How to begin in studying Mechanics and ME?

[sebj]

Hi guys, im currently studying electronics, and i want to start digging about principles of mechanics, like building robots or even building some mechanisms, but the problem is i dont know how or where to start. That's why im here to ask.

Can you guys give me some tips for me to begin in Mechanics, what to learn, where to learn (like some books) or even some videos.

Imagine i want to build a mini robot or a mechanism all by myself, what would be the advise you'd give me to start building the mechanism?

Thanks :)

 

[berkeman]

Welcome to PF.

Are you currently in school? At what level? (high school, community college, university?)

Have you built any electronics kits or projects? What have you built so far in mechanical/robotics?

 

[gmax137]

@sebj take a look at the 'similar threads' just below

 

[sebj]

Welcome to PF.

Are you currently in school? At what level? (high school, community college, university?)

Have you built any electronics kits or projects? What have you built so far in mechanical/robotics?

Hi Berkeman, im currently at university.

I haven't built any other projects aside from the ones that my my subject's teachers told me to. Right now i belive i want to start myself on mechanics. So i dont have any clue where to start from. Is there any software that can help me building some mechanisms? My main goal is to start building some primitive mechanisms and start learning about mechanics :)

 

[sebj]

Th

@sebj take a look at the 'similar threads' just below

thanks ! Is there any software that i can use to start building some mechanisms?

 

[russ_watters]

Hi Berkeman, im currently at university.

That's not a complete and relevant answer. What is your year and major? Because the obvious answer here would seem to be that if you want to learn more about "mechanics" you should just major in mechanical engineering. So, are you doing that?

The vague verbiage of your posts gives me....vibes. Please fix that.

 

[berkeman]

Is there any software that i can use to start building some mechanisms?

You can start learning 3-D CAD software and start using 3-D printers to fabricate some basic widgets for practice. You can even design and fabricate small pieces to replace broken parts in things you have laying around, and to make things that are handy in your life.

There are some free 3-D CAD software packages, but I'm no expert in saying which ones are best. I think FreeCAD is one of them: https://www.freecad.org/

But as Russ says, if you are at University, you should have classes in 3-D CAD design available to you, and they will have their own favorite CAD software that is used in the class and that interfaces well to their 3-D printers. Can you sign up for that class?

 

[Lnewqban]

Hi guys, im currently studying electronics, and i want to start digging about principles of mechanics, like building robots or even building some mechanisms, but the problem is i dont know how or where to start.

Welcome, @sebj !

Using the same word, I recommend you starting digging into not very complex or expensive mechanical machines.
It is much to learn about the mechanical design mental process just by observing how mechanical solutions work.

 

[sebj]

That's not a complete and relevant answer. What is your year and major? Because the obvious answer here would seem to be that if you want to learn more about "mechanics" you should just major in mechanical engineering. So, are you doing that?

The vague verbiage of your posts gives me....vibes. Please fix that.

Im sorry, It's because im from Argentina and i don't know really know if University works somehow different from the USA, that's why it gets a bit difficult to answer, ill try to do my best explaining it. My major right now is Electronics Engineering, but right know im realizing i prefer stuyding mechanics, that's why im trying to study by myself all i can learn from Mechanics until I graduate from Electronics and start studying for Mechanical Engineering, but until that moment comes, ill keep studying mechanics by myself. Hope that answers a bit more of my current situation

 

[sebj]

You can start learning 3-D CAD software and start using 3-D printers to fabricate some basic widgets for practice. You can even design and fabricate small pieces to replace broken parts in things you have laying around, and to make things that are handy in your life.

There are some free 3-D CAD software packages, but I'm no expert in saying which ones are best. I think FreeCAD is one of them: https://www.freecad.org/

But as Russ says, if you are at University, you should have classes in 3-D CAD design available to you, and they will have their own favorite CAD software that is used in the class and that interfaces well to their 3-D printers. Can you sign up for that class?

