This tutorial constructs the inflection circle for a particular configuration of a four-bar linkage. This construction was recommended by my colleague Gordon Pennock because it is simpler than the one I provide in my book Kinematic Synthesis of Mechanisms.
This tutorial shows how to use Geogebra to construct the canonical coordinate system for a particular configuration of a four-bar linkage. It starts with a quadrilateral which is to be the configuration of the linkage at a particular instant. Then constructs the velocity pole and the instant center of the positions of the input and […]
Prof Haijun Su at Ohio State University had his students design walking machines for their final project in ME 5751. Here are videos of four project teams from that event. Team A: Team B: Team C: Team D:
Our Sphinx software was the first computer-aided design system for spherical linkages. It used IRIS system by Silicon Graphics. Collaboration with Judy Vance lead to a Virtual Reality version of this design system. This is a link to the description of this research at Iowa State University. This video shows the operation of these two […]
The linkage design software developed by Art Erdman and his students at the University of Minnesota, called LINCAGES: Linkage INteractive Computer Analysis and Graphically Enhanced Synthesis Package, was developed in 1977 through 2000. This is a link to his information site. His guide map that evaluates all of the linkages formed from points on the […]
My first experience with computer based kinematic synthesis was a 1982 presentation by Roger Kaufman of his KinSyn linkage design software on an Apple II microcomputer. This is a link to his description of his experience in those early days of computer-aided design of linkages. His paper that describes this software can be found here. […]
Just after I published my book Kinematic Synthesis of Mechanisms with its emphasis on leg mechanisms, I found two more interesting eight-bar legs from the designers at DIYWalkers.com This is a Geogebra animation of the leg mechanism for the Strider walker. It is a symmetrical design that allows the formation of a second foot assembly […]
The animated four-bar linkage FHJD is constructed using dimensions as the quadrilateral ABCD. The dynamic geometry software Geogebra maintains the dimensions of FHJD as the points of ABCD are moved. The result is that the animated linkage changes to match the new dimensions. This can be seen in following Movie. For more information see Kinematic […]
Here are the eight Movies in Chapter 6 of Kinematic Synthesis of Mechanisms. Movie 6.1 Movie 6.2 Movie 6.3 Movie 6.4 Movie 6.5 Movie 6.6 Movie 6.7 Movie 6.8
Here are the four Movies in Chapter 5 of Kinematic Synthesis of Mechanisms. Movie 5.1 Movie 5.2 Movie 5.3 Movie 5.4