Help Calculating Length And Position Of Connections On Rotating Object

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SUMMARY

This discussion centers on calculating the lengths and positions of connections for three rotating lines that must mirror each other during rotation. The lines are connected to a common vertical axis and rotate around specified points. The user seeks a mathematical formulation to achieve this, referencing concepts such as four-bar linkages and transformation mapping. Key parameters include line lengths of 2029.507, 2347.104, and 2723.765, with slopes of -44.401°, -54.887°, and -62.682°.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of 2D geometry and coordinate systems
  • Familiarity with four-bar linkage mechanisms
  • Knowledge of transformation mapping in mathematics
  • Basic principles of rotational motion and angles
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  • Research "Four-bar linkage design" for mechanical applications
  • Study "Transformation mapping in 2D" for mathematical modeling
  • Learn about "Rotational motion equations" to apply to the problem
  • Explore "Geometric constraints in CAD" for practical implementation
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Mechanical engineers, robotics designers, and anyone involved in kinematic analysis or CAD modeling of rotating systems will benefit from this discussion.

  • #31
As for a plan view or an elevated view. This is a 2d rotational model I've been asked for help with. My friend believes they have other working models which they use to test things before furthering development but I'm being given limited info here
 
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  • #33
Here's another photo showing just the arcs and there limit. It does not show the entire circle. Just the arcs the lines will follow
20240428_210847.jpg
 
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  • #34
carman435 said:
Ah okay, does the above info help at all
Not really, it just confuses more.
I understand the problem, and have sufficient information.

There is no point hitting my head against it now. I will be driving for an hour or two later, which will be plenty of time to relax the problem, and hopefully see an elegant solution.
 
  • #35
Baluncore said:
Not really, it just confuses more.
I understand the problem, and have sufficient information.

There is no point hitting my head against it now. I will be driving for an hour or two later, which will be plenty of time to relax the problem, and hopefully see an elegant solution.

Thanks. I appriciate your help in this. I will stop supplying info as I get the impression I'm no help here at all!.

Thanks for your help and time
 
  • #36
carman435 said:
...
The view we are seeing is a side view. The reason they won't hit each other is that they won't do a full rotation around the axis. I've simply put the circles on as I was trying to visualize it.
...
The links will not collide as they will be directly attached to the rotating lines.
Following your last dimensions, I have done this drawing at scale of what I understand.
Please, correct any error, and I will happily fix it.

Note that the two upper doors will need brackets (perpendicular offsets of 61 and 133) to reach the actual point of rotation for each of those.

The attached PDF file shows the drawing with better quality.

Vertical doors tandem.dwg.jpg
 

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  • #37
Lnewqban said:
Following your last dimensions, I have done this drawing at scale of what I understand.
Please, correct any error, and I will happily fix it.

Note that the two upper doors will need brackets (perpendicular offsets of 61 and 133) to reach the actual point of rotation for each of those.

The attached PDF file shows the drawing with better quality.

View attachment 344237

Hi thanks that's actually spot on.

I don't suppose you got anywhere with connecting them?

I'm still working on that at the moment
 
  • #38
carman435 said:
Hi thanks that's actually spot on.

I don't suppose you got anywhere with connecting them?

I'm still working on that at the moment
It is now late at my corner of Earth, but try finding points with common tangential velocity at each gate, in a convenient location, and connect those with a single link.
You can use the measured angles for that.

It is also important to consider the thickness of each gate, because different points hit the top and the bottom limiting surfaces.
A rectangle does not behave an ideal line in that case.

I may have time to help with that tomorrow. 😎
 
  • #39
Lnewqban said:
It is now late at my corner of Earth, but try finding points with common tangential velocity at each gate, in a convenient location, and connect those with a single link.
You can use the measured angles for that.

It is also important to consider the thickness of each gate, because different points hit the top and the bottom limiting surfaces.
A rectangle does not behave an ideal line in that case.

I may have time to help with that tomorrow. 😎
Not a problem thankyou for your help

I'm trying to find common points now but im unsure if there is a better way then trial and error!

Hopefully so!

Thankyou for all your help and time
 
  • #40
I'm hoping for a tad of guidance here.

I believe the solution to this problem has mutiple answers. Is that the case? I think two of us could look at it and get two separate bars of different lengths and they would both work equally well?

If I'm right I may be close, if not I will revert back a bit.
 
  • #41
There are multiple solutions based on where you attach the first connector.

I have some answers here to the original question, but I have not yet verified them.
 
