Objective: Construct a quick return mechanism of the shaper type with the following dimensions:

Crank: 1”

Fixed distance between link 2 and link 4: 2”

Link 4: 5”

Link 5: 3”

Fixed Distance between link 4 and the line of action of link6: 6”.

Housekeeping Preparations:

View
	Workspace
		Ruler
		Grid Lines
		X,Y Axes

Click on the Rectangle Icon

Create three rectangle of width 0.2 and lengths of 1, 3, and 5 respectively. Dimensions will be shown in the lower edge of the screen.

 Click on the MOTOR Icon. Place it the middle of the left edge of the shortest rectangle.

While the motor is highlighted, click on the small windows in the lower left corner. Change the coordinated to (0,1).

Double click on the motor icon. Change the velocity to 3.1415927 rad/s

If you click RUN button the motor and the attached link will rotate while the two other links will fall down.

Use POINT element to add revolute joints near the ends of the links. These points are where the joints will be located.

Double click on each point to adjust its coordinates if needed. You can use either global coordinates or local coordinates (with respect to the center of the object).

Add a POINT at (-1,0). This will be the fixed joint of link 4.

Click on a joint. Press shift and click on the corresponding point on the other link.

Click on Slot Element (horizontal). Add it to the longest link.

Connect point on the end of the crank with the slot using JOIN. You may need to move links closer to each other before joining.

Add another rectangle to represent link 6.

Right click on link 6.

Choose Appearance

Change color and pattern

Right click on link 6.

Choose Properties

Change material to Plastic

Add a joint to center of this rectangle.

Move link 6 to y=5 using the lower left corner window

Join links 4 and 5

Choose Keyed Slot Joint. Click on link 6. This will ensure that link 6 remains horizontal

Connect links 5 and 6 using Join

If you click on RUN, you will get this message.

Click No.

Select all links

Object

Do not Collide

If you click on RUN, the mechanism will start moving.

Click RESET to return to the original configurations.

To check the angle of the link 4, select the link, click on:

Measure
	Position
		Rotation Graph

To check the velocity of the output link, select the link, click on:

Measure
	Velocity
		X Graph

Two new windows appear that trace the parameters you requested when you run the model.

You can view more than one frame by right clicking on link 5

Appearance,

Track center of mass

Track connect.

Click on Run again

The simulation video was recorded using:

File

Export

Video for Windows.