Online Exhibits > Leonardo and the Engineers of the Renaissance > General Index

Crankshafts

The crankshaft (or draw-rod) mechanism turns rotary motion into reciprocal linear motion and vice versa. The system was largely used to operate a wide range of machines, particularly lathes and pumps. Although Leonardo demonstrated his familiarity with the mechanism, he did not make extensive use of it, preferring to obtain the same effect by other means.

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