This practical, user-friendly reference book of common mechanical engineering concepts is geared toward makers who don't have (or want) an engineering degree but need to know the essentials of basic mechanical elements to successfully accomplish their personal projects. The book provides practical mechanical engineering information (supplemented with the applicable math, science, physics, and engineering theory) without being boring like a typical textbook. Most chapters contain at least one hands-on, fully illustrated, step-by-step project to demonstrate the topic being discussed and requires only common, inexpensive, easily sourced materials and tools. Some projects also provide alternative materials and tools and processes to align with the reader's individual preferences, skills, tools, and materials-at-hand. Linked together via the authors' overarching project -- building a kid-sized tank -- the chapters describe the thinking behind each mechanism and then expands the discussions to similar mechanical concepts in other applications. Written with humor, a bit of irreverence, and entertaining personal insights and first-hand experiences, the book presents complex concepts in an uncomplicated way.

Highlights include:

Provides mechanical engineering information that includes math, science, physics and engineering theory without being a textbook

Contains hands-on projects in each chapter that require common, inexpensive, easily sourced materials and tools

All hands-on projects are fully illustrated with step-by-step instructions

Some hands-on projects provide alternative materials and tools/processes to align with the reader's individual preferences, skills, tools and materials-at-hand

Includes real-world insights from the authors like tips and tricks ("Staying on Track") and fail moments ("Lost Track!")

Many chapters contain a section ("Tracking Further") that dives deeper into the chapter subject, for those readers that are interested in more details of the topic

Builds on two related Make: projects to link and illustrate all the chapter topics and bring individual concepts together into one system

Furnishes an accompanying website that offers further information, illustrations, projects, discussion boards, videos, animations, patterns, drawings, etc.

Learn to effectively use professional mechanical engineering principles in your projects, without having to graduate from engineering school!