Molecular Model Library

This index links to as many Precise Molecular Descriptions and images of Nanomachine Parts as I can find. The model files are in the standard *.pdb format of the Brookhaven Protein DataBank.

The best way to view these files is with an interactive molecular visualization tool.

• Rasmol from GlaxoWellcome is a good Windows-Based standalone viewer. Unfortunately, some recent versions crash when trying to view some of the most interesting Models (like the differential Gear).
• MASS from Carol Shaw is a good Macintosh viewer.
• Visual Molecular Dynamics (VMD) from the Theoretical Biophysics Group at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a molecular visualization and analysis package for UNIX platforms with source and precompiled binaries for SGI, HP, and Linux (download here.) It provides a wide range of visualization and authoring tools for molecular structures. Since I have had little experience with it, feedback on its features and functionality would be appreciated.
• Chime from Molecular Design Limited, Incorporated is the Internet Explorer and Netscape (no Mozilla) plugin that will allow interactive viewing on the web. Chime actually contains most of the code from Rasmol and is quite flexible. I was able to download it and put it here so you don't need to login to their site.
• Weblab ( Download Here ), now in version 4.2 is good, and free of charge for the "ViewerLite." Newly on the scene, this viewer and authoring tool provides compatibility on the same standalone application for Windows or Macintosh. Multiple molecules can be opened and tiled on one screen. Lots and lots of options, actually. This program seemed to do the display of the molecules and rotation rather sluggishly on a PC. Don't even bother loading the Differential Gear with the ViewerLite. Even the ViewerPro Eval took a long time.

Please read one of the Chime and Rasmol FAQs available.

I have included, wherever possible, a Thumbnail image which is a link to the PDB File which should launch Chime for viewing (assuming you have installed it), and a link to a large static image of the device.

• A -
• B - Bearing with Dislocations, "Big Bearing", Bucky Bearing
• C -
• D - Basic Diamond Surfaces, Differential Gear
• E -
• F - Fine Motion Contoller
• G - Graphitic Thrust Bearing
• H - Hydrocarbon Bearing, Hydrocarbon Hoop
• I -
• J -
• K -
• L - Lomer Dislocation
• M -
• N -
• O -
• P - Original and Beefed Up Planetary Gears, and the Neon Pump
• Q -
• R -
• S - Small Bearing
• T -
• U - Simple Molecular Universal Joint
• V -
• W -
• X -
• Y -
• Z -
• 0 -
• 1 -
• 2 -
• 3 -
• 4 -
• 5 -
• 6 -
• 7 -
• 8 -
• 9 -
• (Misc) -

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This page last modified 4/29/04.