Sample Linkage Mechanisms

Download samples and experiments for the Linkage mechanism designer and simulator.

 

 

Rolling Bridge


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The Paddington Rolling Bridge mechanism. Information on the bridge in Paddington London can be found here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rolling_Bridge

Download the file: rollingbridge.linkage2

Watch the video:

 

Hoberman Circle


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Mechanism based on the well-known Hoberman Sphere mechanism by Chuck Hoberman.

Download the file: hoberman.linkage2

Watch the video:

 

Grasshopper Beam Engine



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Download the file: grasshoppervar.linkage2

Watch the video:

 

Owl Pussycat Mechanism


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Reverse engineered mechanism based on Keith Newstead’s Owl and Pussycat Automaton seen here.

Download the file: owlpussycat.linkage2

Watch the video:

 

Speed Changing Oscillator


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This oscillating mechanism changes speed during an oscillation. A rotary input will normally change the speed of the oscillator but the added Whitworth quick return mechanism makes it change in two ways.

Download the file: speedchangeoscillator.linkage2

Watch the video:

 

Level Moving Table


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This is a chain connected table leveling mechanism. The table moves left and right while remaining level with it’s original position.

Download the file: leveltable.linkage2

Watch the video:

 

Link Aperture


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This is a simple aperture mechanism using links.

Download the file: aperature.linkage2

Watch the video:

 

Sliding Aperture


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This is a complex aperture mechanism using curved path sliding connections.

Download the file: aperture3.linkage2

Watch the video:

 

Slide to Slider


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This is a pair of sliding links whose position is controlled by another sliding connector. This is only recently supported in the Linkage program.

Download the file: slideslide.linkage2

Watch the video:

 

Front End Loader


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This is a model of a front end loader bucket mechanism. I never actually tried to use “Always Manual” inputs during a video export, but it worked fine even with the animation running slower than real-time.

Download the file: bucket.linkage2

Watch the video:

 

Alternate Front End Loader


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This is another model of a front end loader bucket mechanism. I like the geometry of this one a bit more than the other one.

Download the file: bucket2.linkage2

Watch the video:

 

Gear and Chain Test


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This is a test mechanism I created when I first added the gear and chain features. I just updated the video to show moving chains, something available in the latest (3.2.10) version of the software.

Download the file: rockinggears.linkage2

Watch the video:

 

Box Transport Mechanism


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A user wanted to build a box transport mechanism but the design used a problematic linkage; the simulator can’t simulate some type of mechanism. This is a redesign of that mechanism.

Download the file: boxtransport.linkage2

Watch the video:

 

Whitworth Quick Return Mechanism


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Two Whitworth quick return mechanisms, or something like that.

Download the file: whitworth.linkage2

Watch the video:

 

Cardan Straight Line Mechanism


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A Cardan straight line mechanism. This uses some gears to draw straight lines.

Download the file: cardan.linkage2

Watch the video:

 

Herreid Mechanism


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90 degree linear motion change mechanism by Bill Herreid. See a video of his prototype on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/bill.herreid.5/videos/10154365114021151/

Download the file: herreid.linkage2

Watch the video:

 

Four Bar Linkage Mechanism


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A simple four bar linkage with a motorized anchor.

Download the file: fourbar.linkage2

Watch the video:

 

Smile Mechanism


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Draw a smile.

Download the file: smile.linkage2

Watch the video:

 

Theo Jansen Leg Mechanism


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Leg mechanism by Theo Jansen from his Strandbeest kinetic-sculpture mechanism.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theo_Jansen

Download the file: jansen.linkage2

Watch the video:

 

Klann Leg Mechanism


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Leg mechanism by Joe Klann.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klann_linkage

Download the file: klann.linkage2

Watch the video:

 

Joules Leg Mechanism


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Joules bike pedalling leg mechanism by Carl Morgan.
www.mekanizmalar.com/joules.html

Download the file: joules.linkage2

Watch the video:

 

Hoeken Straight Line Mechanism


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Hoeken Straight Line Mechanism by Karl Hoecken. The mechanism shows up online with the alternate spelling of his name for some reason. The Wikipedia page for this mecahnism seems to show a variation that is not as accurate as the mechanism show here and elsewhere online.

Download the file: hoeken.linkage2

Watch the video:

 

Parallel Movement Mechanism


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This mechanism shows how a factory part movement machine might work.

Download the file: parallel.linkage2

Watch the video:

 

Folding Car Top Mechanism


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A convertible car top folding mechanism.

Download the file: foldingtop.linkage2

Watch the video:

 

Simple Sliding Mechanism


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Simple sliding mechanism that uses a sliding connector to move a link.

