Machine element

   refers to an elementary component of a machine.  These elements consist of three basic types:

1.structural components such as frame members, bearings, axles, splines, fasteners, seals, and lubricants,

2.Mechanism (engineering)|mechanisms) that control movement in various ways such as gear trains, belt or chain drives, linkages, cam and follower systems, including brakes and clutches, and

3.control components such as buttons, switches, indicators, sensors, actuators and computer controllers.^[1]

While generally not considered to be a machine element, the shape, texture and color of covers are an important part of a machine that provide a styling and operational interface between the mechanical components of a machine and its users.

Machine elements may be features of a part (such as screw threads or integral plain bearings) or they may be discrete parts in and of themselves such as wheels, axles, pulleys, rolling-element bearings, or gears. All of the simple machines may be described as machine elements, and many machine elements incorporate concepts of one or more simple machines. For example, a leadscrew incorporates a screw thread, which is an inclined plane wrapped around a cylinder.

Many mechanical design, invention, and engineering tasks involve a knowledge of various machine elements and an intelligent and creative combining of these elements into a component or assembly that fills a need (serves an application).

Structural elements

Mechanical elements

Types

Shafts^[2]
- Coupling^[2]
Key^[3]
Spline^[3]
Bearing^[3]
Gears^[2]
Fastener^[4]
- Screw^[3]
  - Screw thread
  - Power screw
- Nut^[3]
- Clevis fastener
- Retaining ring
  - Circlip
  - E-ring
- Split pin cotter pin)
- Linchpin
- R-clip
- Rivet^[3]
- Tapered pin**O-ring
Belt^[3]
Clutch^[5]
Brake^[5]
Chain^[3]
Wire rope^[3]

References

^ Robert L. Norton, Machine Design, (4th Edition), Prentice-Hall, 2010
^ ^a ^b ^c Klebanov, Boris M.; Barlam, David; Nystrom, Frederic E. (2008), Machine elements: life and design, CRC Press, ISBN 978-0-8493-9563-5.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Cite error: The named reference bhandari was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Niemann, Gustav; Hirt, Manfred: Maschinenelemente Springer, Berlin 1975, 1983. ISBN 0-387-06809-0.
^ ^a ^b Sharma, C. S.; Purohit, Kamlesh (2004), Design of machine elements, PHI Learning, p. vii–ix, ISBN 978-81-203-1955-4.

[1] Robert L. Norton, Machine Design, (4th Edition), Prentice-Hall, 2010

[klebanov-2] Klebanov, Boris M.; Barlam, David; Nystrom, Frederic E. (2008), Machine elements: life and design, CRC Press, ISBN 978-0-8493-9563-5.

[bhandari-3] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Cite error: The named reference bhandari was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[niemann-4] Niemann, Gustav; Hirt, Manfred: Maschinenelemente Springer, Berlin 1975, 1983. ISBN 0-387-06809-0.

[sharma-5] Sharma, C. S.; Purohit, Kamlesh (2004), Design of machine elements, PHI Learning, p. vii–ix, ISBN 978-81-203-1955-4.

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