tekerkkel

Te kerkkel is a term found in a small set of mechanical hobbyist glossaries to describe a compact, wheel-like actuator intended to convert rotational motion into intermittent linear displacement. The term lacks a standardized definition, and different sources describe different implementations under the same name.

In common descriptions, a tekerkkel typically comprises a small wheel mounted on a bearing with an axle, a pin or pawl that engages slots or a rack, and a biasing element such as a spring. When the wheel turns, the pin engages successive positions to produce a stepped, back-and-forth motion. Some designs use a cam surface or a counter-rotating wheel to modify the motion profile. Drive can come from a small electric motor or manual cranking.

Size and materials vary. Prototypes are often built from 3D-printed plastics; production variants may use brass or aluminum components. The simplicity and modularity of tekerkkel concepts have made them popular in educational kits and hobbyist robotics as a way to demonstrate gearing, timing, and intermittent motion.

Etymology and usage: The origin of the term is uncertain; it appears primarily in online hobbyist resources, blogs, and model-making forums. It is not widely used in formal engineering literature or standard component catalogs.

See also: wheel, cam, rack and pinion, crank, gear train.