Introduction and Background- SS

            For this project I will build the 6-bar window mechanism shown below. The goal of this mechanism is to raise and lower the slotted bar along a predictable and repeatable path. Important design considerations include the length of the bars and placement of the connections as this will change the pathing of the slotted bar and the range of motion of the whole system.

I expect from this design for the top end of the slotted bar to follow a curved, but not circular, path as it is raised and lowered. When lowered it could be designed to come down to be flat but would not for this instance. It would also not raise to a full 90deg or beyond as this would hit a toggle point and potentially cause the mechanism to cross itself and jam/break. A successful design of this project would have the end of the slotted bar accurately replicate the predicted pathing by a created analytical model smoothly and consistently.  

            I will use the resources available at Texas Invention Works to build this project. Ideally, I would encase the moving parts inside a designed clear acrylic box so all of the moving parts would be visible however couldn’t be disturbed by anything, and the top of the slotted bar would lift and lower from the box. Materials required would include PLA for the 3D printers to print the bars, small aluminum pins for the joints, and acrylic sheet to make the box. I envision this project to be quite small scale, able to fit in one hand, maybe 6 inches in width maximum. While I would like to power this design with a servo motor, it will initially be designed to be actuated by a hand crank that could be easily swapped out for a servo as my Arduino programming knowledge is limited.