The Use Of Computer Software To Enhance The Analysis Within A Mechanisms Course In Mechanical Engineering Technology

A primary objective of a mechanisms course within any mechanical engineering technology curriculum is to be practical and applied and less theoretical. Examples are presented that suggest how various computer programs may be integrated into the syllabus of a mechanisms course to facilitate the successful accomplishment of this objective. These examples illustrate how several readily available computer programs along with traditional hand computational methods may be used to enhance and enliven the subject of mechanisms analysis. Traditional computational methods augmented with computer programs familiar to all engineering technology students, are used to compute kinematics and kinetics quantities. Strong emphasis is placed on the verification and accuracy checking potential of this computer integrated approach.