tegenarm

Tegenarm is a Dutch term that translates roughly to "counterarm" in English. In technical and engineering contexts, it denotes an arm that operates in opposition to another arm or link as part of a mechanism, primarily to balance forces, counteract torque, or improve control of motion.

Typically, a tegenarm is attached to the same joint as the main arm, and as the main arm moves, the tegenarm moves in the opposite direction. The relative lengths of the arms, the positions of their pivots, and the linkage between them determine the amount of balancing achieved and the resulting mechanical advantage or stability.

Common applications occur in lever-and-linkage systems such as cranes and lifting devices, where a tegenarm provides counterbalance to reduce load on the primary arm. The concept also appears in precision devices and instrumentation, where a counterarm helps stabilize movement or maintain alignment, and in some pantograph mechanisms used for copying or scaling movements.

In Dutch technical language, tegenarm is a specialized term and may be translated differently depending on context, sometimes as "counterarm" or "counterbalance arm." It is closely related to concepts of counterweights (tegengewicht), levers, and mechanical linkages. The term's exact usage varies by field and application.