Design of Micro-Gripper With Topology Optimal Compliant Mechanisms

Author(s):  
Shyh-Chour Huang ◽  
Chien-Ching Chiu

The objective of this paper describes a new method to design a micro-gripper. In the paper, we use compliant mechanism actuated by micro combined V-shape electrothermal actuator to design a microgripper that the claw can clip the micro object. The compliant mechanism employs flexible to generate movement without any hinge; therefore, it is suitable for MEMS manufacture. The design of micro-gripper is accomplished in compliant mechanism with topology optimum and solved by sequential linear programming (SLP) methods. The design considerations, the analysis method, and the design results are discussed.

Author(s):  
Myles T. Christensen ◽  
Spencer P. Magleby ◽  
Larry L. Howell ◽  
Robert H. Todd ◽  
Clint Mortensen

This paper introduces a new configuration of a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) that is self-adjusting and designed as a compliant mechanism. This new configuration is called the Pivot-Arm CVT. The criteria for classification as a Pivot-Arm CVT is discussed. An analytical model describing the performance of the Pivot-Arm CVT is developed. Special design considerations which may be useful in implementing Pivot-Arm CVTs are introduced and explained. The Pivot-Arm CVT model is validated through controlled testing of two Pivot-Arm CVT prototypes.


Author(s):  
Charles Kim

In this paper a new method for the synthesis of compliant mechanism topologies is presented which involves the decomposition of motion requirements into more easily solved sub-problems. The decomposition strategies are presented and demonstrated for both single input-single output (SISO) and dual input-single output (DISO) planar compliant mechanisms. The methodology makes use of the single point synthesis (SPS) which effectively generates topologies which satisfy motion requirements at one point by assembling compliant building blocks. The SPS utilizes compliance and stiffness ellipsoids to characterize building blocks and to combine them in an intelligent manner. Both the SISO and DISO problems are decomposed into sub-problems which may be addressed by the SPS. The decomposition strategies are demonstrated with illustrative example problems. This paper presents an alternative method for the synthesis of compliant mechanisms which augments designer insight.


2010 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Karin Hoetmer ◽  
Geoffrey Woo ◽  
Charles Kim ◽  
Just Herder

In some applications, nonconstant energy storage in the flexible segments of compliant mechanisms is undesired, particularly when high efficiency or high-fidelity force feedback is required. In these cases, the principle of static balancing can be applied, where a balancing segment with a negative stiffness is added to cancel the positive stiffness of the compliant mechanism. This paper presents a strategy for the design of statically balanced compliant mechanisms and validates it through the fabrication and testing of proof-of-concept prototypes. Three compliant mechanisms are statically balanced by the use of compressed plate springs. All three balanced mechanisms have approximately zero stiffness but suffer from a noticeable hysteresis loop and finite offset from zero force. Design considerations are given for the design and fabrication of statically balanced compliant mechanisms.


Author(s):  
T. Movchan ◽  
V. Artеmov ◽  
D. Bulysheva

It is recommended to implement forecasting management models in the area of land use and protection by applying linear programming methods to optimize the size of farms, which land is located in different natural and economic zones. Analysis and assessment of land use in natural-economic zones is a type of management activity for deep understanding of the dialectic of a managed object development and true assessment of its moving forces. This enables to simulate the situation of land use, to identify a specific goal, to choose the means to achieve it and to obtain the optimum result. The implementation of the proposed forecast models of the optimal farm size is carried out by linear programming in three ways (northwest corner method, minimum cost method and What-If analysis method, that uses Solver, a Microsoft Excel add-in program). The implementation of the above approaches is based on the example of four farms and five natural-economic zones. The obtained solutions show that the best result is attained by using Solver for What-If analysis method, a Microsoft Excel add-in program. The northwest corner method gives the worst result, but this is the simplest solution. The minimum cost method depends on the researcher qualification and produces the result that is most often found between the results obtained by the northwest corner method and the "Solver" procedure. When using the method of the northwest corner a program of consideration of different options for the distribution of land resources and the choice of the optimal solution was developed. This allows to find an optimal result of land allocation according to the result, which is similar to the result of the procedure "Solver", but it is more adapted for the direct participation of the researcher in the process of solving problems. There is an opportunity to improve the result by changing the original data, which simulates the forecast of the distribution of farm land in natural-economic zones, while minimizing production costs. In the absence of access to computers, the solutions obtained by the northwest corner and the minimum cost methods can be improved by the potential method.


