What Is a Mechanism?

A mechanism is a product whose components can move relative to each other according to certain predefined constraints.

Typically the constraints are linked, so moving one component impacts the controlled motion in the other components. A landing gear on an airplane is a common example of a mechanism: moving a piston sets a series of parts in motion, resulting in the folding or unfolding of the landing wheels from the body of the plane.

Mechanisms are created in the Assembly Design app using elementary or compound engineering connections and the Assembly action bar. This example covers the basic steps required to design and simulate a simple mechanism that converts rotational motion into translational motion.