Racks

​What is a Rack.

In simple terms, a rack is a long, flat bar that has teeth running along its length. These teeth are evenly spaced and often look like small bumps or ridges on the surface of the rack.

You can imagine a rack as a type of elongated gear, but instead of being a round shape like a typical gear, it is a straight bar with teeth. The teeth on the rack are designed to mesh or fit together with the teeth on another component called a pinion.

When the pinion (a small gear) rotates, its teeth engage with the teeth on the rack, causing the rack to move in a straight line. This movement can be used for various purposes depending on the specific application.

For example, in a rack and pinion steering system in a car, the rack is connected to the steering mechanism. When the driver turns the steering wheel, it rotates the pinion gear, which then moves the rack back and forth. This motion helps to steer the vehicle by controlling the direction of the front wheels.

In summary, a rack is a long, flat bar with teeth that work together with a pinion gear to convert rotational motion into linear motion. This linear motion can be used for different purposes, such as steering a vehicle or controlling the movement of other mechanical systems.