Roberts straight-line mechanism

Many engineering applications require things move in a linear fashion or "straight-line motion". We can use a linear motion guide that can guide a device accurately along a straight line. Manufacturing know-how of most linear guide manufacturers has let us keep expanding the range of linear guidance. The picture shown here is an example of commercially available linear guides from THK. This Linear Ball Slide is a lightweight, compact, limited stroke linear guide unit that operates with very low sliding resistance. It excels in high-speed responsive performance due to its very small frictional factor and low inertia.

In the late seventeenth century, before the development of the milling machine, it was extremely difficult to machine straight, flat surfaces. For this reason, good prismatic pairs without backlash were not easy to make. During that era, much thought was given to the problem of attaining a straight-line motion as a part of the coupler curve of a linkage having only revolute connection. Probably the best-known result of this search is the straight line mechanism development by Watt for guiding the piston of early steam engines. Although it does not generate an exact straight line, a good approximation is achieved over a considerable distance of travel.

In this post, we show approximated straight-line mechanism discovered by Richard Roberts (1789-1864). He discovered the Roberts' Straight-line mechanism.

Lengths:
O₂A = 100
O₄B = 100
AB = 100
AC = 100
BC = 100
O₂O₄ = 200

We can find from the following video clip that point C moves as an approximated straight line. Though it is not an exact straight-line motion, but it's good as a starting point. In later post, we will explore more straight-line mechanisms that can give better straight-line approximation.



Source:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straight_line_mechanism
• http://www.thk.com
• Fundamentals of machine design - Robert L. Norton

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