The present analysis addresses the generation of regular polygonal paths with any number of sides, odd or even, by use of special rotors revolving with uniquely prescribed motions inside fixed polygonal holes of guidance, which may be coincident or similar to the paths to be traced. The whole rotation motion of the rotor is considered composed of a sequence of Cardan motions so that the active profile of contact is formed by a polycentric sequence of circular arcs. It is shown and proved that the guidance polygon and the target polygon may coincide in the hypothesis of an odd number n of sides, whereas the guidance profile must be larger than the one to be generated for n even, in which case two equal concentric polygons rotated of π/n between each other may be simultaneously generated by two particular points of the rotors. These devices are very useful to drill blind polygonal holes, providing the rotors of proper cutting tools and driving them by constant-speed motors through homokinetic joints.
Journal of Mechanisms and Robotics Open Issues
