Recent Blogs
Single Pivoted Clamp with Fixed Side-piece: How the Lever Mechanism Works, Parts & Uses
Explore a curved pivoted clamp jaw and fixed side piece, then compare ideal lever forces with selected arm lengths and a loss percentage.
See-saw Mechanism Explained: How a First-Class Lever Balances Torque, Parts, and Uses
How a see-saw lever works, the pivot geometry that makes it balance, and real-world examples from playgrounds to industrial counterweighted lifts.
Two-Oblique-Bar Press Motion: Exact Toggle Geometry
Two oblique bars convert horizontal input into vertical press motion. See the geometry, formula, worked example, and trade-offs for press tooling builders.
Ideal Machine: Force, Travel and Work Calculator | FIRGELLI
Explore lossless force-travel reciprocity and equal input/output work. Real mechanism geometry, losses and load capacity are not calculated.
Bell-crank with Weighted Cord and Pulley Mechanism: How It Works, Parts, Formula, and Uses
Bell-crank with weighted cord and pulley explained — how the linkage converts gravity into linear pull for gates, signals, and theatre rigging. Formula and worked...
Bell-crank Lever (changing Direction of Force): Mechanism, Diagram, Animation & Calculator Explained
Bell-crank lever explained: how this 90° force-redirecting linkage works, with formulas, worked examples, and real uses in aircraft controls and machinery.
Lazy-tongs Mechanism Explained: How Scissor Linkage Extends, Formula, Parts and Uses
Lazy-tongs explained — how the pantograph-style scissor linkage extends, the math behind reach and force, plus real uses in industrial reaching tools and stage rigs.
Toggle-joint Cam Movement: Ideal Symmetric-link Force Calculator
Explore a cam acting on a toggle knee. Compare ideal symmetric-link reactions and knee offset, with an entered scaling factor separate from real losses.
Single Toggle Arm Letter-press Mechanism: How It Works, Diagram, Parts, Formula and Uses Explained
Watch the opposite-hand screw move two nuts and lower a letter-press platen. Compare separate ideal local toggle ratios at selected angles.
Double-screw Toggle Press Mechanism: How It Works, Diagram, Formula, and Uses Explained
Explore an opposed-thread screw driving two toggle linkages. Compare endpoint angles, platen travel, screw turns and ideal force from total handwheel torque.
Well Pulley and Buckets Mechanism Explained: How a Fixed Sheave Lifts Water from Hand-Dug Wells
Explore a fixed well pulley. Compare ideal pull, lifting work and average power using water volume, lift height and duration.
Scroll Gear Mechanism Explained: How Spiral Pitch Curves Create Variable Gear Ratios
Scroll Gear explained — how a spiral-profile gear delivers gradually increasing speed or torque, with formulas, real industrial uses, and design tradeoffs.
Link Chain Hoist: Manual-Hoist Animation and Ideal Hand-Pull Calculator
Follow a manual chain hoist from hand chain to load hook. Calculate ideal hand pull from load mass and an entered mechanical advantage.
Equalizing Pulley: Sheave Motion, Rope Tension and Calculator
Explore an equalizer sheave with two vertical rope legs. Compare ideal tension, sheave-to-rope ratio, groove clearance and a measured breakaway difference.
Doubling the Length of a Crank Stroke: How the Rack-and-Pinion Mechanism Works
Explore a crank-driven rack stroke doubler. Set crank radius, rod length and pinion size to calculate output stroke, live speed and sampled peak speed.
Doubling Stroke Length via Rack and Pinion: How the 2:1 Motion Multiplier Mechanism Works
Explore a travelling pinion between fixed and moving racks. Calculate doubled stroke and speed, ideal output force, pinion rotation and transmitted power.
Worm-gear Winch: How It Works, Parts and Drum-Rotation Calculator
Explore worm-gear winch rotation. Calculate reduction ratio and ideal drum turns from wheel teeth, worm starts and crank turns; no lifting rating is calculated.
Windlass Mechanism Explained: How It Works, Parts, Formula, Diagram, and Calculator
Explore the ideal force balance between a windlass crank and drum. Adjust fixed radii and load mass; the results do not establish a lifting capacity.
Winch Mechanism Explained: Diagram, Parts, Gear Reduction and Line Pull Calculator
Compare ideal hand-crank torque and winch line pull from gear ratio and drum radius. The results are calculations of ideal force, not lifting ratings.
Wheel and Axle Mechanism: How It Works, Formula, Diagram, and Real-World Uses Explained
Explore a wheel and axle rotating together. Compare ideal mechanical advantage and the distance travelled at each radius during one revolution.
Block and Tackle: Supporting-Parts and Ideal Work Ledger
How a Pulley works, with the formula, real industrial examples from cranes to elevators, and engineering tradeoffs vs gears, levers and hydraulics.
Planar Mechanism Mobility: Constraint-Count Worksheet
Calculate the generic planar mobility count from links and joints, and explore a four-bar example. Constraint independence and actual geometry require separate checks.
Capstan Mechanical Amplifier: Ideal Tension Ratio
Explore a driven-capstan mechanical amplifier and calculate an ideal tension ratio, high-side tension limit and drum torque for one stage.
Mechanical Advantage: Force–Distance Tradeoff
Explore the force-distance tradeoff. Calculate ideal and actual mechanical advantage, output force and work losses from entered travel, force and efficiency.
Crab Winch Mechanism Explained: How a Double-Reduction Hand Winch Works, Parts and Uses
Explore a double-reduction hand winch. Calculate both gear-stage ratios and drum speed, and see why hand-force advantage also depends on handle and drum radii.