Society of Robots - Robot Forum

Mechanics and Construction => Mechanics and Construction => Topic started by: galileon on April 04, 2009, 12:17:36 PM

Title: Help finding a good Mechanics Engineering Design Book
Post by: galileon on April 04, 2009, 12:17:36 PM
Dear all,

I have dabbled with making a robot similar to the $50 tutorial one (video link: Shu 0.2 - Obstacle avoidance (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEJ0pGEjfcI&feature=channel_page#lq-hq-vhq)). The tutorial was very helpful, thanks a lot for that Admin!

I have been scavenging the internet for ideas about how to make structures that would perform the tasks I dream of (such as robot arm that pours tea, legged robot that picks up dirty clothes, etc), and I have been wondering if there's a book or even a field that specializes in "design patterns" that would help me come up with ideas for the structures.

Here are two examples of things I would never have thought up myself although I had been thinking hard about the problems for a long time.

http://www.imagesco.com/brackets/figure00w.jpg (http://www.imagesco.com/brackets/figure00w.jpg)
This one allows the motion of the servo to connect two arms and bend at the junction.

http://www.robbin.demon.nl/robot/com/pic/fullview.jpg (http://www.robbin.demon.nl/robot/com/pic/fullview.jpg)
http://www.robbin.demon.nl/robot/com/pic/closeleg.jpg (http://www.robbin.demon.nl/robot/com/pic/closeleg.jpg)
In this one, there is some kind of truss thing which allows the leg to be raised and lowered when the servo turns.

I understand this kind of ideas becomes instinctive to engineers, but I haven't done an engineering degree, but a physics one. I've thus had my fair share of free body diagrams and solving mechanics problems, but this doesn't help me come up with the kind of ideas I'm looking for.

Any ideas, insights, advice please?

Thanks,

Galileon.
Title: Re: Help finding a good Mechanics Engineering Design Book
Post by: GearMotion on April 04, 2009, 01:41:55 PM
You might wish to consider the book "Building Robot Drive Trains" by Dennis Clark and Michael Owings or the book "Constructing Robot Bases" by Gordon McComb. The McComb book especially gives a lot of information about the mechanics of robot building.
Title: Re: Help finding a good Mechanics Engineering Design Book
Post by: Admin on April 10, 2009, 01:10:40 AM
First, 3D CAD is by far the #1 tool to design any mechanical structure. Learn it and use it.

Second, read and understand all of these:
http://www.societyofrobots.com/mechanicsbasics.shtml (http://www.societyofrobots.com/mechanicsbasics.shtml)

That'll cover about half of basic mechanical engineering theory.