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Understanding Slotted Links and Cylinders

Basic links have a solid body and two joints. Advanced links such as slotted links or cylinders help design mechanisms with such links.

These links are useful to create a constrained linear motion.

Creating a slot link and a slider constrained to move inside the slot

Connecting a crank and a coupler to the slider

The example mechanism above is used in a variety of applications, such as Internal combustion engines.

Cylinders​

Gas spring pistons or linear actuators can be simulated using the cylinder and the linear actuator option.

A Linearly Actuated Four-bar Mechanism