I started using this first edition of this book more than 20 years ago, and have found no other to compare with it, or any of the succeeding editions. If I had only one book to take with me to the job, it would be this one.

28 of 29 found the following review helpful:


What engineering is really all about  Sep 29, 2002 By OAKSHAMAN "oakshaman"
This book is what engineering is really all about- actually designing machinery and mechanical components to fill a need. I know that is why I got into the game several decades ago. Yet with all the management, scheduling, quoting, and clerical chores that are piled on engineers and engineering departments these days, it is easy to lose sight of why you chose this career in the first place. In fact, that's the only thanks you ever get in a largely thankless profession- the joy of occationally getting to design something that works.

This book is a rarity, it works as both an introductory text, as a design text, and as a life long reference book. I've taken mine along on many an assignment long after I had discarded lesser texts and references to save weight.

You get the fundamentals of how to produce a useful, working, engineering drawing that the shop can actually use to produce a part (you would be amazed at how many CAD "experts" cannot do this.) Then you get detailed information on industrial processes and materials (casting, forging, cold heading, powder metallurgy, extruding, roll forming, electroforming, welding, plastic injection, etc.) Plus you get a good intro to standard design components like all types of fasteners, bearing, seals, couplings, clutches, speed reducers, etc.) Then, you also get excellent basics in speciality areas like sheet metal development, piping, jig and fixture design, fluid power, and structural drafting. The sections on beam equations, trusses, and strength of materials are quite clearly written and requires only a working knowlege of trig. You top it off with an appendix that covers everything from conversions and fastener specs to fit types and geometric tolerancing.

Whenever I get disgusted and start to question why I am still doing this after so many others have gotten out, I pick up this text and flip through it. It reminds me that America used to be known as the land of engineers- real engineers.

1 of 2 found the following review helpful:


BETTER THAN EXPECTED!  Oct 26, 2010 By Diamond's Daddy "Derrick"
I decided to order this item, since I work in the Engineering
field, as a reference guide. The text book was in excellent
condition and has already paid dividends in making my job a
little easier and helping me be more knowledgeable with some
of the designs I work with on a daily basis. The condition
of this item was even "Better Than I Expected". Bravo to Amazon
and it's sellers!

0 of 9 found the following review helpful:


Great!  Sep 28, 2008 By Juan M. Gutierrez
This was absolutely great! I received the book quickly and the condition it was in was fine. Thank you for an amazing experience!