Skip to main content Accessibility help
×
Hostname: page-component-6bb9c88b65-zjgpb Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-07-23T04:50:37.988Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

1 - Introduction to Machine Design

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 July 2025

Ajeet Singh
Affiliation:
Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology (MNNIT), India
Get access

Summary

Introduction

Machine is a device, which facilitates the working for which it is designed. For example, sewing machine facilitates stitching, automobiles facilitate travelling. Machines could be of many types, as given below, but here the scope is limited to mechanical machines only. A machine, unless specified, is a Mechanical machine. Input to this machine could be mechanical, electric, or any other type of power.

  • • Electric machine, which uses electric energy;

  • • Pneumatic machine, which uses compressed air; and

  • • Hydraulic machine, which uses any fluid like water (turbines) or oil, etc.

A machine comprises of many machine elements, like shafts to accommodate the machine elements like pulleys, gears, etc., to transmit power; bearings to support the shaft; frame to support and keep all the parts in the required position. Machine Design is a subject, which deals with the design of machine elements and other aspects like shape, colour, etc. The design is mainly from the strength point of view. The size is calculated so that under the given conditions of loading, the part will not break or deform beyond accepted allowable limit.

Stages in Design

The design of a machine which is seen today is not the original design. Rather, it is being modified every year. For example, models of cars are changing every year. The design is modified as new materials are developed, which could be stronger than the existing ones. Aesthetic sense of users changes with time, which forces the design to change. Following are the stages in design:

  • 1. Conceptual design When a new machine is designed, the idea is first conceived in the mind as to how a machine will work. This idea is jotted down in the form of a rough sketch of the machine on a paper. A list of all the parts it will have is prepared and then each part is sketched.

  • 2. Design for strength Material is selected for each part and its properties, like tensile strength, shear strength, etc., are noted from a data book. Then, the size of each part is calculated based on its strength and allowable deformation limits.

  • 3. Part and assembly drawings Finished drawings are made for each part. An assembly drawing is also made showing the relative position of each part.

Information

Type
Chapter
Information
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2017

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Book purchase

Temporarily unavailable

Accessibility standard: Unknown

Accessibility compliance for the PDF of this book is currently unknown and may be updated in the future.

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure no-reply@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×