These simulators are models of  kinematic mechanisms and they allow the user to explore the world of kinematics in a hands-on way.  There are several features to the model that allow the user to observe how the mechanism works:

• The main way to work with the simulators is to grab a node (a joint between linkages) and drag it in different directions.
• By clicking on a node, it will become selected.  This allows the user to toggle the toolbar at the top to determine whether that node should be traced or not and whether it should be fixed or not.
• By clicking on a link, it will become selected.  This allows the user to select the change length button and enter a new length.  Note that if the length entered is physically impossible, the length will not change.
  
• The Reset button at the top of the simulator will restore the initial state of the simulator.
• The eight types of four bar mechanisms come from the preliminary version of Four Bar Linkages by Professor David W. Henderson.

Advanced Instructions

    There are several advanced options which allow the user either modify a model or even create his or her own  model.  The advanced button allows the user to do the following:

• Add a node to the model and give that node certain properties such as defining it as collinear to two other nodes, constrained in a certain angle, or "geared" about a certain center node and acting directly or inversely on its buddy node.
• Add a link to the model by specifying the two nodes that define its endpoints.
• Both nodes and links can be labeled.
• Either a model that a user creates from scratch or a modified existing model can be saved as a cookie so that the user has the ability to design his or her own model and save them.
• Model's saved as a cookie on a user's hard drive can be opened from the simulator.

    If you have trouble loading the simulator applet (i.e. Internet Explorer doesn't load the applet), then please Download J2SE v 1.3.1_09