Mechanism Generator is a SolidWorks add-in that assists in generating solid models of four-bar and six-bar linkages. It designed to be used in coordination with our Mathematica design software, which is freely available.

Smitty constructed this prototype of our spherical deployable structure. It is an assembly of spherical rhombus linkages that expands to form a semi-circular structure.

Here are two videos of our first attempt to build prototypes for some of our six-bar linkage design concepts. These models were built by Steve and Justin with guidance from Smitty.

This is the six-bar linkage that guides a bottom drawer to a position that is level with the top drawer. The links were cut from aluminum and are wobbly.

This six-bar linkage deploys a television display from a horizontal position in the ceiling to a vertical position for viewing. The links are welded steel tube, and the system moves more smoothly.

Chris Longhurst has assembled a number of descriptive articles and illustrations about automotive engines, transmissions, steering, suspensions, brakes and tires on his site http://www.carbibles.com

Automotive information

Also information about roller coaster simulation software can be found on his personal website http://www.chris-longhurst.com/nolimits.html.

Mikhail Zhuk generated this animation of Jerome Choe’s concept for a six-bar linkage that rotates a 70in TV monitor down from the ceiling around a virtual pivot positioned down from the ceiling and in front of the wall. We hope to build a physical prototype. (UCI Robotics and Automation Lab)

This video shows the operation of a cam-driven toy artist.

I found it on Dug North’s Automata/Automaton blog, http://dugnorth.com/blog/

My class notes on cam-follower systems can be downloaded at the link: http://synthetica.eng.uci.edu/~mccarthy/mechanicaldesign101/McCarthyNotes-Cams2.pdf

Lecture notes on cam-follower systems

Prof. A. J. Klein Breteler maintains an array of mechanism models at TU-Delft. Access videos of these models at the site: http://wbmttt.tudelft.nl/cadom/Models/Index.htm

Whiteboard models TU-Delft

Ilian Bonev maintains bibliography and patent databases on parallel mechanisms and much more at ParallelMIC. Access it at the link http://www.parallemic.org/

Parallel Mechanisms information center

This articulated model horse is by the artist James Watt.

A kit for this device and other designs can be found on his web-site: http://clockworkrobot.com/

This animation of Jerome Choe’s concept for a spherical archway was generated by Mikhail Zhuk. Spherical rhombus elements form a foldable structure. (UCI Robotics and Automation Lab)