Machines, drives and control
11 ready-made scenes and Python scripts. Each opens in the studio; press Play to run it, then change anything: masses, lengths, the forces, what the graphs show.
- Rack and Pinion
A driven pinion moves a rack in a guide: v = ω r. The rack lets go when it runs out of teeth. - Planetary Gear Set
Driven sun, fixed ring, planets on a carrier: the carrier turns at ω_S · Z_S / (Z_S + Z_R). - Belt Drive Research
Two wheels joined by a belt: the rims move at the same speed, so the small wheel turns r₁/r₂ = 2 times faster. - Gear Train with an Idler Research
16 → 24 → 32 teeth: the idler reverses the direction and drops out of the ratio, ω_C = ω_A·Z_A/Z_C = ω_A / 2. - Slider-Crank Research
A motor turns a crank; a connecting rod drives a piston along its cylinder: x = r cos φ + √(l² − r² sin² φ). - Four-Bar Linkage Research
A crank-rocker: the crank turns round, the rocker swings to and fro through a fixed arc. - Winch: Work and Power Research
A motor winds a rope onto a drum: the load rises at ωR, P = F v = mg·ωR, and the potential energy gained is the work done. - Rocket: Thruster Research
A 30 N thruster on a 2 kg rocket: a = F/m − g = 5.2 m/s², the height follows ½at². - Overload: Break Force Research
A rod with a 60 N break force holds a 3 kg block while a load grows at 6 N/s: the rod lets go when mg + 6t reaches 60 N. - PID: balance a pole on a cart Python Research
An inverted pendulum on a cart held up by a PID controller written in the script. - PD control: move a cart to a target Python Research
F = kp·(target − x) − kd·v moves a cart to four targets; the console gives each move's overshoot and settling time.