Analysis and synthesis Peaucellier mechanism

A straight line motion is a common application in engineering design and manufacture. The Peaucellier mechanism generates exact straight lines, meeting some restrictions among their links dimensions and the input angle. The mechanism has eight links, but due to those initial restrictions, only requires to find relations among three of its eight links and rotation angle. This paper explains the process employed to find those relations using mechanism singular configurations, used to determine its links operational ranges, maximum displacement and rotation angle. Firstly, two computer programs were developed taking in account the equations obtained from the kinematic analysis. One of them simulates the mechanism motion and the other one locates every point on the straight line. Secondly, all data are analyzed and tested ensuring that the mechanism works within its limits. Simultaneously, another kinematic analysis was made to find the relationship between the maximum displacement and the link lengths for a particular case.