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  • #42
Baluncore said:
There are multiple solutions based on where you attach the first connector.

I have some answers here to the original question, but I have not yet verified them.

I think I've managed to brute force a correct answer just by setting a constant and then guessing using an excel sheet.

That said I'm sure there is a more effective method
 
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  • #43
Baluncore said:
There are multiple solutions based on where you attach the first connector.

I have some answers here to the original question, but I have not yet verified them.

Did you manage to get any further on this?
 
  • #44
carman435 said:
Did you manage to get any further on this?
Yes, but I was not in any hurry to solve your exact problem.
Instead, I was looking at the bigger picture of solving linkage puzzles.

With your challenge for example, I do not know if the rotation of the lines requires they be fixed bars that end at those defined points, or if they are virtual lines, that are projected through those points without defined ends.
 
  • #45
Baluncore said:
Yes, but I was not in any hurry to solve your exact problem.
Instead, I was looking at the bigger picture of solving linkage puzzles.

With your challenge for example, I do not know if the rotation of the lines requires they be fixed bars that end at those defined points, or if they are virtual lines, that are projected through those points without defined ends.

Fair enough.

The lines are fixed bars that end at those defined points.

I think I've got far enough that I could recreate it which is what I hoped for.

Thanks for you help.
 
  • #46
carman435 said:
Hi thanks that's actually spot on.

I don't suppose you got anywhere with connecting them?

I'm still working on that at the moment
You are welcome.
I have not had access to CAD since my last post, sorry, but I will continue working on the problem soon, I hope.

Do you have access to AutoCAD?
If so, this may help:
https://dynref.engr.illinois.edu/aml.html

Did you progress on the interconnection of the gates (I have assumed those are gates)?
Did you consider the actual thickness of each and the stand-offs at the pivots of the upper ones?
 
  • #47
Lnewqban said:
You are welcome.
I have not had access to CAD since my last post, sorry, but I will continue working on the problem soon, I hope.

Do you have access to AutoCAD?
If so, this may help:
https://dynref.engr.illinois.edu/aml.html

Did you progress on the interconnection of the gates (I have assumed those are gates)?
Did you consider the actual thickness of each and the stand-offs at the pivots of the upper ones?

They are interconnected gates! Yes. I will have a look over that site and see if it helps.

I do have access to AutoCad, although I was using Webcad as I was at home. I've installed proper AutoCad onto my home pc now which is making life easier.

In terms of the thickness of each I'm not sure what you mean? Do you mean considering the thickness of the lines as to prevent collision? I think I sort of get this. The lines are representative of position not the actual dimensions of the gates so collisions could happen before the maths say it would?.

Not sure what you mean by standoffs

Sorry! I'm a tad useless at this.
 
  • #48
No collisions, but doing a lot of work based on unreal center-lines, is what worries me.

For example, we are assuming that the represented center lines are hitting the top surface at certain angle, but if you consider the actual thickness of one gate, its top edge will hit that top surface short of the considered angle (based on the that ideal center-line).

I am sorry, I am probably not being able to explain myself properly with words (English is not my native language); that is one of the reasons I prefer showing my ideas in the form of diagrams or scaled drawings.

In CAD, you could create an array of opening positions simply by dividing each arch in several equal portions.
That may help you visualize what points at each gate is more suitable to locate the links.
 
  • #49
Lnewqban said:
No collisions, but doing a lot of work based on unreal center-lines, is what worries me.

For example, we are assuming that the represented center lines are hitting the top surface at certain angle, but if you consider the actual thickness of one gate, its top edge will hit that top surface short of the considered angle (based on the that ideal center-line).

I am sorry, I am probably not being able to explain myself properly with words (English is not my native language); that is one of the reasons I prefer showing my ideas in the form of diagrams or scaled drawings.

In CAD, you could create an array of opening positions simply by dividing each arch in several equal portions.
That may help you visualize what points at each gate is more suitable to locate the links.

Ah I follow I think. Yes I understand the concern.

The centre lines are just the basis here and its mainly just to help describe the formula and calculations I was looking for.

This likely won't be put into production but was a test case to help us explore 4 bar linkages.

If we were actually going to create this we wouldn't use centre lines outside of initial drawings.
 
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  • #50
Given the simple problem, without offset centres of rotation.
For red, green and blue lines.
The independent connector links are shown in magenta and yellow.

Red pin is 476.815 from red centre.
Green pin is 500.000 from green centre.
Blue pin is 544.910 from blue centre.

Red to green link length is 323.914
Blue to green link length is 544.910

Plot.png
 
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