Sponsored by GAM. GAM rack, pinion, and gearbox systems are optimized for high performance in all the components. (Image: GAM.) Picture a scissor car jack — the one in your trunk for changing a tire. The spinning motion as you turn the crank translates to the linear motion as the jack rises. This is how a rack and pinion system works. The spinning part is the pinion, a gear that receives the rotational input. The toothed part being pushed along is the rack, a long bar with gear teeth that the pinion rides against. Depending on the application, either the rack moves back and forth while the pinion stays in place, or the rack stays fixed and whatever the pinion…
Source: The Robot Report