507 Mechanical Movements

[rsisk]

Ah yes, the good old days when a computer was a mechanical device. Would a mechanical engineer be considered a "programmer" in those days?

[Jared Russell]

I have a copy of this book on my bookshelf. There is some really cool stuff in there!

[Cyberphil]

Originally Posted by rsisk

Ah yes, the good old days when a computer was a mechanical device. Would a mechanical engineer be considered a "programmer" in those days?

Hmm, thats a good question. I don't even have an answer to that question.

[Dick Linn]

If you really have time to burn, check out this video, then read the 21 page thread here by the inventor that explains how the Newbould Indexer came to be. It's the 28th Basic Mechanism ever invented, and involves gears with a non-integer number of teeth to directly set an angle in degrees, minutes and seconds.

http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb...ention-159279/

Animated model in the Smithsonian: http://www.newbould.com/PM/indexer.MPG

EDIT: Do have a look see at the models here: http://kmoddl.library.cornell.edu/model.php

[Clem1640]

A good source for mechanisms:

Sclater & Chironis
Mechanisms and Mechanical Devices Sourcebook

I have the fourth edition. Very useful. Link to upcoming fifth edition provided below:

http://www.amazon.com/Mechanisms-Mec...892202&sr=1-15

[Doug G]

Here's some more fun ones that my principal sent me the other day...

[Doug G]

and a few more...

[Hawiian Cadder]

some of these are insanely hard to visualize.