This week’s selection is “A Victorian Handbook of Mechanical Movements” by Thomas Walter Barber.
Many Fabbaloo readers are devising their own small machines, and 3D printing the parts to make those machines. The process of designing a machine can be quite complex, particularly for those without proper engineering training.
One of the keys to the design of mechanical devices is to understand the ways parts can interact and move in relation to each other. It turns out there are many such relationships and over decades and centuries almost all have been identified and “standardized”.
This book provides a list of them, but with a difference.
The contents of the book were originally published way back in 1890 — demonstrating the staying power of mechanical movements. Time passes, but physics stays the same.
The book reviews over 1,900 basic mechanical devices, including gearing mechanisms, cranes, tools, chains and much more.
All entries include the original illustrations from the 19th century when the book’s contents were originally published. These were used over a century ago by engineers, workmen and others involved in the production and use of mechanical devices of all sorts.
The book perhaps is not the most up to date source on these mechanical movements, but indeed is quite inspirational and could be of great interest to those fascinated with the history of mechanical devices.
One thought I had was towards steampunk. There are many 3D printer operators designing steampunk items, and it’s quite possible a review of this book’s illustrations could inspire some very steampunky designs.
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Via Amazon
