Apm: /* ZigZag differentials */

2026-07-09T13:03:20Z

ZigZag differentials

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:03, 9 July 2026
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	The concept can be generalized.		The concept can be generalized.

	== ZigZag differentials ==		== [[ZigZag differentials]] ==

	{{wikitodo\|Maybe give this topic its own dedicated page.}} <br>		{{wikitodo\|Maybe give this topic its own dedicated page.}} <br>

Apm: /* Use cases */

2026-07-09T12:13:13Z

Use cases

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:13, 9 July 2026
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	That has a pole in lever ration for the square wave geometry. <br>		That has a pole in lever ration for the square wave geometry. <br>

	Used in reverse that can be used for tensioning [[ReChain core ~~chains~~]] <br>		Used in reverse that can be used for tensioning [[ReChain core chain]]s <br>
	Actually there wan would want jut one trapezoidal "zig" in the chain. <br>		Actually there wan would want jut one trapezoidal "zig" in the chain. <br>
	And friction might be a concerns (see below). <br>		And friction might be a concerns (see below). <br>

Apm: basic page

2026-07-09T12:12:49Z

basic page

New page

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These mechanisms are in effect acting like mechanical differentials. 
Just for non-circular reciprocative motion. Roughly linear acting for small motions. 

A whippletree acts like a binary tree (a the name suggests) 
with an power or two exponentially increasing number of branches. <nr>

The concept can be generalized.

== ZigZag differentials ==

{{wikitodo|Maybe give this topic its own dedicated page.}} 
{{wikitodo|This needs image illustration(s).}} 

One gets to "zigzag differentials" by … 
★ distorting the shape and 
★ changing the topology 
… of a [[whippletee]] mechanism 

"zigzag differentials" seem to be a more generally useful mechanism than whippletrees. 

By making the system asymmetric and continuing always on one side 
one gets a linear increase in force distributing outward ending branches. 

To not go diagonal one can alternate the direction. 

One basically gets a square wave zig-zag chain with overstands 
and trying to pulling it straight distributes the force <be>
to all "zigs" on one side and 
to all "zags" on the other side. 
The force distributing outputs are clamp-together or push-apart lever-pairs all along the chain. 
All these pairs need to be connected to a load to not "free-wheel" collapse. 

Complicatingly the axial position changes a bit due to the chain stretching a bit 
when tensioned and distributing the load that also may suquiush/stretch a bit. 

One can obviously pick various lever ratios.

=== Use cases ===

This can be used to …
* Clamp several things sideways too [[ReChain strut]] co-using the same internal [[ReChain core chain]] tension
* Clamp [[ReChain strut]] together sideways (Particularly with [[Fir tree joint]]s)

Instead of clamping or spreading with the overstands one can 
tap the output on the chain coaxial linking segment. 
That has a pole in lever ration for the square wave geometry. 

Used in reverse that can be used for tensioning [[ReChain core chains]] 
Actually there wan would want jut one trapezoidal "zig" in the chain. 
And friction might be a concerns (see below). 

=== Friction limiting ===

If the force comes from the side of the zigs and zags 
rather than from pulling on the zigzag chain 
then a concern is friction adding up to the point of self-locking. 
Especially for macroscale (and [[scale transposed prototyping]]). 

== Related ==

* [[RepRec]]
* [[Suitable mechanisms]]
* [[ReChain electrical diode analogy]]
* [[Why diodes in parallel are problematic]] {{wikitodo|An image illustrating the mechanical problem would be helpful.}}

== External links ==

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whippletree_(mechanism)

== Misc ==

It is whipple not whiffle. 
There are whiffle-shields which are an entirely different idea.

Whippletree - Revision history

Apm: /* ZigZag differentials */

Apm: /* Use cases */

Apm: basic page