Design of Machine Elements

Rating:
Summary: Too Many Errors-- Great CD-ROM
Review: The book itself destroys the solid reputation built in the previous editions-- Spotts had a successful book, but he is dead now, and dean Shoup (note: a dean and not a design engineer) has moved/deleted items and changed problems around without checking the answers. Cases in point: the text goes through a discussion of belts, yet there are no problems on belts at the end of the chapter. The text also has problems dealing with cast iron designs, yet the original section of the text has been deleted. Some crucial tables have also been removed (which are needed to solve some problems)-- very puzzling and frustrating at times, and simply inexcusable (read: sloppy! ). However, the CD-ROM is very useful. There are nice modules on Mohr's Circle, stress concentrations, and gear design. It, too, is incomplete-- I hope that the next edition has modules for all of the chapters-- this is an excellent idea. I hope that the next (Eighth... if it survives...) edition will take the text from the Sixth Edition (i.e., not the Seventh!) and continue to expand the CD-ROM. This would be a winning combination.

Rating:
Summary: Too Many Errors-- Great CD-ROM
Review: The book itself destroys the solid reputation built in the previous editions-- Spotts had a successful book, but he is dead now, and dean Shoup (note: a dean and not a design engineer) has moved/deleted items and changed problems around without checking the answers. Cases in point: the text goes through a discussion of belts, yet there are no problems on belts at the end of the chapter. The text also has problems dealing with cast iron designs, yet the original section of the text has been deleted. Some crucial tables have also been removed (which are needed to solve some problems)-- very puzzling and frustrating at times, and simply inexcusable (read: sloppy! ). However, the CD-ROM is very useful. There are nice modules on Mohr's Circle, stress concentrations, and gear design. It, too, is incomplete-- I hope that the next edition has modules for all of the chapters-- this is an excellent idea. I hope that the next (Eighth... if it survives...) edition will take the text from the Sixth Edition (i.e., not the Seventh!) and continue to expand the CD-ROM. This would be a winning combination.

Rating:
Summary: Bad book, very bad book
Review: This book is so full of errors it is unbelieveable that it is a seventh edition. Examples are non existant in relation to problem assignments. Those that are given are full of errors either from the author or the typesetter. The solution manual IN ADDITION to this text are required to get any sort of learning from it. It is definately not worth the price that the publisher sets. If you are looking for a text for a college class, look somewhere else.

Rating:
Summary: Design of Machine Elements
Review: This is one of the worst books I've ever read for the design of machine components. Not only are there hardly any sample problems, the book is filled with errors.The authors shown no sign of consistancey or process for any of the problems that are worked out. If you want to learn the design of machine components, I strongly suggest learning it from another book.