Download the file: sliding.linkage2

Watch the video:

 

Simple Sliding Mechanism 2


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Simple sliding mechanism that uses a link to move a sliding connection.

Download the file: sliding2.linkage2

Watch the video:

 

Elliptical Exercise Machine


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Elliptical exercise machine with left and right leg views as well as an overlapping both leg view.

Download the file: elliptical.linkage2

Watch the video:

 

Multiple Slider Machine


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Multiple sliding connectors.

Download the file: sliding3.linkage2

Watch the video:

 

Linear Actuator Machine


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Example of an actuator moving a sliding connector that then moves a link.

Download the file: actuator2.linkage2

Watch the video:

 

Backhoe


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Download the file: backhoe.linkage2

Watch the video:

 

Weird Complicated Mechanism


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This is a sample of various links, connectors, and inputs, that combine to make an unusual drawing pattern.

Download the file: complicated.linkage2

Watch the video:

 

Peaucellier Straight Line Mechanism


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Mechanism to convert rotary motion to straight line motion.Also known as the Peaucellier–Lipkin mechanism or linkage.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peaucellier%E2%80%93Lipkin_linkage

Download the file: peaucellier.linkage2

Watch the video:

 

Scissor Lift


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Simple scissor lift.

Download the file: scissor.linkage2

Watch the video:

 

Varying Speed Mechanism


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Whitworth quick return mechanism used to create a rotating mechanism with varying rotational speed.

Download the file: varyspeed.linkage2

Watch the video:

 

Watt Straight Line Mechanism


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Watt straight line mechanism in a vertical steam engine machine.

Download the file: watt.linkage2

Watch the video:

 

Linear Actuator Thow Distance Test


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A mechanism for testing the throw distance of linear actuators. Used back and the linear actuator feature was first added.

Download the file: throwtest.linkage2

Watch the video:

 

Piston Mechanism


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The piston mechanism has the mechanism parts all drawn in a light color to make the drawing layer more visible.

Download the file: piston.linkage2

Watch the video:

 

Curved Sliding Path Mechanism


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Sliding connector on a curved path.

Download the file: curvedsliding.linkage2

Watch the video:

 

Curved Sliding Path
Mechanism 2


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Sliding connector on a curved path.

Download the file: curvedsliding2.linkage2

Watch the video:

 

Chebyshev Straight Line Mechanism


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Chebyshev stright line mechanism by Pafnut Chebyshev.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chebyshev_linkage

Download the file: chebyshev.linkage2

Watch the video:

 

Curved Path Mechanism


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Sliding connections to move a link along a curved path.

Download the file: curvedpath.linkage2

Watch the video:

 

Ball Lifting Mechanism


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This is a ball lifting mechanism for a rolling ball kinetic sculpture, also known as a marble run. This design was used to build a physical version of the mechanism, as seen in one of the videos below.

Download the file: balllifter.linkage2

Watch the video:

Watch the video:

 

Gear Mechanism


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Four gears in series. It is actually six gears on four shafts. When a gear unit is meshed with two other gears, that can create a single solid gear unit with two gears working as a unit.

Download the file: fourgears.linkage2

Watch the video:

 

Orbit Mechanism


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Chain and gear combination to produce a sun-planet-moon type of orbit machine.

Download the file: orbit.linkage2

Watch the video:

 

Amplified Oscillation Mechanism


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Linear and rotating inputs can directly create oscillating mechanisms that rotate up to almost 180 degrees. Using gears to up-convert the oscillation, the oscillating parts can move past the 180 degree limit.

Download the file: amplified.linkage2

Watch the video:

 

Stephenson Locomotive Valve Mechanism


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This is a variation of the Stephenson valve mechanism. The forward-neutral-reverse control is acomplished with a manual input linear actuator in the simulation. The video shows it being moved around to various positions.

Download the file: stephenson.linkage2

Watch the video:

 

Scheublin Table Legs


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Wouter Scheublin table legs mechanism using multiple copies of the Chebyshev straight line mechanism.
www.scheublinlindeman.com

Download the file: wouter.linkage2

Watch the video:

 

Intersection Slider


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Slider link moving into position at the intersection of two rotating links. The second rotating link is driven off the movement of the end of the first rotating link causing it to have an uneven speed during rotation. The sliding link has two sliding connectors sliding on one of the rotating links and one sliding connector to position it on the other rotating link.

Download the file: intersection3.linkage2

Watch the video:

 

Intersection Slider


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Slider link moving into position at the intersection of two rotating links. The second rotating link is driven off the movement of the end of the first rotating link causing it to have an uneven speed during rotation. The sliding link has two sliding connectors sliding on one of the rotating links and one sliding connector to position it on the other rotating link.

Download the file: intersection3.linkage2

Watch the video: