Mechanical Engineer's Pocket Book, 3rd Edition

Foreword

Roger L. Timings (2005)

It is now 14 years since the first edition of the Mechanical Engineer’s Pocket Book was published in its present format. Although a second edition was published some 7 years ago to accommodate many updates in the British Standards incorporated in the text, no changes were made to the structure of the book.

During the 14 years since the first edition of the Mechanical Engineer’s Pocket Book was published, the British Engineering Industry has undergone many changes, with the emphasis moving from manufacture to design and development. At the same time manufacturing has been largely out-sourced to East Europe, Asia and the Far East in order to reduce operating costs in an increasingly competitive global market.

Therefore, ...