moving part
Gear or piston
A moving part is a component of a machine or mechanism that changes position during operation—gears, pistons, hinges, rotating shafts.
Machines with fewer moving parts tend to be more reliable: Electric motors have fewer moving parts than combustion engines.
Figuratively, moving parts describes the variable elements in any complex system: There are a lot of moving parts in this deal.
Toothed wheel or belongings
- cogwheelToothed rotating machine part
- pistonReciprocating cylinder component
- camshaftLobed rod operating valves
- crankshaftRotating engine shaft
bearing · sprocket · flywheel · valve · actuator · linkage · coupling · clutch
Reciprocating cylinder component
- crankshaftRotating engine shaft
- camshaftLobed rod operating valves
- valveFluid flow controller
- timing beltEngine valve regulator
connecting rod · rocker arm · fuel injector · throttle · transmission · differential · axle · driveshaft
Device producing controlled motion
- servoSelf-regulating motor
- jointShared by multiple parties
- gripperDevice that grasps firmly
- linkageConnected system of parts
gantry · encoder · stepper motor · manipulator · degrees of freedom · payload · precision · repeatability
Turning on an axis
- oscillationRepeated back-and-forth movement
- reciprocationMutual exchange of actions
- slidingMoving smoothly across surface
- pivotingRotating around fixed point
articulation · stroke · cycle · revolution · vibration · displacement · translation · angular
Resistance between touching surfaces
- lubricationCoating to reduce friction
- maintenancePreserving working condition
- replacementWhat takes another's place
- fatigueWeariness from prolonged exertion
erosion · degradation · breakdown · failure · lifespan · tolerance · alignment · calibration
gear
Toothed wheel or belongings
- cogwheelToothed rotating machine part
- pistonReciprocating cylinder component
- camshaftLobed rod operating valves
crankshaft · bearing · sprocket · flywheel · valve · actuator · linkage · coupling · clutch · pulley
piston
Reciprocating cylinder component
- crankshaftRotating engine shaft
- camshaftLobed rod operating valves
- valveFluid flow controller
timing belt · connecting rod · rocker arm · fuel injector · throttle · transmission · differential · axle · driveshaft · suspension
actuator
Device producing controlled motion
linkage · gantry · encoder · stepper motor · manipulator · degrees of freedom · payload · precision · repeatability
rotation
Turning on an axis
- oscillationRepeated back-and-forth movement
- reciprocationMutual exchange of actions
- slidingMoving smoothly across surface
pivoting · articulation · stroke · cycle · revolution · vibration · displacement · translation · angular · linear
friction
Resistance between touching surfaces
- lubricationCoating to reduce friction
- maintenancePreserving working condition
- replacementWhat takes another's place
fatigue · erosion · degradation · breakdown · failure · lifespan · tolerance · alignment · calibration · inspection