Author(s):  
Adarsh Mavanthoor ◽  
Ashok Midha

Significant reduction in cost and time of bistable mechanism design can be achieved by understanding their bistable behavior. This paper presents bistable compliant mechanisms whose pseudo-rigid-body models (PRBM) are four-bar mechanisms with a torsional spring. Stable and unstable equilibrium positions are calculated for such four-bar mechanisms, defining their bistable behavior for all possible permutations of torsional spring locations. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and simulation is used to illustrate the bistable behavior of a compliant mechanism with a straight compliant member, using stored energy plots. These results, along with the four-bar and the compliant mechanism information, can then be used to design a bistable compliant mechanism to meet specified requirements.


Author(s):  
Femke M. Morsch ◽  
Just L. Herder

The objective of this paper is to design a generic zero stiffness compliant joint. This compliant joint could be used as a generic construction element in a compliant mechanism. To avoid the spring-back behavior of conventional compliant joints, the principle of static balancing is applied, implying that for each position of the joint the total potential energy should be constant. To this end, a conventional balanced mechanism, consisting of two pivoted bodies which are balanced with two zero-free-length springs, is taken as an initial concept. The joint is replaced by a compliant cross-axis flexural pivot and each spring is replaced by a pair of compliant leaf springs. For both parts an analytic model was implemented and a configuration with the lowest energy fluctuation was found through optimization. A FEA model was used to verify the analytic model of the optimized design. A prototype was manufactured and tested. Both the FEA model and the experiment confirm the reduction of the needed moment to rotate the compliant joint. The experiment shows the balanced compliant joint is not completely balanced but the moment required to rotate the joint is reduced by 70%. Thus, a statically balanced compliant generic joint element was designed which bears great promise in designing statically balanced compliant mechanisms and making this accessible to any designer.


1998 ◽  
Vol 120 (3) ◽  
pp. 392-400 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Saxena ◽  
S. N. Kramer

Compliant members in flexible link mechanisms undergo large deflections when subjected to external loads. Because of this fact, traditional methods of deflection analysis do not apply. Since the nonlinearities introduced by these large deflections make the system comprising such members difficult to solve, parametric deflection approximations are deemed helpful in the analysis and synthesis of compliant mechanisms. This is accomplished by representing the compliant mechanism as a pseudo-rigid-body model. A wealth of analysis and synthesis techniques available for rigid-body mechanisms thus become amenable to the design of compliant mechanisms. In this paper, a pseudo-rigid-body model is developed and solved for the tip deflection of flexible beams for combined end loads. A numerical integration technique using quadrature formulae has been employed to solve the large deflection Bernoulli-Euler beam equation for the tip deflection. Implementation of this scheme is simpler than the elliptic integral formulation and provides very accurate results. An example for the synthesis of a compliant mechanism using the proposed model is also presented.


Author(s):  
Girish Krishnan ◽  
Charles Kim ◽  
Sridhar Kota

Visualizing load flow aids in conceptual design synthesis of machine components. In this paper, we present a mathematical framework to visualize load flow in compliant mechanisms and structures. This framework uses the concept of transferred forces to quantify load flow from input to the output of a compliant mechanism. The key contribution of this paper is the identification a fundamental building block known as the Load-Transmitter Constraint (LTC) set, which enables load flow in a particular direction. The transferred force in each LTC set is shown to be independent of successive LTC sets that are attached to it. This enables a continuous visualization of load flow from the input to the output. Furthermore, we mathematically relate the load flow with the deformation behavior of the mechanism. We can thus explain the deformation behavior of a number of compliant mechanisms from literature by identifying its LTC sets to visualize load flow. This method can also be used to visualize load flow in optimal stiff structure topologies. The insight obtained from this visualization tool facilitates a systematic building block based design methodology for compliant mechanisms and structural topologies.


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