Over 2000 drawings make this sourcebook a gold mine of information for learning and innovating in mechanical design<P>The fourth edition of this unique engineering reference book covers the past, present, and future of mechanisms and mechanical devices. Among the thousands of proven mechanisms illustrated and described are many suitable for recycling into new mechanical, electromechanical, or mechatronic products and systems. Overviews of robotics, rapid prototyping, MEMS, and nanotechnology will get you up-to-speed on these cutting-edge technologies. Easy-to-read tutorial chapters on the basics of mechanisms and motion control will introduce those subjects to you or refresh your knowledge of them. Comprehensive index to speed your search for topics of interest Glossaries of terms for gears, cams, mechanisms, and robotics New industrial robot specifications and applications Mobile robots for exploration, scientific research, and defense <P>"INSIDE Mechanisms and Mechanical Devices Sourcebook, 4th Edition"Basics of Mechanisms - Motion Control Systems - Industrial Robots - Mobile Robots - Drives and Mechanisms That Include Linkages, Gears, Cams, Genevas, and Ratchets - Clutches and Brakes - Devices That Latch, Fasten, and Clamp - Chains, Belts, Springs, and Screws - Shaft Couplings and Connections - Machines That Perform Specific Motions or Package, Convey, Handle, or Assure Safety - Systems for Torque, Speed, Tension, and Limit Control - Pneumatic, Hydraulic, Electric, and Electronic Instruments and Controls - Computer-Aided Design Concepts - Rapid Prototyping - New Directions in Mechanical Engineering

Neil Sclater switched his career from engineering in the military/aerospace industry to writing and editing in the field of electromechanical and electronic technology. After years as a staff editor for engineering magazines, he set up his own consulting firm in technical communications. While serving a varied list of industrial clients over a 25-year period, he contributed hundreds of articles to various engineering publications. Mr. Sclater has degrees from Brown University and Northeastern University. He has authored or co-authored eleven McGraw-Hill Professional books, including two earlier editions of this book.The late Nicholas P. Chironis was a consulting engineer and mechanical design editor for Product Engineering magazine and an editor for other McGraw-Hill technical magazines. Early in his career he was a mechanical engineer for IBM, Merganthaler Linotype, and other companies, as well as a product design instructor at the Cooper Union School of Engineering. Mr. Chironis earned B.S. and M.S. degrees in mechanical engineering from Polytechnic University, New York.