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Is there some sort of equivalent standardized schematical (topological) diagram -such as Piping and Instrumentation Diagram, Electrical Schematics, Process Flow Diagrams, etc.- for the realm of mechanical engineering? I just need to draw the overall architecture that would describe the main components of the system and how they are connected, without going into too much detail. I have seen some diagrams but they seem to be ad hoc, as they have no fixed resemblance to each other.

enter image description here

Image 1: I'm looking for something in this complexity.

Maybe there is more than one way to do this but it would be nice to be more universally understood. Looked into OMG SysML but that didt at first glance seem to have what i was looking for.

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  • $\begingroup$ Afaik, there is not schematic diagrams on mechanical engineering. Piping, instrumentation, electrical engineering have, but i've never seen schematic diagrams for gears, or shafts or something else. These designs belong to the realm of mechanical manufacturer, which often do not deliver a huge details of their equipment. Usually through scale drawings. Perhaps you should create some kind of generalization.... ? $\endgroup$
    – Brethlosze
    Commented Mar 28, 2016 at 4:09
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    $\begingroup$ Simulation tools use schematics for pyhical modeling. Eg: Modelica, SimScape.. I prefer take them as reference, excluding signal blocks. mathworks.com/help/physmod/hydro/ug/… modelica.github.io/Modelica/help/Modelica_Fluid_Examples.html $\endgroup$
    – Onur
    Commented May 23, 2016 at 6:54
  • $\begingroup$ You don't need a schematic for a mechanical system unless your simulating. Mechanical systems have actual drawings and don't need to be designed in a symbolic format. $\endgroup$
    – Voltage Spike
    Commented Sep 2, 2016 at 20:01
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    $\begingroup$ @laptop2d so you mean that there is no need for coceptual design, hogwash. $\endgroup$
    – joojaa
    Commented Sep 3, 2016 at 5:45
  • $\begingroup$ @joojaa I did not use the words "conceptual design" anywhere in my post. $\endgroup$
    – Voltage Spike
    Commented Sep 6, 2016 at 15:53

3 Answers 3

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The diagram most closely related to the original question seems to be a kinematic diagram. Kinematic diagrams are standardized in ISO 3952, although it seems that most often people are just copying what they have seen without reading the standard (which is quite old, but then this is common anyway).

The standard is in 4 parts and covers symbols, and alternate pictograms for such things as:

  • Simple kinematic pairs such as used in bar linkages (part 1),
  • gears and cams (part 2),
  • geneva drives, ratchets, clutches and couplings (part 3),
  • belt/chain drives, lead screws, flywheels, bearings (part 4).

If we re-draw the image in the original question:

enter image description here

Image 1: Kinematic diagram, uses the same thin thick line style as normal engineering drawings.

ISO 3952 standard does not have a motor symbol. That is because they are concerned with motions not dynamics. Either way it is a human readable format so you can always add your own clarifications.

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Even though I can't find any standardized literature, the theory behind of what you seem to be looking for is the so called systems modelling. Peter E. Wellstead published (can be accessed here: www.control-systems-principles.co.uk) his efforts in "formulating a simple unified approach to system modelling" that could set a framework for handling mechanical systems using the exchange of energy of it's elements as the unifying key point. The result of this approach is a simple and manageable method to model lumped systems.This method uses differential equations and a set of graphical representation alternatives, namely network methods (topological network used traditionally in electrical circuits) or bond graph methods.

Here is an example of the topological representation as requested in your question:

Example of a Mechanical System represented by a Network

In his book you'll find other examples of more complex mechanical systems:

  • The ball and the beam problem
  • An automotive test bed

Good luck!

Edit: I don't yet have permission to publish links but the mentioned book can be found at www"dot"control-systems-principles"dot"co"dot"uk .

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There is, it looks like this here: enter image description here

I don't know it this is standardized, but it is used quite often like this. In university the questions in exam looked sometimes like this.

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  • $\begingroup$ I've just drawn a poor example of your example, but how can I add a picture. In TeX.SX this is no problem. $\endgroup$
    – MaestroGlanz
    Commented May 22, 2016 at 11:33
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    $\begingroup$ Yes I've seen such drawings but they do not seem to be standard. The question is is there a universal explanation of what the symbols should look like. Would make reading the diagrams less error prone. $\endgroup$
    – joojaa
    Commented May 22, 2016 at 11:41
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    $\begingroup$ Do you have a reference for this? Without knowing what the numbers mean, it is not very helpful. $\endgroup$
    – hazzey ♦
    Commented May 23, 2016 at 13:03

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