04-12-2017, 03:07 PM
Although generally not considered a machine element, the shape, texture and colour of the covers are an important part of a machine that provides a functional and design interface between the mechanical components of a machine and its users. The elements of the machine are basic mechanical parts and characteristics used as building blocks of most machines. Most are standardized for common sizes, but customs are also common for specialized applications.
The elements of the machine can be characteristic of a piece (such as screw threads or plain bearings) or they can be discrete parts in themselves, such as wheels, axles, pulleys, rolling element bearings or gears. All simple machines can be described as machine elements, and many machine elements incorporate concepts from one or more simple machines. For example, a spindle incorporates a thread, which is an inclined plane wrapped around a cylinder.
Many tasks of mechanical design, invention and engineering involve the knowledge of various elements of the machine and an intelligent and creative combination of these elements in a component or set that satisfies a need (an application serves).
