What’s on the Selecting a Material poster?

5 numbered steps. Function, constraint, free variable, objective: then the index falls out. State function and constraint — What must the part do, and what must it not exceed?; Name the free variable — Usually a dimension you are allowed to change.; Write the objective — Minimise mass, or cost, or deflection at a stated load.; Derive the index — Stiff light tie: E ÷ density. Strong light tie: yield ÷ density.; Screen, rank, then check — Rank on the index, then test process, supply and price.. An index ranks materials; it does not choose one. Corrosion, joining and availability decide in the end.

Who is the Selecting a Material poster for?

Selecting a Material belongs to the Mechanical Engineering section rather than to a school year, because engineering is not something one grade owns. Anyone learning manufacturing can pin it up — a beginner, a student mid-course, or someone revising years later.

When should you use the Selecting a Material poster?

Early design, when the material is still open and weight or cost matters. A wall chart earns its place by being glanceable from where the work is happening, so Selecting a Material belongs on the wall where that engineering work actually happens, within glancing distance, rather than filed away.

What other posters go with Selecting a Material?

Additive Processes, Casting Processes and Speed & Feed sit alongside Selecting a Material in the Mechanical Engineering section. Printed together they make a wall rather than a single sheet, which is how a reference set actually gets used.

Is the Selecting a Material poster free to download and print?

Yes. Selecting a Material downloads as a free PDF with no account, no email and no watermark, like everything else in the Mechanical Engineering section. Print as many copies as you like for a home, a classroom, a library or a tutoring group; reselling the file is the only thing the licence rules out.

What size does the Selecting a Material poster print at?

Selecting a Material is a vector PDF laid out for US Letter, and prints on A4 with Fit to page — the same file, no separate download. Because every mark on it is drawn rather than photographed, it stays sharp enlarged to A3, A2 or A1 at a copy shop. Colour carries emphasis only, so a greyscale print of Selecting a Material loses nothing.

Selecting a Material — free printable poster

Selecting a Material — printable engineering wall chart from LearnPosters. Free vector PDF, US Letter and A4.

Selecting a Material, step by step

Function, constraint, free variable, objective: then the index falls out.

State function and constraintWhat must the part do, and what must it not exceed?
Name the free variableUsually a dimension you are allowed to change.
Write the objectiveMinimise mass, or cost, or deflection at a stated load.
Derive the indexStiff light tie: E ÷ density. Strong light tie: yield ÷ density.
Screen, rank, then checkRank on the index, then test process, supply and price.

An index ranks materials; it does not choose one. Corrosion, joining and availability decide in the end.

Questions about the Selecting a Material poster

What’s on the Selecting a Material poster?: 5 numbered steps. Function, constraint, free variable, objective: then the index falls out. State function and constraint — What must the part do, and what must it not exceed?; Name the free variable — Usually a dimension you are allowed to change.; Write the objective — Minimise mass, or cost, or deflection at a stated load.; Derive the index — Stiff light tie: E ÷ density. Strong light tie: yield ÷ density.; Screen, rank, then check — Rank on the index, then test process, supply and price.. An index ranks materials; it does not choose one. Corrosion, joining and availability decide in the end.
Who is the Selecting a Material poster for?: Selecting a Material belongs to the Mechanical Engineering section rather than to a school year, because engineering is not something one grade owns. Anyone learning manufacturing can pin it up — a beginner, a student mid-course, or someone revising years later.
When should you use the Selecting a Material poster?: Early design, when the material is still open and weight or cost matters. A wall chart earns its place by being glanceable from where the work is happening, so Selecting a Material belongs on the wall where that engineering work actually happens, within glancing distance, rather than filed away.
What other posters go with Selecting a Material?: Additive Processes, Casting Processes and Speed & Feed sit alongside Selecting a Material in the Mechanical Engineering section. Printed together they make a wall rather than a single sheet, which is how a reference set actually gets used.Additive Processes Casting Processes Speed & Feed
Is the Selecting a Material poster free to download and print?: Yes. Selecting a Material downloads as a free PDF with no account, no email and no watermark, like everything else in the Mechanical Engineering section. Print as many copies as you like for a home, a classroom, a library or a tutoring group; reselling the file is the only thing the licence rules out.Read the licence
What size does the Selecting a Material poster print at?: Selecting a Material is a vector PDF laid out for US Letter, and prints on A4 with Fit to page — the same file, no separate download. Because every mark on it is drawn rather than photographed, it stays sharp enlarged to A3, A2 or A1 at a copy shop. Colour carries emphasis only, so a greyscale print of Selecting a Material loses nothing.Printing guide

Selecting a Material, step by step

Questions about the Selecting a Material poster

Related posters