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Introduction

Features

A GUI-based tool used to design 2D linkage mechanism.

  • Planar Linkages Simulation

  • Mechanical Synthesis

    • Number Synthesis: The algorithm of link assortments.
    • Structural Synthesis: The algorithm used to find out structural possibilities of the mechanism.
    • Dimensional Synthesis: The meta-heuristic algorithms for dimensional synthesis.
  • Others

    • Cross three platforms.
    • CAD-like user interface.
    • Auto layout of generalized chain.
    • The code complies with PEP 8 and PEP 561.

Previews

Previews in Ubuntu with KDE Plasma desktop:

main

Previews in Windows 10 theme:

main

Previews in macOS Sierra with fusion theme:

main

Design Method

Three-steps design flow:

  • Structure Synthesis
  • Dimensional Synthesis
  • Kinematic Simulation

Including sequential processes and backward analysis.

computer_aid_design_method

Symbolic

Referring symbolic from PMKS.

The PMKS expression is using a name label to present a link bar.

A joint between two links will get two name labels, and so on.

The “ground” label is a default name, this link will be the absolute coordinate in the system, might be a frame of your mechanism.

PMKS example

Pyslvs was translate the PMKS expression as a string, likes below:

# Single line annotation.
M[
    J[R, color[Green], P[0.0, 0.0], L[ground, link_0]],
    J[R, color[Green], P[12.92, 32.53], L[link_0, link_1]],
    J[R, color[Green], P[73.28, 67.97], L[link_1, link_2]],
    J[R, color[Green], P[33.3, 66.95], L[link_1]],
    J[R, color[Green], P[90.0, 0.0], L[ground, link_2]],
]

Then the expression can be parse in Pyslvs to create the mechanism.

The grammar is defined with Extended Backus–Naur Form (EBNF), you can checkout the source code of parser.

Kinematics Simulation

Pyslvs has a simple simulation function driving with revolute joints.

There is a planar constraint solving mechanism done with three CAD kernels:

  • Pyslvs and Sketch Solve.
  • Python-Solvespace.
  • Sketch Solve.

Choose a base point and a driver point for the shaft, then add this dependent into variables list.

Using QDial widget (it just like a turntable) to adjust the angle value of variable.

Path data will start append coordinates (between a certain of distance) after press the “record” button. Press “record” button again to stop recording.

Path data can be copy or switch visibility by right-click menu.

Some exceptions are not support:

  • Other type of joints.
  • Degree of freedom was lower than 1 but still can moving.

Structural Synthesis

Analysis a type of mechanism that exists, and find out other possibilities.

We have a topological algorithm to combine atlas with:

  • Same degree of freedom.
  • Same number of link.
  • Same number of joint.

And use a type of mechanism to do grounding combine.

Grounding combine can merge the structure graph immediately to canvas.

But in the common ways, you can give it to dimensional synthesis to make it more useful.

Structural Configuration

Before doing dimensional synthesis, a structure graph has same option when mapping to target mechanism.

  • Grounded link: The link is used as mechanism frame.
  • Inputs: Mechanism angle variables decided by joint pairs.
  • Target joints: Several joints that need to match target paths.

Result variable configuration will have:

  • Position of grounded joints.
  • Length of links.
  • Inputs angle.

Dimensional Synthesis

Generate a mechanism with path requirement by random variables.

  • The structure settings is get from variable configuration.
  • There also have algorithm options, such like constraints or probability.

Contains three algorithms:

  • Real-coded Genetic Algorithm
  • Firefly Algorithm
  • Differential Evolution

IO Support

Pyslvs can support for following format.

Output formats:

  • Pyslvs project database (*.pyslvs).
  • Expression (just a string).
  • Solvespace format (*.slvs).
  • DXF format (*.dxf).
  • Image capture (all of Qt supports).

Input formats:

  • Pyslvs project database (*.pyslvs).
  • Expression (just a string).
  • Solvespace format (*.slvs, only supports very few of constraints).

The project mechanism will generate the sketch frame as *.slvs format like follow:

A part file will split the sketch and boundary with two groups.

The part files can be import to assemble with main sketch file. However, the 3D features still can not be generated from external program yet, so user need to do it by self.

For the IO method of Solvespace format, you can also refer to two Python scripts ‘read’ and ‘write’ in Pyslvs IO module.

Theory

The theory of Pyslvs is at here. This manual will not mention any principle of these concepts.

Here’s the concepts that will shown in this manual:

  • Mechanism Expresion
  • Graph Theory
  • Creative Design Methodology of Mechanism
  • Structural Synthesis
  • Dimensional Synthesis
  • Metaheuristic Random Algorithm

Last update: November 15, 2020