Mechanicals

Mechanicals is a broad term that can refer to devices and systems driven by mechanical principles. It denotes machines composed of moving parts that transmit force and motion, and it is sometimes used as a shorthand for the discipline of mechanical engineering, which studies how physical bodies respond to forces and movement.

In engineering practice, mechanical systems include elements such as gears, shafts, bearings, springs, cams, linkages, belts and pulleys, and actuators. Designers aim to convert energy into motion and work, control speed and torque, and ensure reliability. Analysis relies on statics, dynamics, kinematics, strength of materials, and thermodynamics, often aided by computer simulations.

In literature and culture, the term appears in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, where the "mechanicals" are a troupe of craftsmen who perform for the court. This usage emphasizes the social role of artisans and workers within a theatrical production and is frequently cited as an early example of the intersection between craft and performance.

Historically, mechanics traces back to ancient devices and the study of levers, inclined planes, screws, and pulleys. The Industrial Revolution advanced dedicated research and manufacturing capability, leading to modern fields such as automation, mechatronics, and robotics, which merge mechanical components with electronics, controls, and software to produce complex, intelligent systems.