Mechanisms — General Mechanisms

Recent Blogs

Throw-away Wheel diagram
Throw-away Wheel: Ideal Circular-motion Geometry
Compare radius, angular speed, tangent direction and centripetal acceleration for an ideal rotating point. No release device or flight trajectory is designed.
Throttle Valve diagram
Butterfly Throttle Valve: Projected Opening Geometry
Calculate ideal thin-disc projected opening area and its change with angle. An entered area multiplier provides a comparison value, not valve flow or sizing.
Thomas Coupling diagram
Thomas Coupling: Ideal Parallel-offset Geometry
Compare parallel shaft offset and flex-plane spacing for an ideal double-flex spacer. Enter your own angle comparison value; product selection requires manufacturer data.
Synchronization Gear diagram
Synchronization Gear: Historical Overview and Phase Concept
Read about historical aircraft synchronization gear and an abstract phase illustration. This page provides no construction, calibration or operating guidance.
Switching Mechanism diagram
Switching Mechanism: Snap Action and Sensitivity Scenarios
Explore snap-action switch concepts and a hypothetical linear sensitivity exercise. The entered percentages are assumptions, not switch specifications.
Stiction diagram
Stiction: Breakaway Force and Friction Calculator | FIRGELLI
Compare static breakaway force, sliding resistance and applied-force margin with an animated force ramp and a worked example.
Star Wheel Mechanism diagram
Star Wheel Mechanism: How It Works, Diagram, Parts, Formula and Industrial Uses Explained
Star Wheel Mechanism explained — how the indexing geometry works, real applications in bottling and machine tools, plus a worked example with numbers.
Sprocket diagram
Sprocket Mechanism: How Chain Drives Work, Pitch Diameter Formula, Parts and Uses Explained
How a sprocket works, with the chain-pitch math, tooth-count rules, and a worked drive-sizing example for conveyors, bikes, and industrial machinery.
Spring-loaded Camming Device diagram
Spring-loaded Camming Device Mechanism: How It Works, Cam Angle Geometry & Parts Explained
Spring-loaded camming devices (SLCDs) protect trad climbers in parallel-sided rock cracks. How the cam geometry works, sizing rules, and real placement examples.
Spline (mechanical) diagram
Spline (mechanical) Explained: How It Works, Diagram, Parts, Formula and Real-World Uses
Spline shafts transmit torque while allowing axial slide. Learn the geometry, formulas, and real applications in automotive, aerospace, and CNC machinery.
Solenoid Valve diagram
Solenoid Valve Mechanism: How It Works, Diagram, Parts, Cv Sizing and Uses Explained
See a normally closed solenoid valve open and close, and calculate basic liquid Cv, Kv and an equivalent orifice diameter.
Sliding Contact Mechanism diagram
Sliding Contact Mechanism Explained: How It Works, Diagram, Parts, Formula and Uses
Explore a block sliding in a fixed guide. Calculate Coulomb friction and frictional power from selected normal load, coefficient and speed.
Slider (mechanism) diagram
Slider (mechanism) Explained: How It Works, Parts, Slider-Crank Formula, Diagram and Uses
How a slider mechanism works, where it fits in industry, plus a worked example with formulas, tradeoffs and FAQs from FIRGELLI engineers.
Slide Valve diagram
Slide Valve Mechanism Explained: How It Works, Diagram, Parts, Port Timing & Steam Engine Uses
Explore D slide-valve admission and exhaust connections, and calculate nominal full-port travel, eccentric throw and linear advance from selected port and lap dimensions.
Shuttle Valve diagram
Shuttle Valve Mechanism Explained: How It Works, OR Logic Diagram, Parts, Uses & Sizing Formula
See how a ball shuttle valve connects either inlet to a common outlet and blocks the other inlet. Compare incompressible-liquid Cv sizing assumptions.
Shock Absorber diagram
Shock Absorber Mechanism Explained: How It Works, Parts, Damping Formula and Cutaway Diagram
See a monotube shock absorber in cutaway, with piston oil flow and a floating gas separator. Compare selected linear damping force and dissipation.
Servomechanism diagram
Servomechanism Mechanism Explained: How Closed-Loop Control Works, Parts, Diagram, and Uses
Servomechanism explained — how closed-loop feedback control works, real industry examples, sizing formula, and worked CNC example for engineers and integrators.
Servo (mechanism) diagram
Servo (mechanism) Explained: How It Works, Parts, Block Diagram, and Uses
Servo mechanism explained — closed-loop position control, error feedback, and gain tuning for robotics, CNC, and aerospace actuators. Built by engineers.
Self-adjusting Ladder diagram
Self-adjusting Ladder Mechanism Explained: Pawl-and-Rack Leveling, Parts, Diagram and Calculator
How a self-adjusting ladder works, with the leg-leveling formula, a worked example for orchard picking, and diagnostic tips for uneven ground stability.
Schmidt Coupling diagram
Schmidt Coupling Mechanism Explained: How It Works, Parts, Diagram and Uses
Schmidt couplings transmit constant-velocity torque between parallel shafts with large radial offset. Used in printing, paper, and metal-forming machinery.
Rotary Actuator diagram
Rotary Actuator Mechanism Explained: How It Works, Parts, Torque Formula and Industrial Uses
How a Rotary Actuator works, the torque formula, sizing math, and real industrial examples from valve automation to robotics. Practical engineering guide.
Roneo Machine diagram
Roneo Machine Mechanism: How a Rotary Stencil Duplicator Works, Parts, Diagram and Output Formula
How a Roneo stencil duplicator works, the rotary drum mechanism behind it, and why offices ran millions of copies on it before xerography arrived.
Roller Chain diagram
Roller Chain Mechanism Explained: How It Works, Parts, Pitch, and Sprocket Speed
Roller Chain explained — how the pin, bushing, and roller transmit torque, why pitch matters, and how to size chain drives for conveyors, motorcycles, and...
Rigid Coupling diagram
Rigid Coupling Mechanism Explained: How It Works, Parts, Diagram, Formula & Calculator
Rigid couplings join two shafts in perfect alignment to transmit torque without backlash. See sleeve, flange, and clamp types, sizing math, and real industrial uses.
Remington Rifle diagram
Remington Rolling Block: Historical Illustration and Display Controls
Explore a historical Remington rolling-block illustration with separate pivots, adjustable drawing arcs and viewing speed. Outputs describe the display only.