Kinematic synthesis of RRSC mechanisms for multi-phase finite and multiply separated positions

This paper presents a new technique for synthesizing RRSC mechanisms to achieve phases of rigid body positions, velocities and accelerations using the same hardware. This work considers two-phase moving pivot problems with constant R-R and C-S link lengths. By specifying the R-R and C-S link joint axes, the constant length condition becomes the only design constraint for these links. The prescribed finite and multiply separated positions are then incorporated in the link constraint equations with respect to the prescribed coordinate frame for each link and the mechanism joint variables and driving link parameters calculated. The rigid body velocities and accelerations were prescribed using instant screw axis (ISA) parameters.