ME Reference Materials 3

[sjs94]

I'm trying to figure out why one reference source might be preferred over another. I'm hoping someone can help me. Up to this point, I've mainly used Machinery's Handbook and my college text Mechanical Engineering Design by Shigley and Mischke. Several of my coworkers use some other sources, and I'm wondering if some of the sources are stonger in certain areas than areas. Here are the books I'm not too familiar with.

Marks' Standard Handbook for Mechanical Engineers
Standard Handbook of Engineering Calculations (Hicks)
Engineering Formulas (Geick)
Standard Handbook of Machine Design
S.A.E. Handbook
Mechanical Design Handbook

I think what I'm looking for is why you like one book over another. Thanks for your help.

 

[Cockroach]

Welcome, SJS94. You pose an interesting question because it gives insight into the personality of the individual.

You perhaps have named the top references: Machinist Handbook, Roarks Formulae for Stress and Strain, Marks Handbook, the Geick reference and Standard Handbook for Machine Design. There are others, Beers & Johnson (Static & Dynamic Analysis), Machinery Design Datum Handbook (Langiah), et al. Of course it depends what industry you serve, API is common with oilfield, ASHRE for refrigeration and heating/ventilation, and the list goes on.

I look at it like a pencil. Some guys like the wood, others like the mechanical but me, fountain pen and slide rule. I use the computer/calculator only to proof my results! Your track record is only as good as the last performance, use whatever works!

Kenneth J Hueston, PEng
Principal
Sturni-Hueston Engineering Inc
Edmonton, Alberta Canada

 

[ccw]

Hi sjs94,

You have listed some good references. Machinery's Handbook, 25th ed and Shigley's or Spotts, I would not part with. I would have to give them 1 and 2.

Roark's is used quite a bit for the FEA challenged (me!). If one is good with FEA and has a good, fast, modeler/solver and knows how to properly manipulate boundary conditions, he may skip Roark's. And last, but not least, to add to one's list (particularly for Ag.) is Blodgett's Design of Weldments. I find the SAE's a bit hard to navigate, but probably have good Ag. related stuff. American Society of Metals handbooks are good for material properties, heat treating, plating, etc., but one's field may be limited to say, working with mild steel only, in which case these might be considered superfluous.

If one works with steel shapes, structures, and such, he should have an AISC Steel Construction Handbook. Also, the Chemical Engineer's Handbook may be handy around some Ag. processes. Ranking 1,2,3,4, etc. may depend on one's particular field. One should develop some working knowledge of electrical/electronic controls which may lead to other references in that area. Pressure vessels, piping, of course, leads off into other references.

Don't overlook the free stuff. Many Vendors offer good design guides for their components and applications, that are worth adding to one's library. Some that come to mind are Parker's O'Ring handbook or downloadable software, also Parker Hydraulics had or has good paperbacks on hydraulic power design and spec.s.

There are always pointers to excellent on-line design guides and sources posted here which have helped me only recently.

 

[sjs94]

I should mention that though I am an ag engineer by degree, I no longer directly work in the ag industry, though I did for over 10 years. A recent change to a new industry has prompted me to look into different reference sources.

I am very familiar with the free vendor stuff and use it all the time. I'm just needing more info on the print references out there. You know, like if you had $200-$300 to spend, which ones would you buy and why? (not including machinery's handbook which I already have)

 

[GBor]

sjs94,

I think the only one of the references that you named that I don't own is the SAE Handbook. Marks' is often cited, but, quite frankly, I think it is a bit confusing to actually try and use. It has a LOT of information, but it will eat your budget quickly and may not be too useful as it is rather academic in it's approach to presenting the material. The Standard Handbook of Engineering Calculations was GREAT when I was studying for the PE and very useful on the test, but it is just problem after problem worked out in some detail...it won't be easy to find the density of inconel or the Young's modulus of phosphorus bronze. Engineering formulas by Geick are great if you have a problem that fits precisely into some known formula...again, not very helpful in looking for the details on the metallurgy of exotic materials and virtually useless for micro-mechanics of composite materials. The Machinery handbooks are great...if, in fact, you design machines.

Now, I have to applaud Cockroach (not my favorite pet, by the way). I am a book junky. After almost 15 years since leaving my undergraduate degree, I still have the Beer and Johnston cited above and Roark's formulas is now up to about the ninth edition...I still have the sixth.

To me, it looks like many of your colleagues caught McGraw Hill Pubishing during their famed Mechanical Engineers Book Club days and purchased the three required books to join the club followed by the one or two required to complete the agreement. Geick's formulas was one of the least expensive and would be the book purchased outside of the "buy these three for a penny"...I know this because I did the same thing! The first three books (for a penny plus shipping and handling) were Marks, Hicks' Engineering Calculations, and the Machine Design Handbook. I have yet to meet a book I didn't like, I've used most of the books that we're talking about on MANY occassions and it is all because of, as Cockroach put it, "the personality of the individual"...I love books.

With this long rambling complete, I recommend Marks' Handbook for a general reference (besides, if you don't have one, people will know your not Mechanical by education, but by choice) and a good structural reference that your coworkers don't own that includes a metallurgy setion...you can always use your coworkers books. Actually, a good PE study guide would likely give you the information that you need for design and most formulas can be found SOMEwhere on the web these days, so get something specific to your industry.

Garland E. Borowski, PE

 

[JStephen]

I've perused the Hick's book, and couldn't see much use for it at all. I use Roark's book a fair bit. FEA is not a substitute for it (or vice versa). There are a number of vessel design handbooks that are useful IF you design vessels. I use AISC-ASD and various building codes a fair bit. ASHRAE handbooks are handy at times. I kept most of my college textbooks and occasionally use them- usually my fluids book, sometimes the vibrations book.

I remember seeing a surplus catalog one time that had the slogan "Handy if you need it, useless if you don't." That's the case with all these books.

 

[GBor]

JStephen,

A star for your comment about Roark's vs. FEA! As for the Hick's book, I reiterate, it was great when studying for the PE. Other than that, I haven't used it, but it's a good book to read through...helps you go right to sleep!

Garland E. Borowski, PE