Date of Award

Fall 1987

Document Type

Thesis - Restricted

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Mechanical Engineering

First Advisor

Weber, Robert

Second Advisor

Nigro, N. J.

Third Advisor

Wenzel, Thomas H.

Abstract

The synthesis of a mechanical linkage design by graphical techniques can be a complicated task; therefore, teaching the methods to students in an elements of machine design course can become very time consuming. This is one reason that many institutions have shifted their emphasis to more analytical design approaches. With the advent of computers, especially the micro computers now available, a design can be developed rather quickly using the analytical techniques. There is a loss though; the student no longer can get a "feel" of what parameters will affect the mechanism favorably. This "feel" is one of the most important lessons conveyed by the graphical methods. Since analytical and graphical methods complement each other, the ideal situation would be to expose the students to both. However, due to the limited amount of time available, one method is usually dropped in favor of the other. Another solution is available. The same computers that brought the analytical methods into the spotlight can be used to tutor the students in the graphical design techniques. By doing so, the students gain the "feel" of how to design a good linkage and are able to use the analytical methods to finalize their design.

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