Mechanisms for the Generation of Plane Curves

Book excerpt: Mechanisms for the Generation of Plane Curves focuses on the possibility of generating plane curves through kinematic linkages. The book first offers information on the basic theory of the generation of curves by mechanisms with higher pairs of the fourth class and fundamentals of the theory of the generation of curves using mechanisms with lower pairs of class V. Discussions focus on generation of curves by centrode and trajectory pairs; generation of curves with five-link and six-link kinematic chains; basic theorem for the mechanical generation of algebraic curves; and use of the properties of individual forms of transformation mechanisms. The text then examines mechanical generation of straight lines and circles and mechanical generation of ellipses, hyperbolas, and parabolas. The publication ponders on the mechanical generation of third degree curves and mechanical generation of curves of the fourth degree. Topics include mechanisms for generating curves of the focal type; mechanisms for generating special forms of curves; and mechanisms for the generation of the conchoids of the straight line and the circle. The text is a dependable reference for readers interested in the mechanisms involved in plane curves.