| A new method to synthesize planar linkage mechanisms subjected to precision position specification is investigated. Through the generalized formulation of precision position loop equations and the reinforcement of the solution generation technique of the Predictor-Corrector continuation method, a variety of synthesis problems can be modeled easily and solved efficiently. In this study, the linkage mechanism is synthesized to yield a single infinity of solutions, which forms implicitly defined curves. The Predictor-Corrector continuation method that treats all unknown variables in an equal basis can generate solutions for implicitly defined curves passing through limit points.; In addition, the proposed method can incorporate precision position synthesis and design optimization through a three-stage method comprising three major processes. The first process is to formulate synthesis problems and generate solutions by the Predictor-Corrector continuation method. The second process is to establish the rectified precision position admissible space by eliminating the kinematic defects with a heuristic method. Since the first two processes reduce the potential solution space considerably, the exhaustive search at the third stage to locate an optimal solution that accomplishes other design objectives becomes feasible. |
