Mechanical Engineering Handbook: Drive Design Volume

Author: Chief Editor: Li Shuquan
Publisher:
Publication Date: 1997-07-01
Features: Preface to the Second Edition
The second editions of the Mechanical Engineering Handbook and the Electrical Engineering Handbook are now officially presented to the readers. These two large-scale comprehensive technical reference books represent a significant foundational effort in China's mechanical and electrical industry. The original editions were compiled in the 1970s and received the kind attention of the older generation of revolutionaries. During his lifetime, Premier Zhou Enlai once instructed that this project be given high priority. Under the leadership of renowned mechanical engineering expert and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Shen Hong and other colleagues, over 2,300 experts and scholars from various sectors across the country were organized to compile and publish these unprecedentedly massive works in the field of mechanical and electrical engineering.
After their publication, they garnered significant attention and praise from all sectors of society and were awarded honors such as the National Science Congress Award, the First Prize of the National Outstanding Science and Technology Books, and the National Book Award. They were one of the top ten national science and technology publishing projects. Over the years, they have been distributed in over 100,000 sets, playing a vital role in the development of the mechanical and electrical industry.
The mechanical and electrical industry is the equipment and leading industry of the national economy. The level of development of the mechanical and electrical industry largely determines a country's industrial and technological standards. In the past decade or so, China's mechanical and electrical industry has adhered to reform and opening-up, vigorously promoted technological progress, and seen its overall quality and strength improve. The quality and level of its products have significantly advanced, and the range and variety of products have expanded rapidly, making due contributions to China's socialist modernization. However, it should also be noted that compared to the booming national economy and international advanced standards, China's mechanical and electrical industry still has certain gaps. As China's socialist market economy system gradually establishes and improves, and as the global pace of the new technological revolution accelerates, the mechanical and electrical industry faces both opportunities and challenges.
Therefore, the mechanical and electrical industry must truly shift its focus to relying on technological progress and improving the quality of its workforce. It must invest significant effort in mastering and tracking new technologies, developing and applying them, transforming traditional processes, and fostering emerging industries to continuously enhance its competitiveness in both domestic and international markets. Only in this way can we better fulfill the historic mission entrusted to us by the Party and the people to revitalize the mechanical and electrical industry.
It is precisely to adapt to this new situation that it is necessary to compile the second editions of these two handbooks. This second edition compilation once again received the care and attention of the leadership of the Party and the state. General Secretary Jiang Zemin inscribed a message emphasizing the need to "compile the essence of mechanical and electrical disciplines to serve socialist modernization." This provided clear guidance and direction for the second edition, effectively promoting its smooth progress.
"The grand path endures for centuries, while temporary measures serve for the moment." These handbooks are tools for accumulating, expanding, and disseminating knowledge, representing a grand project in the field of mechanical and electrical science and technology. Based on the original editions, the second edition has carefully summarized the achievements and experiences of the past decade, actively absorbed advanced foreign technologies, revised or updated certain content, and added numerous chapters on high technologies. It strives to integrate machinery, electricity, and instruments organically to better meet current and future development needs.
The second edition is characterized by "comprehensiveness, precision, novelty, and accuracy." Overall, it emphasizes "focusing on the bigger picture, outlining the general framework, reflecting commonalities, and highlighting key points." In terms of content selection, it prioritizes "basic, common, critical, and developing" aspects. The content is scientifically sound, advanced, and practical, while the expression aims to be "concise, accessible, intuitive, and easy to categorize for quick reference."
In summary, after this revision, these two handbooks have become richer in content, more rational in structure, and more convenient to use, with their comprehensive, technical, and compilation standards reaching a new level.
These handbooks are primarily intended for technical personnel in various fields for reference, but they can also serve as a reference for management personnel in enterprises and institutions to understand the leading domestic and international levels in relevant disciplines, grasp new technology trends, and make accurate, scientific decisions and long-term plans. This enables our work to be more systematic, forward-looking, and creative, better serving the continuous, rapid, and healthy development of the mechanical and electrical industry.
This edition's editorial board was jointly formed by the Ministry of Machinery Industry and 17 relevant ministries, commissions, and state-owned enterprises. Over 3,000 experts and scholars from more than 500 units across the country, specializing in research, production, design, and teaching, participated in the compilation and review. All units attached great importance to and supported the compilation of these handbooks, making significant contributions. The reviewers put in arduous effort, ensuring the high-quality completion of this massive project.
On behalf of the editorial board and the Ministry of Machinery Industry, I extend the highest respect to the original reviewers, led by Shen Hong, and heartfelt thanks to all the ministries, commissions, and staff who supported the second edition. Although the second edition is now published, there are still some shortcomings. We sincerely hope that the readers will offer criticism and suggestions so that we can improve in future work.
He Guangyuan
Beijing, 1995