Matlab toolbox for the study of four-bar mechanisms
Keywords:
Toolbox for four-bar mechanisms, GUI for four-bar mechanisms, mechanism design, M4B, Matlab ToolboxAbstract
Four-bar mechanisms are key components of mechanical engineering used in various industrial and technical applications. These mechanical systems, also known as quadricycles, are made up of four linkages that are connected in a closed form. Four-bar mechanisms provide a broad range of motion and adaptability in designing machines and devices by varying the lengths and angles of these connections. The generated toolbox may be utilized to assist in developing four-bar mechanisms in educational and research settings. The toolbox includes a simple and intuitive interface that allows users to learn about the mechanism’s trajectories, dimensions, locations, velocities, and accelerations. The toolbox can analyze three mechanisms: double rocker, crank, and crank-rocker. The interface produces both numerical and graphical outputs. In addition, a prototype has been added to the toolbox that interacts serially with Matlab, allowing the software’s computations to be compared to real-world values of the mechanism. Finally, if the user makes an error in selecting the mechanism or data entry, the toolbox provides assistance and ideas to correct the issue.
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