Crankshaft

engines · machines · rotation

Converts pushy motion. The crankshaft takes the straight up-and-down movement of pistons and spins it into rotational motion, kind of like how a bicycle pedal converts your leg pumping into wheel spinning.

Connected by rods. Pistons connect to the crankshaft through connecting rods, which transfer the force from the fuel explosions pushing the pistons downward.

Found in all engines. Every car, motorcycle, airplane, and boat with a piston engine has a crankshaft working hard to convert motion and deliver power.

Multiple crank pins. A crankshaft has one or more protruding pins called crankpins, each one attached to a different piston, so multiple pistons can push at different times.

Needs to be strong. Crankshafts experience massive forces from the explosions inside cylinders, so they're made from tough steel or iron to handle the stress without breaking.