That's where i fail, because i have a 3d Printer, and i've learnt a bit of SolidWorks, but i don't really know how to make mechanisms. I mean, i had printed some basic stuff but when it comes to making a mechanism, i fail there because i don't know how to build two parts that connect together and become a mechanism, you know what i mean?

 

[sebj]

Welcome, @sebj !

Using the same word, I recommend you starting digging into not very complex or expensive mechanical machines.
It is much to learn about the mechanical design mental process just by observing how mechanical solutions work.

Thanks :). Okay, that's a good start, do you know any books, or even videos to start watching and trying to learn from those?

 

[berkeman]

That's where i fail, because i have a 3d Printer, and i've learnt a bit of SolidWorks, but i don't really know how to make mechanisms. I mean, i had printed some basic stuff but when it comes to making a mechanism, i fail there because i don't know how to build two parts that connect together and become a mechanism, you know what i mean?

There must be some simple projects that you can do with your software and 3-D printer. Have you found any good suggestions anywhere? I would think that the Maker Space would be a good resource:

https://makezine.com/projects?_sft_category=3d-printing-workshop&_sfm_project_difficulty=Easy

Maybe take a look at simple "Grandfather Clocks" (gravity powered) to see if that might be a good introductory project in putting gears and escapements and other mechanical things together to make something useful...

 

[Lnewqban]

Thanks :). Okay, that's a good start, do you know any books, or even videos to start watching and trying to learn from those?

No books or videos can compete with hands on tearing machines apart.
Just look up “ mechanism animation” and “mechanical drafting”.

Some examples:
https://m.youtube.com/@thang010146/videos

https://m.youtube.com/@MrTech93/videos

https://m.youtube.com/@MechenggNetworld/videos

https://m.youtube.com/@EngineOn/videos

https://eeedocs.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/machinedrawing.pdf

https://dl.icdst.org/pdfs/files3/ad7608c18e740b0e402c025fa3187de8.pdf

https://ftp.idu.ac.id/wp-content/up...RAK/Machine Elements in Mechanical Design.pdf

 

[jack action]

and i've learnt a bit of SolidWorks, but i don't really know how to make mechanisms. I mean, i had printed some basic stuff but when it comes to making a mechanism, i fail there because i don't know how to build two parts that connect together and become a mechanism, you know what i mean?

If you know your way around Solidworks, you can build and play with your mechanisms at a low cost. Here's a basic tutorial on how to do it:

​

Once you know the basics, you can go crazy with it, like this chain and sprockets:

​

 

[sebj]

No books or videos can compete with hands on tearing machines apart.
Just look up “ mechanism animation” and “mechanical drafting”.

Some examples:
https://m.youtube.com/@thang010146/videos

https://m.youtube.com/@MrTech93/videos

https://m.youtube.com/@MechenggNetworld/videos

https://m.youtube.com/@EngineOn/videos

https://eeedocs.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/machinedrawing.pdf

https://dl.icdst.org/pdfs/files3/ad7608c18e740b0e402c025fa3187de8.pdf

https://ftp.idu.ac.id/wp-content/uploads/ebook/tdg/DESIGN SISTEM DAYA GERAK/Machine Elements in Mechanical Design.pdf

That's a good introduction, do you know any book for starters?

 

[sebj]

If you know your way around Solidworks, you can build and play with your mechanisms at a low cost. Here's a basic tutorial on how to do it:

​

Once you know the basics, you can go crazy with it, like this chain and sprockets:

​

Thanks! Im looking forward to improve my skills on Solidworks and with these videos i might overcome the problem i mentioned you !

 

[sebj]

There must be some simple projects that you can do with your software and 3-D printer. Have you found any good suggestions anywhere? I would think that the Maker Space would be a good resource:

https://makezine.com/projects?_sft_category=3d-printing-workshop&_sfm_project_difficulty=Easy

Maybe take a look at simple "Grandfather Clocks" (gravity powered) to see if that might be a good introductory project in putting gears and escapements and other mechanical things together to make something useful...

Thanks a lot, do you know have any useful resource from where i can learn how to build some gears by my own? Like from a book or maybe a useful video ?