Animations of linkage movement.

Kinetic Art

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This is is an example of the kinetic art of Volkert van der Wijk. He has designed the linkage so that it is statically balanced, which allows the observer to position the acrobat in a wide range of positions.

This is an installation of one of Volkert’s pieces which is a linkage balanced so that when the observer provides a small upward push the sculpture lifts and extends, and then slowly collapses when the force is removed.

I was pleased to meet Volkert at the 2012 Advances in Robot Kinematics conference in Innsbruck, where he presented the mathematical theory for static balancing the Acrobat. His other work can be seen at his web page: Kinetic Art

5-SS Steering Linkage

5-SS Steering Linkage

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This steering linkage is designed to increase the track, decrease the wheelbase and adjust the camber to stabilize high speed turning of the vehicle. The design theory uses an iterative procedure to identify task positions, solve the link constraint equations and analyze candidate designs to guarantee effective movement. This is research by Mark Plecnik.

Adjustable spinal implant

Adjustable spinal implant

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Brandon Tsuge and Tim Rasmussen developed this concept for an adjustable spinal implant. The six-bar linkage provides 5mm of movement to accommodate a patient’s adaptation to the implant.

Instrument for spinal implant

Instrument for spinal implant

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This instrument is a six-bar linkage designed to separate vertebral segments for manipulation of a spinal implant. This design concept was developed by Brandon Tsuge and Tim Rasmussen.

MechGen 3

Mechanism Generator 3.0

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Our Mechanism Generator 3.0 software reads a SolidWorks sketch of a planar 3R chain that reaches five task positions and computes a set of Watt 1 six-bar linkages that approximate movement through the task positions within specified tolerances. An animation previewer shows how each linkage moves. Select one and MechGen 3 generates a solid model of the linkage.

This is more excellent work from the team of Alex Arredondo and Kastubh Sonawale.

**Update: This video has been revised to provide a preview at the beginning that shows the six-bar linkage that is designed using MechGen 3.

Rice Transplanter

Rice Transplanter

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This rice transplanter selects seedlings from the hopper and plants them into the ground using a four-bar linkage designed by Mark Plecnik.

5SS Spatial Steering Linkage

5SS Spatial Steering Linkage

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Mark Plecnik designed this spatial 5SS steering linkage to increase the track and increase the camber as the vehicle turns.

MechGen 2

Mechanism Generator 2.0 (MechGen 2)

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We have a trial version of our Mechanism Generator 2.0 software available. MechGen 2 reads five task positions of a moving part in SolidWorks and generates a set of linkages that approximate the positions within specified tolerances. An animation previewer shows how each linkage moves. Select one and MechGen 2 generates the solid model of the linkage.  

This is the result of excellent work by Alex Arredondo and Kaustubh Sonawale.

This video demonstrates the operation of MechGen 2:

Folding movement for wings for the Icon A5

Folding movement for wings for the Icon A5

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This spherical four-bar linkage concept by Kaustubh Sonawale guides the wings of the Icon A5 in the movement shown in the animation.

Spherical linkage concept to fold a wing

Spherical linkage concept to fold a wing

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This is a spherical four-bar linkage concept by Kaustubh Sonawale designed to fold the wings of an Icon A5 small aircraft.