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Making Things Move DIY Mechanisms for Inventors, Hobbyists, and Artists
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
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
368 pages, Paperback
First published November 15, 2010
86 people are currently reading
455 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
October 1, 2016
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.
July 3, 2012
best book ever :-)
August 26, 2019
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
The key orientations, bring the opportunity to save time in project efforts. Website and software recomendations are absolutly valuable references
July 27, 2025
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
February 4, 2019
Not a bad book, its just that I could not really apply its content to the projects I was hoping to.
August 23, 2020
BASIC INFO...SOME HIGHLIGHTS
July 28, 2021
Very nice book about DIY for beginners and theory.
March 22, 2022
Buen libro para aquellos que se inician en la mecánica.
June 22, 2014
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.
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.
August 29, 2013
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.
April 3, 2014
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
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
December 4, 2015
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).
January 6, 2011
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 :)
January 31, 2011
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.
April 22, 2011
Great--clear, straightforward, intelligent. Fills the gap between ideas and fruition.
August 15, 2012
Very clear and easy to read. Nice examples and covers bit of everything (mechanics, electronics etc).
November 19, 2012
Who needs to take classes online? This book is basically an engineering degree in a can; just open and use contents. =)
April 27, 2013
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)
January 31, 2014
Gears, motors, microcontrollers, levers, actuators, solenoids, pulleys. Basically any sort of mechanical motion you need.
March 31, 2014
Even with an engineering degree, I found this book filling in useful details on the creation and fabrication process.
June 23, 2015
good review of my high school math and physics.
on to making things!
on to making things!
April 2, 2012
i like that book :)
November 18, 2013
I could use something even more basic than this, but it is a good introductory book.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews