Alan Hendrickson is a Professor (Adjunct) of Technical Design and Production at Yale School of Drama, and an independent consultant in scenery mechanization and control since 1984. Classes taught at Yale include Physics of Stage Machinery, Automation Control, Pneumatics and Hydraulics, and Mechanical Design for Theatre Applications. His outside consultant work includes hydraulic, control, and mechanical design for effects running on Broadway, national tour, and regional theatre shows, mainly through Hudson Scenic Studio.
Basic Concepts: Displacement, velocity acceleration
The force to accelerate mass
The force to overcome friction
The lifting force
Emax analysis- E-stop
Power example
Basic Concepts: Angular Displacement, angular speed, angular acceleration
The torque to accelerate mass
The torque of overcome friction
The lifting torque
Tmax analysis-E-stop
Rotational Power Example
Combining Linear and Rotary Motion
Safety
Power Sources
Electric Motors
Fluid Power Actuators
Speed Reduction
General Concepts
Gear Reducers
Chain Reduction
Belts
Shafting
Bearings and Wheels
Wire Rope & Sheaves
Cable Drums
Screw Mechanisms
Brakes
Control, from a mechanical design point of view
Frames and Framing
Freedom and Constraint
The Mechanical Design Process
Specification
Concept Design and Concept Evaluation
Detail Design
Manufacture
Cable Drum Winches
Turntable Drives
Guides, Tracks, Dogs and Knives
Lifts
Traps
Miscellaneous mechanisms: bellcranks, linkages, escapements, etc
Appendixes.