344 SYNTHESIS OF LINKAGES

Now, on another sheet of paper, we construct the output rocker, whose length is un-
known, in all its positions, as shown in Fig. 11.14b. Through 04 we draw a number of ar-
bitrarily spaced arcs intersecting the lines 041, 042, and so on; these represent possible
lengths of the output rocker.
As the final step we lay the tracing over the drawing and manipulate it in an effort to
find a fit. In this case a fit is found, and the result is shown in Fig. 11.15.

11.10 COUPLER-CURVE SYNTHESIS8

In this section we use the method of point-position reduction to synthesize a four-bar link-
age so that a tracing point on the coupler will trace a previously specified path when the
linkage is moved. Then, in sections to follow we will discover that paths having certain
characteristics are particularly useful in synthesizing linkages having dwells of the output
member for certain periods of rotation of the input member.