What is Machine: Definition and 968 Discussions

A machine is a human-made device that uses power to apply forces and control movement to perform an action. Machines can be driven by animals and people, by natural forces such as wind and water, and by chemical, thermal, or electrical power, and include a system of mechanisms that shape the actuator input to achieve a specific application of output forces and movement. They can also include computers and sensors that monitor performance and plan movement, often called mechanical systems.
Renaissance natural philosophers identified six simple machines which were the elementary devices that put a load into motion, and calculated the ratio of output force to input force, known today as mechanical advantage.Modern machines are complex systems that consist of structural elements, mechanisms and control components and include interfaces for convenient use. Examples include: a wide range of vehicles, such as automobiles, boats and airplanes; appliances in the home and office, including computers, building air handling and water handling systems; as well as farm machinery, machine tools and factory automation systems and robots.

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  1. M

    Given potential difference of X-ray machine find energy of X rays

    Homework Statement Given is the X-ray machine in which electrons are accelerated in the potential difference of 10000 V before hitting the electrode and loosing its energy. Find the maximum energy of the emitted X rays in keV and in Joules. Homework Equations The Attempt at a...
  2. A

    Help on Mango peeler & juice extractor machine

    Hi I am an Electrical Engineering graduate hoping to develop a mango peeler and juice extractor machine. The problem is i don't have any mechanical design skills except my understanding of Engineering mechanics. My questions are: 1.Can you please, give me any design idea on how to...
  3. K

    What are the Values of Machine Constants in Excel/VBA?

    What are the Values of "Machine Constants" in Excel/VBA? The Fortran code for TOMS Algorithm 691 refers to five "machine constants" belonging to the host computing environment. Two of these are: 1. "The smallest relative spacing", given as "B ** (-T)", where B = base (say 10?), and T =...
  4. A

    What weight does our weighing machine show?Is it the mass or weight(mg)?

    What weight does our weighing machine show?Is it the mass or weight(mg)?
  5. F

    Can anyone offer advice on vibration in machine tool?

    We have a vibration from a transmission that is showing up in some machined parts. We know the transmission needs to come apart but will need to schedule it for this summer. Has been this way for years. We need to find a quick remedy to at least reduce the problems. Transmission already sits...
  6. Y

    Bale Loading Machine Components

    I am designing a Bale loading machine to load Small rectangular bales of 25kg. The machine will be driven by its wheels so no hydraulics and no power being drawn from the PTO. An example of one can be seen http://marongfarmmachinery.com/sales/view.php/16 I would like to put a clutch on the...
  7. P

    How Do You Calculate Forces in a Modified Atwood Machine?

    1. I am trying to figure out the equation for tension force, friction force, acceleration, it looks from my very little physics knowledge is that it is based on the Atwood Machine, not the free hanging Pulley, but the pulley with the table (where one block is hanging, one is flat on the table)...
  8. S

    Addition and subtraction in machine language

    I'm working on an assignment for a computer science course. The professor did not give very good instruction, and I can't find very much information about the subject online. We are supposed to use this http://www.anne-gert.nl/projects/simpsim/ program to preform various operations including...
  9. N

    Help with X-Ray Machine Cost Calculation

    I have to solve this exercise and i stuck any help? we have 20 scietists arrive per hour and the x-ray station can process 45 employees per hour. the company spends a total of $65 per hour per employee. X-ray machines cost $50.000 and the wages and fringe benefits of operators amount to $30.000...
  10. E

    Machine Element Design: Resources & Lecture Notes

    Hello, I am looking for a good source of information about design of machines (static failure, fatigue theory, design of shafts and keys, spur gears, etc..). Maybe some free online material or lecture notes? It seems like a fairly difficult course but I could find very few information so far...
  11. W

    Perpetual machine by using free energy of magnets Possible?

