Kinematic synthesis

The earliest machines were designed to amplify human and animal effort, later gear trains and linkage systems captured wind and flowing water to rotate millstones and pumps.

Now machines use chemical and electric power to manufacture, transport, and process items of all types.

And kinematic synthesis is the collection of techniques for designing those elements of these machines that achieve required output forces and movement for a given input.

[3] Type synthesis matches the general characteristics of a mechanical system to the task at hand, selecting from an array of devices such as a cam-follower mechanism, linkage, gear train, a fixture or a robotic system for use in a required task.

Finally, dimensional synthesis determines the geometry and assembly of the components that form the device.

A linkage is an assembly of links and joints that is designed to provide required force and movement.

[12] Dimensional synthesis of linkages begins with a task defined as the movement of an output link relative to a base reference frame.

The mathematical results that support instantaneous position synthesis are called curvature theory.

Once the contact shape of follower and its motion are defined, the cam can be constructed using graphical or numerical techniques.