Ambitious newby

[Robin Hewitt]

you'll find it nearly, if not totally, impossible to find a new way to convert linear to rotary motion.

There is one the steam engine fanatics are playing with

Mount your drive shaft on a couple of bearings.

Extend it forwards and mount a plate with more bearings so it is free to spin on the same axis.

Bend the shaft behind the plate. Tie the plate so it can wobble but not turn.

When the shaft turns the edges of the plate reciprocate so you can make an engine.

The transmission forces are horrendous but you can use monster bearings to compensate.

There are lots of movies on the web and they are quite fascinating to watch because you can go on adding cylinders 'til the cows come home.