manufacturing processes.
 Application of chemistry
 E.g. Corrosion protection, plating
 Communication skills
 E.g. Listening, technical writing, teamwork
 Stress Analysis
 Specialized knowledge of machines elements such
as gears, belt drives, springs and electric motors.

8
 Product Realization Process (PRP)
 Involves the considerations such as the production,
maintenance and disposal of a machines.
 Other considerations includes:
 Performance testing
 Documentation of design
 Legal requirements
 Environmental effects
 Quality systems requirements

9
2. Functions, Design Requirements
and Evaluation Criteria
 Functions
 Tell what the device must do, using general, non-quantitative
statements that employ actions
 E.g. to support a load
 Design requirements
 Detailed and usually quantitative statements of expected
performance level, limitations and/or materials and components
used.
 Evaluation Criteria
 Statements of desirable qualitative characteristics
 To assist in deciding which design is optimum (max. advantages
with min. disadvantages).
10
Steps in Design Process:

11
 Example
 To design a speed reducer that is part of the power
transmission for a small tractor
 Tractor’s engine operates at a fairly high speed, while the
drive for the wheels must rotate more slowly and transmit a
higher torque than is available at the output of the engine.
 Functions:
 To receive power from the tractor’s engine through a
rotating shaft.
 To transmit the power through machine elements that
reduce the rotational speed to a desired value
 To deliver the power at the lower speed to an output
shaft that ultimately drives the wheels of the tractor.

12
 Example (Continued)
 Some design requirements:
 The reducer must transmit 11.186 kW.
 The input is from a two cylinder gasoline engine with a
rotational speed of 209.4 rad/s.
 The output delivers the power at a rotational speed in
the range of 30.36 to 30.89 rad/s.
 A mechanical efficiency of of greater than 95% is
desirable.
 The tractor is expected to operate 8 hours (h) per day, 5
days per week, with a design life of 10 years.
 All government and industry safety standards must be
met.

13
 Example (Concluded)
 Some evaluation criteria:
 Safety

 Performance
 Ease of manufacture
 Ease of service or replacement of components
 Ease of operation
 Low Initial cost
 Low noise and vibration; smooth operation
 Use of readily available materials and purchased
components
 Appearance that is attractive and appropriate to the
application
14
3. Unit Systems
 Typical units used in machine design

15
 Prefixes

16
4. Force and Mass
 Mass is the quantity of matter in a body.
 A force is a push or a pull applied to a body that results in
a change in the body’s motion or in some deformation in
the body.

17
 Force and mass relationship
F = ma or w = mg
where F = force
m = mass
a = acceleration
w = weight
g = acceleration due to gravity

18
5. Presenting Design Calculation

 Steps to follow:
 Sketch a free-body diagram.
 Identify the kind of analysis to be performed.
 List all data and assumptions.
 Write formulas to be used in symbol form, indicating
the values and units of variables involved.
 Judge the reasonableness of the results.

19
• Example

20