    Does magnets posses free energy? Does the machine shown in image will run? If no...give reason... I know it seems to voilate 1st law of thermodaynamics...But why it voilates it?
  12. R

    Forces on a wood-hacking machine knife

    Please refer to attached figure and help to give a formula of how to calculate the force "F". This is a task from real-world, which means that there was a damage with this machine and now it is necessary to know the mentioned force. The information that is available to complete the calculation...
  13. S

    How can I use a statistical approach to match patterns in a 3x3 grid?

    Homework Statement If I have a 3*3 grid, or 3*3 matrix, which records clicked points. I.e. Pattern T = [1,1] = 1 [1,2] = 1 [1,3] = 1 [2,1] = -1 [2,2] = 1 [2,3] = -1 [3,1] = -1 [3,2] = 1 [3,3] = -1 or 1 1 1 -1 1 -1 -1 1 -1 What is the best way to statistically...
  14. Loren Booda

    N-dimensional Universal Turing Machine?

    Can a Universal Turing Machine compute arbitrary, orthogonal sequences of integers in N dimensions for any N>0? Just an idea.
  15. G

    Centripetal force discussion question (Washing machine).

    Note: This discussion question is from my University Textbook, as it so happens you can only get the solutions to half of the odd numbered exercise questions... Disclaimer: I have been trying to wrap my head around this answer for a good 5 hours now, so it's not like I'm coming here to be...
  16. S

    Is a Zero Efficiency Machine Possible and Thermodynamically Stable?

    Lets say if we have an induction motor or any motor whose rotating shaft acts as a source of alternating emf to another motor and rotating shaft of this motor again acts as a source of alternating emf to third motor and so on... We connect such a finite number of motors and we call it as a...
  17. S

    Verilog ALU/state machine help

    Homework Statement The problem statement for the project is: Your are to build and control a Functional Unit (FU) based on the C program below. The FU has to handle 8 bit negative numbers and does the following operations: 1 power operation A^B note that B cannot be negative. 2 it can do...
  18. Ranger Mike

    CNC Coordinate Measurement Machine Controller

    Question - Regarding a cnc cmm controller, What is tunneling? How is this measured? What impact does the cmm structure have on this characteristic?
  19. G

    Swinging Atwood Machine, Hamilton-Jacobi Eq.

    This is a question about the swinging Atwood machine. I have completed the first half of the problems which involved finding a lagrangian involving the obvious co-ordinates, finding the conjugate momenta and writing a new Hamiltonian: H = E =...
  20. L

    Draw transition/excitatiob table for state machine

    Homework Statement draw transition/excitatiob table for state machine with jk flip flop. using the tables given Homework Equations excitation table for jk ff q qn j l 000x 011x 10x1 11x0 x is don't care table ps ns ns x=0 x=1 00 10 10 01 10 11 The...
  21. L

    Atwood Machine Problem and Newton's 2nd Law

    【Atwood Machine Problem】 Homework Statement Regular atwood machine lab where you test the proportionality of net force and acceleration as stated in Newton's 2nd Law. The regular lab procedure is to release the smaller mass at rest, to let it be lifted by the heavier one. Question is: "How...
  22. I

    What to do with a washing machine motor?

    Hello all. Today I salvaged the electric motor out of a washing machine that was being thrown out. It is in perfect working order. As a budding mechanical engineer, (I am still in school, applying to universities just now) I would love to do something useful and fun with it. Anybody have any...
  23. W

    Why Does My Letterpress Machine Keep Blowing Fuses?

    Please help -- machine blowing fuses! Recently i just bought a letterpress machine from USA. The electrical requirement of the machine is as follow: 1) 115V 2) 2.6A As i am living in singapore which has a different voltage, i bought a transformer to step down Singapore's 240V to 110V, which...
  24. K

    What Is a Perpetual Machine? | Thermodynamics Explained

    hi everybody, i have a question to which am unable to find the answer. what is a perpetual machine? this is related to thermodynamics and also what i understood there is a first kind and a second kind also...any detailed info from anyone please.. thanks
  25. B

    Trying to get more info on a machine I remember

    OK, so at some point in my life, I recall either reading about this, watching a history/discovery/national geographic/other program about it, or maybe just being told about it in a math/physics class or something ... I don't really remember where I heard about it but I guess that isn't the...
  26. C

    How Does Pep/8 Instruction C1 00 01 Affect the A Register?

