Inverse Curves - Research on Two Quondam Inversor Mechanisms

Abstract

The field of research considered in this work is that of mechanisms generating inverse curves. We were motivated to approach this field, proposing variants of mechanisms based on Artobolevsky’s inversor, in blocking conditions, due to the lack of recent applications related to inversor mechanisms that draw curves other than straight lines. Based on Crawford’s inversor, Artobolevsky’s inversor is structurally and kinematically analysed in what follows. Hence, we carried out the kinematic analysis and simulation of four inversor mechanisms derived from Artobolevsky’s inversor, which draw different initial curves (a circle, a straight line, an ellipse and an Archimedes’ spiral) were performed. Inverse curves were generated under limited operating conditions due to geometrical dimensions and kinematic parameters. Given the researchers’ increasing interest in the development of applications related to inversor mechanisms (in fields such as: robotics, machine tools, visual arts and symbolic languages), as well as expanding databases of planar and spatial mechanisms, it is suggested that there is a need to create new mechanisms similar to those studied in this paper and to analyse their mode of operation.