Evolution of Concept of Machine Composition from the 19th Century to Modern Time

With increasing of productivity and development of machines, the concept of "machine composition" also evolved. The requirements of modern society for machines were gradually increasing, and complex machines came from the transformation of traditional machines. Understanding the evolution of machines was a necessary process for the transformation of traditional machines. Marx first described the composition of machines in his Das Kapital, which coincided with the start of the Second Industrial Revolution. However, within only a few years, the control system joined a machine, and Marx's "concept of machine composition" began to be broken through. In the second half of the 20th century, in the Third Scientific and Technological Revolution, the concept of mechatronics emerged, and electronic technology, control technology and sensor technology were integrated into mechanical systems. The evolution processes of the concept of machine composition were explained through the history of the development of machines herein. By analyzing the evolution of the concept of machine composition, a more accurate definition of modern mechanical systems was put forword. It may enlighten people, increase their understanding of the machine itself, which has guiding significance for modern mechanical product designers. © 2023 China Mechanical Engineering Magazine Office. All rights reserved.