Four-Bar Path Generation Synthesis by a Continuation Method

Abstract
A different approach for the synthesis of four-bar planar path generating mechanisms is presented. A continuation method is used to solve the system of nonlinear equations derived for the path generating problem. A brief description of the method is provided followed by the development of equations representing the four-bar linkage. The implementation of the method for five position path generation is discussed in detail and the solutions for two examples are presented.