How do you calculate the necessary RPM for a wheel based on rods and contacts per minute?

To calculate the necessary RPM (Revolutions Per Minute) for a wheel based on rods and contacts per minute, the correct approach is to divide the number of contacts per minute by the number of rods. This relationship is based on the understanding that each rod may engage with multiple contacts throughout the wheel's rotation.

When you divide the total number of contacts per minute by the number of rods, you determine how many complete rotations of the wheel are needed to achieve a given number of contact events. For example, if there are 60 contacts per minute and 5 rods, you would calculate the RPM as 60 divided by 5, which equals 12 RPM. This means the wheel must make 12 complete revolutions each minute to achieve the desired contact frequency.

This method allows you to accurately establish the necessary RPM needed to synchronize the movement of the rods with the contacts, making it essential for efficient operation in mechanical systems.