FINAL DEVELOPMENT

MECHANICAL PROTOTYPING

'Mechanics are the rules which explain the movement of objects'

Anything that moves within your product will have some mechanics to consider and develop, anything as basic as a hinged box to an complex as an automated shuttle cox dispenser will have mechanics that need to be considerd, developed and worked out. Below you will see some good examples and some wesbites that might help you understand the fundamentals of motion, movement and forces.

Motion

The first thing to consider is what kind of motion you require. Click on the image to the right to learn more about the 4 basic motions.

Often however the motion you require is more complex. It might be turning linear into rotary, or oscilating into reciprocating and that when you need to break it down and understand the motion.

eg pushing a button (reciprocating) to open a container (this could be oscillating or reciprocating depending on the design)

Pages 60-62 of your textbook can help

Movement & Forces

Once you understand the motion required you have to work out the overall movement and forces and how to create that motion you require. Use of the following mechanical systems may help, either on thier own or combined when more complex systems are required. The basic inforation about each of these can be found in your textbook on pages 62-67.