Machine design: where the action should be

Machine design is traditionally taught using lectures, homework and exams. All machine design texts have all the usual topics, and the content is sometimes handled in a connect-the-dots manner. Because the authors have a variety of students, they recognize the need for variety in the types of instruction needed. Projects can bridge the road from "real world" to theory and "book problems". Since students remember what they do more easily than what they read or what they calculate, it becomes easier to lecture about machine design topics after students have some "hands on" experience. The purpose of presenting this collection of machine design projects, learning activities and less traditional exercises is to generate more variety and discussion for this essential constituent of mechanical engineering.