    Homework Statement (the language is Pep/8) Given the following state of memory (in hexadecimal) match the problem to the solution shown: 0001 A2 0002 11 0003 00 0004 FF What are the contents of the A register after the execution of this instruction? C1 00 01 I know that the answer is...
  27. K

    Medical Which frequencies does an MRI machine use? Is it microwaves?

    Hi, Which frequencies does an MRI machine use? Is it microwaves? Would prolonged exposure to it be damaging to the body?
  28. P

    Theoretical and Actual Acceleration for an Atwood Machine

    Homework Statement Include free body diagrams and equations solved independently for acceleration and tension. Note: a and T are to be expressed in terms of m1, m2, and g only. Trial 1:Mass1= 55g and Mass2= 60g Trial 2:Mass1= 55g and Mass2= 65g We are doing 2 trials but i need help with the...
  29. L

    Building Precise Machine in Home

    Hi, I am interested in building precise machine in home. I don't have a clear idea of what the machine looks like yet. But it involves high precision to do calculation. Is it possible to build such machine myself in home? What tool do I need to use?
  30. FOIWATER

    Could Misaligned Brushes Cause Arcing in DC Shunt Motors?

    Hi PF.. I am an industrial electrician (w/ a electrical engineering technology diploma) I work in a iron ore mine in northern Canada... we operate mining shovels. they are purely electric there are two motors used for hoisting the bucket, they are DC shunt wound motors. We recently...
  31. L

    Simplest Atwood machine question.

    Homework Statement Hi, the question is like in the picture. How hard should she pull the string to raise with constant speed? She weighs 70 kg together with the bucket. The Attempt at a Solution The system must have 0 acceleration, but does this mean she should pull the string with an...
  32. I

    Unequal Accelerations in Double Atwood Machine

    I have a simple question about the Double Atwood machine. I am able to follow the solution but one thing makes no sense to me. The accelerations for block A and block B are: Why aren't these equal? If they aren't, doesn't that mean the rope stretches? Or is this just an...
  33. W

    Atwood's Machine - One mass and one force

    Homework Statement Homework Equations ƩFy = may The Attempt at a Solution I'm unable to scan my work onto the computer, but I've gotten to the part where I this equation: ay = \frac{FA - Fgblock}{mA + mblock} The problem is now, I have two unknowns ... FA and mA. This is...
  34. S

    Ready to Dive into Stanford's Free Online ML & AI Courses?

    Hello all, Stanford is offering FREE online Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence courses running from October 10 to December 18. Would anyone like to register and start an online PF study group with me? Here are the links: http://www.ml-class.org http://www.ai-class.com
  35. C

    Understanding Atwood's machine

    Homework Statement Answers in bold. I want to know if I'm getting the right ideas here, since I basically have the same answer for every question. Basically, when acceleration is 0, there is NEVER a net force, and when there is constant velocity, acceleration is 0. I feel like my explanations...
  36. P

    Muriatic acid out gassing in a heated machine

    I sell a machine that cleans oil coolers and heat exchangers with oil. I now want to put 10%-20% muriatic/water in it for another purpose. My exposures are brass, steel, iron, heating element and Aluminum... My concerns are out gassing from any of the elements... can I filter any of the...
  37. J

    Double Atwood Machine Question

    Homework Statement I've tried and tried and can't solve this to look like this equation. Please Help! http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee237/biggyjoe210/IMAG0175.jpg 1. Show that the Acceleration of Mass A is given by : (look at picture) Homework Equations F = ma The...
  38. T

