Course title
A00060002
Mechanical Design

FUTAI Nobuyuki
Course description
This course aims to provide knowledge and skills that can be used in mechanical design, i.e., the planning of machines.

First, the various elements of mechanical design, i.e., conceptual design, basic design, detailed design, machining and manufacturing, and evaluation, will be explained. Then, the knowledge and skills helpful in the stages from conceptual design to detail design will be presented.
Although the contents of mechanical design cover a wide range, in this class, in particular, the freehand drawing method and the exact constraint principle, which are helpful for conceptual design; then the tabulated engineering calculation system and geometric tolerances, which are beneficial for basic design; and knowledge of machine elements (four essential machine elements: screw, shaft, bearing, and gear, and complex machine elements, mainly linear guide, ball screw, and actuator), which are helpful for detailed design and manufacturing, will be explained. ball screw, and actuator") that are useful for detailed design and manufacturing. The design process of machines with multiple machine elements (reduction gears, feed tables) is followed in parallel with the explanation of the composite machine elements.
Purpose of class
Students will learn how to formulate requirements, visualize calculations for evaluating strength and safety, and express basic designs to gain a deep understanding of machine design.

Students learn about the development of mechanical elements, their types, manufacturing methods, acquisition and installation methods, and fields of application, gaining a broad understanding useful for overall product design.
Goals and objectives
  1. Students should be able to describe and express mechanical design visually or analytically, and to design machines that can optimally constrain objects or themselves.
  2. Students should be able to explain the history, applications, and how to use machine elements.
  3. Students should be able to select a machine element and to assess whether the chosen machine elements meet the required specifications.
Relationship between 'Goals and Objectives' and 'Course Outcomes'

Mid-term Exam Final Exam Total.
1. 10% 10% 20%
2. 10% 20% 30%
3. 20% 30% 50%
Total. 40% 60% -
Evaluation method and criteria
The final grade will be calculated according to mid-term exam (40%) and term-end exam (60%).

This course will give a pass mark (60 points) to students who have successfully found methods for engineering calculation from the textbook and literature and have provided appropriate design values with appropriate bases.
Language
Japanese
Class schedule

Class schedule HW assignments (Including preparation and review of the class.) Amount of Time Required
1. Expression in mechanical design 1: engineering calculation tables
○Format of tables of engineering calculation
○Rules of engineering calculation tables
○Exercise (Table creation)
Textbook Section 1.1~1.4 190minutes
2. Expression in mechanical design 2: freehand mechanical drawing
○Mechanical drawing and freehand drawing
○Rules of mechanical drawing
○Exercise (Design of attachment part)
Textbook Section 1.5, 2.4 ~ 2.7 190minutes
3. Expression in mechanical design 3: tolerances and constraints
○Tolerances: fits and assembly
○Exact constraints design
Textbook Chapter 1 190minutes
4. Exact constraint principles
○Relationship between constraints and degree of freedoms(DoFs)
○3D connections / flexures
○Exercise(Camera mount)
Preliminary study of kinematic mounts and other precision positioning mechanisms 190minutes
5. Threads/Screws
○Types and standards of screws
○Mechanics of screws
○Design of bolted joints
○Exercise(Torque method)
Textbook Section 3.1~3.2 190minutes
6. Shafts
○Types of shafts (axles, spindles).
○Determination of shaft diameter (based on strength, stiffness, critical speeds)
○Types and selection of couplings, keys, splines, retaining rings
○Exercise(shaft diameter determination, parts selection)
Textbook Chapter 4 190minutes
7. Bearings
○Definition and characteristics of bearings
○Ball bearing lifetime calculation
○Exercise(Bearing lifetime calculation)
Textbook Chapter 4 190minutes
8. Mid-term exam
○Exam
○Explanations of exam questions, relevant sections in the textbook or class, and sample answers
Review the contents learned by now. 130minutes
60minutes
9. Linear guides
○Types of linear guides
○Calculation of lifetime
○Exercise (Chapter 9, Ex1)
Textbook Section 5.5
Textbook Section 9.1 ~ 9.2
190minutes
10. Ball screws
○Types of ball screws
○Efficiency and Preloading
○Speed and load limits
○Exercise (Chapter 9, Ex2)
Textbook Section 6.4
Textbook Section 9.3 ~ 9.5
190minutes
11. Gears
○Definitions of gears
○Teeth dimensions, contact ratio, Backlash and profile shift
○"Glue" method to determine reduce ratio
○Exercise (gear reducer)
Textbook Chapter 5, Section 6.2.13 190minutes
12. Wrapping transmissions
○Various chain and belt drives
○Design of toothed belt transmission
○Exercise (1-axis linear table)
Textbook Section 6,2 ~ 6.3 190minutes
13. Actuators
○Motors and motor selection (based on equivalent moment of inertia)
○Selection of coupling
○Exercise (Chapter 9, Ex3)
Textbook Section 9.6 190minutes
14. Term-end exam
○Exam
○Explanations of exam questions, relevant sections in the textbook or class, and sample answers
Review the contents learned by now. 300minutes
Total. - - 2770minutes
Feedback on exams, assignments, etc.
ways of feedback specific contents about "Other"
Feedback in the class
Textbooks and reference materials
Textbook:
吉本・下田他「機械設計〜機械の要素とシステムの設計 第2版」オーム社
Prerequisites
Obtain a textbook(2nd Ed or newer).
5th Week and later uses a basic knowledge of "mechanics of materials" (材料力学). Preparatory study is required for those who have not taken the corresponding course.
Office hours and How to contact professors for questions
  • There will be a time open for discussion after each class (10 ~ 20 min).
Regionally-oriented
Non-regionally-oriented course
Development of social and professional independence
  • Course that cultivates a basic problem-solving skills
Active-learning course
About half of the classes are interactive
Course by professor with work experience
Work experience Work experience and relevance to the course content if applicable
Applicable The selection and usage of machine elements of practical aspects will be explained based on experience in the development of lab apparatus and product development in a startup company.
Education related SDGs:the Sustainable Development Goals
  • 8.DECENT WORK AND ECONOMIC GROWTH
  • 9.INDUSTRY, INNOVATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE
Last modified : Sat Mar 08 04:29:21 JST 2025