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Motorized scissor linkage build illustrating how the mechanism expands and contracts to adjust a robot's height and width for tasks.
A motorized scissor linkage

Designing with Scissor Linkages

You can use a scissor linkage in your design when you need to change the shape and size of your robot to accomplish a specific task. Scissor linkages are often included in robot designs with Rack Gears and Linear Slide Brackets so that their motion can be controlled by a motor. This can be useful when it comes to designing a robot for competitions.

A scissor linkage is helpful in many robot applications.

  • A scissor linkage can be used to increase a robot's height.
  • If your robot needs to start compact, but stretch out horizontally, you can use a scissor linkage to increase its width.
  • A scissor linkage can extend a robot's reach if the robot needs to pick up objects and then place them in different locations.