    Strengthening Deltoids with Nautilus Machine

    Homework Statement You are doing exercises on a Nautilus machine in a gym to strengthen your deltoid (shoulder) muscles. Your arms are raised vertically and can pivot around the shoulder joint, and you grasp the cable of the machine in your hand 64.0 from your shoulder joint. The deltoid...
  39. V

    Stop & Wait DLC System: State Machine & Timing

    Homework Statement Consider the operation of a Stop and Wait DLC system as shown below. The system is using 2-bit sequence numbers. http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/4496/hw2problem3diagram.jpg <a> Show the state machine from initial state (SN = 00, RN = 00) to the state (SN = 11, RN...
  40. S

    Building a Recoil Simulation Machine for Scope Testing

    I work for a company that manufactures and sells night vision scopes, day time optics, lasers, and pretty much anything that mounts to a weapon. I wanted to test our equipment to see how well it holds up to various recoil of different weapons but ammunition is very expensive and it is very...
  41. A

    How to Calculate Masses and Acceleration in an Atwood Machine Problem

    Atwood Machine Problem please help :) If one of the masses of an Atwood machine is 1.9 kg, what must be the other mass if the displacement of either mass is to be 0.1 m in the first second after release?
  42. S

    If the machine requires 260A and if i take a battery of 1300Ah, it

    if the machine requires 260A and if i take a battery of 1300Ah, it would mean that the battery is discharging at 1300 Amps per hour so if the machine takes 260 Amps then what happens to the rest of the current. the motor takes 260Amps so does it mean that it will take total 260 Amps as long...
  43. A

    Can this machine handle increased torque?

    I have a big, old horizontal blade mixer. There is no indication as to who manufactured it. No clue what year it was made...somewhere between 1910 and 1952. It currently has a 7.5HP motor. I tried mixing my viscoelastic goo. The ammeter showed the motor drawing about 2.5x the maximum rated...
  44. M

    Statics machine equilibrium: support reaction- I have too many unknowns

    Please help Due in 2 hours. Statics machine equilibrium: reactions- too many unknowns Homework Statement The woman using the lat pulldown machine is holding the 80-lb weight stationary in the position shown. What are the reactions at the built-in support E and pin support F? (A and C are...
  45. C

    How Can I Improve the Design of a Lure Coursing Machine?

    Lure coursing is where an electric motor pulls a string around a bunch of pulleys laid out in a field and dogs chase after the lure ties to the line. Most of the machines are home built with a 12 v car starter motor and solenoid and powered by car batteries. Yhis design has not seemed to change...
  46. N

    What will happen to trade when atoms can be rearranged at will?

    wen atoms can be re arranged at will, what wil the effect be on trade? wen u can make anything out of anything ths is a serious question, i think Newton was ridiculed an deleted off forums too. very rude! i cud be a genious!
  47. M

    Low torque homemade lathe-type machine

    Hi I am trying to find a motor that you could attach a chuck to and have somewhere around 2.5kgcm torque, with a speed variable between 60rpm and 180rpm, controllable with a foot pedal (smilar to a sewing machine pedal). Ideally there would be a clutch in there as well. Is there anything out...
  48. M

    Calculating Forces Acting on 4 Spur Gears in a Machine

    Hi, i would like some help on how to calculate the forces acting on each gear if the machine had 4 for example gear 1 has a diameter of 100, gear 2 has 300, gear 3 has 133.34 and gear 4 has 266.66 the machine is driven by an 80kW motor through a 2 stage gearbox having four spur gears...
  49. G01

    Machine Shop Project Ideas - Get Creative!

    Hi Guys, I'm taking a machine shop class this summer, and need a project for the next month. Unfortunately, I've been horribly uncreative this summer and am out of ideas. (All of my ideas are too easy or too small. Ex. Spring loaded guitar capo, some parts for the lab...) Anyone have...
  50. G

    Moment of Inertia for a machine

    Guys i need a little help in finding the moment of inertia of a part of a machine which looks like the part of a torus as the arc of a circle.Can somebody help me out with it please?
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