KINSYN III: A New Human-Engineered System for Interactive Computer-Aided Design of Planar Linkages

Abstract

KINSYN III is the latest version of a computer-aided linkage design system with features not previously described. Concentrating on the new features, this paper describes the system and includes case study photographs. The system has capabilities for either synthesizing or constructing pin- or slider-jointed planar linkages of almost any topology and for analysis of this same class of mechanisms. Emphasis is on synthesis techniques and man-computer graphical interaction. Problems in linkage synthesis and design are discussed along with KINSYN III’s interactive approach to their solution.