Archimedes' New and Improved Compass

The trammell of Archimedes is a clever device the great thinker designed to draw ellipses. (Does it?) Cf. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trammel_of_Archimedes

This is a trammell that is adjustable. What shapes can it make?

In Archimedes' device the shape has a constant distance between the two points that hold the rod. What parameters does that effect and how?

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