Mechanical Devices

Mechanical movement is the way a structure moves to create movement.

Linear motion – Movement in a straight line in one direction. A train uses linear motion to move along a track.
Rotary motion – Rotary movement follows a circular path around a centre point such as a bicycle wheel.
Reciprocating motion – Reciprocating motion is the movement of in/out, up/down or left/right. Found in a car engines piston.
Oscillating motion – The motion of left to right (or backwards) from a single point. Found in a grandfather clocks pendulum

Levers

Levers are used to lift loads with the least amount of effort. Placing the fulcrum (the point which the lever turns) in different places effects where the load can be lifted.

First order (Class one): The fulcrum is placed centrally between the force and the load such as a pair of pliers or a crow bar.

Second order (Class 2): The effort comes first, then the load at the same side of the fulcrum. Such as a wheelbarrow, where the wheel is the fulcrum.

Third order (Class 3): The load is first, effort in the centre and fulcrum at the end. Examples include tweezers, mouse traps and a hammer hammering a nail.

Linkages

Linkages are a mechanism which creates movement around a fixed pivot. They can be used to change the direction of motion, type of motion and the size of a force.

Reverse motion linkage – Because the pivot is fixed in the centre of a Z shape when moved the top moves in the opposite direction to the bottom.
Parallel motion linkage – Two fixed pivot points vertically make the horizontal movement parallel.
Bell crank linkage - A bell crank linkage looks like an L shape with a pivot point in the corner. Horizontal force changes into vertical movement.

Rotary Systems

Rotary systems use circular movement to move and create power in in an item.

- Cams – A Cam and a follower create movement. The follower rests on the cam and moves in the shape of the cam. Circular cams rely on the centre of the circle being offset. A pear cam creates a gentle rise and fall as the follower flows the pear shape.

- Gears – Gears are wheels which interlock to move the force. Different sized gears increase and decrease the speed they turn. Power turned the driver gear clockwise which turns the next gear anticlockwise. If you add a centre gear (called and idler) it turns the gears on either side in the same direction. If gears are different sizes the smaller gears turn faster (if your riding your bike you have to pedal more with your chain on a smaller gear than if it is on a higher gear).

- Pulleys – Pulleys can help lift a load by transferring the weight through a wheel. A single pulley makes something easier to move by pulling down rather than up. Using 2 pulleys can lift a weight using half the effort.

- Belt drives - Belts can transfer movement from one rotating shaft to another, working like gears a smaller wheel spins faster when attached to a bigger wheel. This is used in washing machines.