Kinematic simulations of planar mechanisms

Abstract

Kinematic analysis and simulation of mechanisms are basic tasks in machine design and can be easily automated using microcomputers. Such programs can free a user of tedious calculations and be instructive in the kinematics of linkages; however, the quality of user interface in such programs can prove discouraging to their general use. A well-designed program should have minimum-keystroke, self-guiding data input, useful and concise output, and descriptive error-trapping. KPLAn (Kinematic Planar Linkage Analysis) is a state-of-the-art program, developed for the kinematic analysis of planar mechanisms using the vector loop-closure method. Interactive pop-up windows, cursor-selectable menus are used to create an eye-pleasing, uncomplicated format and graphical displays are emphasized for immediate visual impact. The result is a program that is very user-friendly and yet sufficiently sophisticated to guide a user informatively. KPLAn produces output in three formats: animated motion simulation; graphed curves of displacements, velocities and accelerations; and numerical tabulation of these quantities. To demonstrate and assess the utility of KPLAn, two examples are presented.