Did you know that the latest in rack and pinion replacement, the maglev has all the advantages the rack and pinion offered and has none of the disadvantages it used to offer? Maglev is short for magnetic levitation; it is the mechanical magic that will soon be in use wherever rack and pinion was previously in use. Of course that would mean just about everywhere, so you better get oriented with it.
The rack and pinion mechanism works by moving a straight length along a rotating round object, effectively converting the rotary motion into linier displacement, there are plenty of disadvantages inherent. Not only is the friction between the two main components lowers the mechanical advantage to an astounding scale, but it also means that the rack and pinion under constant friction will wear down over time and will need replacement.
Do you know when you place two magnets same polar sides close to each other, they repel, and that's the way a maglev works. The train runs on specially magnetized metallic tracks that ensure that any contact is denied and thereby eliminating and chance of friction. Remember the butterfly that a magnet makes when you place small iron fillings around it? Well when a certain amount of electricity is passed from the metallic tracks of the maglev train, the train begins to move exactly like those fillings, along the current while still floating away from the track.
The magnetic levitation has effectively eliminated the most decisive factor diminishing the effectively of rack and pinion mechanism. Looking at just how much rack and pinion is already in use around us, it was right about time. From the cars to the trains to even the conveyer belts in a factory are all based on that simple mechanism and are affected by friction thereby requiring heavy maintenance.
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