Involute Curves
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Software copyright © 2004 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Info
The involute is a curve traced by a point on a taut, inextensible string as it unwinds from a circle.
In the Working Model simulation file, a link (in white) is rotating with Point A tracing a circle. BA is perpendicular to the link and is therefore tangent to the circle. The distance BA is equal to the arc length traced by Point A. As the link rotates, Point B traces an involute curve. BA therefore can be viewed as the unwinding taut string.
Source
This Working Model file is adapted from Figure 9-5 on p.465 in Design of Machinery, 3rd ed. by Norton, R. L., McGraw-Hill, 2004.
Credits
This Working Model file was first developed by Shih-Liang (Sid) and Jie (Jeff) Yang.