A new synthesis method for planar Rubik’s cube mechanism

Planar mechanism is a kind of important mechanism, which plays a key role in daily life and industrial life. This paper presents a new synthesis method for planar Rubik’s cube mechanism (PRCM). Firstly, the composition and motion mechanism of the PRCM are introduced combined with a symmetrical four-axis PRCM. The reconfigurable motion process of two kinds of PRCMs is described and analyzed, and the conditions of realizing reconfigurable motion of PRCMs are obtained. Next, a new synthesis method of PRCM is put forward, and the detailed process and flow chart of PRCM synthesis are given. Then, the factors affecting the topological structure of the PRCM are determined from the synthesis process. Finally, the cases of each type of PRCM are synthesized by setting specific parameters. The PRCM synthesis method is of great significance to perfect and enrich the plane reconfigurable mechanism synthesis theory.