Making Things Move DIY Mechanisms for Inventors, Hobbyists, and Artists

by Dustyn Roberts

A unique guide to practical mechanical design principles and their applications
In Making Things Move , you'll learn how to build moving mechanisms through non-technical explanations, examples, and do-it-yourself projects--from art installations to toys to labor-saving devices. The projects include a drawing machine, a mini wind turbine, a mousetrap powered car, and more, but the applications of the examples are limited only by your imagination. A breadth of topics is covered ranging from how to attach couplers and shafts to a motor, to converting between rotary and linear motion.
Each chapter features photographs, drawings, and screenshots of the components and systems involved. Emphasis is placed on using off-the-shelf components whenever possible, and most projects also use readily available metals, plastics, wood, and cardboard, as well as accessible fabrication techniques such as laser cutting. Small projects in each chapter are designed to engage you in applying the material in the chapter at hand. Later in the book, more involved projects incorporate material from several chapters.
Making Things Move :
Hands-on coverage of moving mechanisms
Introduction to Mechanisms and Machines; Materials and Where to Find Them; Screwed or Glued? On Fastening and Joining Parts; Forces, Friction and Torque (Oh My); Mechanical and Electrical Power, Work, and Energy; Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Motor? - Creating and Controlling Motion; The Guts: Bearings, Bushings. Couplers, and Gears; Rotary vs. Linear Motion; Automatons and Mechanical Toys; Making Things and Getting Them Made; Projects

Genres: Technology, Science, Nonfiction, Engineering, Reference, Education, Art

368 pages, Paperback

First published November 15, 2010

Reviews

[Alli · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a basic understanding of how to make machines that move, this is a fantastic book! Since my major purpose for reading it was to understand how automatons function, it wasn't quite as useful (there's a lot about electricity and batteries that aren't applicable for writing fiction set in the 19th century), but I learned a lot about gear types, metals, and more about how drive trains, cams, and ratchets fit together. I definitely see this as a resource I will continue to go to as I continue to write about robots.

[Dustyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

best book ever :-)

[Teddy Monacelli · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I admire the spirit and intention of this book—which is encouraging, never talks down to the reader, and genuinely tries to make the task of creating mechanical products approachable—I didn’t get a lot out of it. Maybe that’s because it already feels out of date; the sections on 3D printers and CAD programs read like something from a decade ago—which, from my limited experience, have come an extremely long way since then. Or maybe it’s because this type of learning, which is so tactile and physical, requires rich visuals that are lost in the book’s grainy black-and-white photos. Or maybe it’s because so much of the early content is made up of introductory geometry and physics lessons.

That said, the book does a nice job breaking down datasheets for components like hobbyist motors and ball bearings. It also provides plenty of examples of cool projects to attempt. While I feel a bit jerky suggesting that you’d be better off using YouTube, Reddit, and AI to figure out datasheets and project materials yourself, I think that’s undeniably true.

[Alfredo Espinoza Arreola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adequate Mkr Mindset and valuable references

The key orientations, bring the opportunity to save time in project efforts. Website and software recomendations are absolutly valuable references

[Jonathan Lazaro · Rating 1 out of 5]

Was really disappointed as i was really excited to get this even though the e-book is pretty pricey. you wont learn much of anything, there are no mechanisms, it summarizes scientific principles that can help you make things once you are more advanced, not for layman or beginners

[Rick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad book, its just that I could not really apply its content to the projects I was hoping to.

[harold larkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

BASIC INFO...SOME HIGHLIGHTS

[Anton Zubarev · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very nice book about DIY for beginners and theory.

[Antonio Olivera Valencia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buen libro para aquellos que se inician en la mecánica.

[to'c · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent guide to motors, gears, and assembling things. Fun projects throughout give hands on experience at the lessons.

The only thing missing, and it's a small thing, is more schematics. Pictures of breadboards and descriptions of wiring do get the job done but I get more out of a good solid schematic.

[Pawel Szymczykowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great reference that gives you some practical options for mechanizing your projects. It's not hand-holdy about every bit, but I'm betting in the future I'll need to do something and remember about a component or technique that I learned about from this book.

[Ahmed Elmogy · Rating 5 out of 5]

it's a very good book for who wants to begin with robotics and don't know where to start
it covers all practical aspects of robotics concentrating on mechanical design and a little bit of electronics and programming "with arduino "
i really recommend it to robotics beginners

[Ken Sharp · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a pretty good overview of mechanical terminology and concepts. The downside is that it is very basic and doesn't go into much depth on any concepts, and most of the projects are quite simplistic (maybe that's a positive depending on your perspective).

[Sean O'steen · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best references to creating free body diagrams I've read since high school. That, plus nice gentle reminders of all of the physics and geometry that I've forgotten since then :)

[Smellsofbikes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, general, comprehensive text on the interface of robotics, mechanical engineering, electronics, and art, discussing how to design what you want to build so it can be made from available stuff.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great--clear, straightforward, intelligent. Fills the gap between ideas and fruition.

[John Montgomery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very clear and easy to read. Nice examples and covers bit of everything (mechanics, electronics etc).

[Valenfore Alestreneon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who needs to take classes online? This book is basically an engineering degree in a can; just open and use contents. =)

[LemontreeLime · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm marking this read, but in honesty its an encyclopedia of information, almost too much to take in in any one sitting. (well, at least for me)

[Mark Kleeb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gears, motors, microcontrollers, levers, actuators, solenoids, pulleys. Basically any sort of mechanical motion you need.

[Zach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even with an engineering degree, I found this book filling in useful details on the creation and fabrication process.

[linuxmuso · Rating 5 out of 5]

good review of my high school math and physics.
on to making things!

[Eng Sherboo · Rating 4 out of 5]

i like that book :)

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I could use something even more basic than this, but it is a good introductory book.