slider crank with sim and graph

grabcad

A crank, an angled arm linked to a rotating shaft, imparts reciprocating motion via circular movement. It can convert circular to linear or vice versa. A bent shaft portion or separate disk may serve as the arm. Linked to the crank by a pivot is a rod, often termed a connecting rod. While one end moves in a circle, the other end typically slides linearly. The term "crank" also applies to human-powered devices, such as bicycle cranksets and brace and bit drills, where individuals manually turn an axle. In such instances, a person's limb acts as the connecting rod, providing reciprocating force to the crank. A perpendicular bar, often with a rotatable handle or pedal, is attached to the other end of the arm.