Development Of Solid Models And Multimedia Presentations Of Kinematic Pairs

Understanding of complex 3D motion of kinematic pairs with 1 to 5 degrees of freedom is a difficult task to grasp for students enrolled in introductory course in kinematics. In this paper, the development of solid models and multimedia presentations of kinematic pairs is presented. Through the use of commercially available computer programs, Solidworks 99 and Photoworks, detailed three-dimensional models of kinematic pairs were developed. Form-closed and forceclosed variants of each kinematic pair were modeled for a total of 24 models. The models were then animated to show the relative motion between the two bodies that make up the kinematic pair. Each animation was processed into a Windows audio/video interleave (AVI) file, allowing the viewing of the animation either on the Internet or in the classroom through the use of multimedia screens. A summary of all kinematic pairs is provided in Table 1, it will serve as a useful handout for students in reviewing the classification, degrees of freedom, name, and symbol of kinematic pairs. Table 2 presents captured screen shots from the AVI movies for each of the 12 kinematic pairs, both form-closed and force-closed are shown.