Conceptual design of compliant translational joints for high-precision applications

Abstract

Compliant translational joints (CTJs) have been extensively used in precision engineering and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). There is an increasing need for designing higher-performance CTJs. This paper deals with the conceptual design of CTJs via three approaches: parallelogram based method, straight-line motion mechanism based method and combination based method. Typical emerging CTJ designs are reviewed by explaining their design principles and qualitatively analyzing their characteristics. New CTJs are proposed using three approaches, including an asymmetric double parallelogram mechanism with slaving mechanism, several compact and symmetric double parallelogram mechanisms with slaving mechanisms and a general CTJ using the center drift compensation and a CTJ using Roberts linkage and several combination designs. This paper provides an overview of the current advances/progresses of CTJ designs and lays the foundation for further optimization, quantitative analysis and characteristic comparisons.

Keywords

compliant mechanisms / translational joints / conceptual design / parallelogram / straight-line motion / combination method

References

[1] Howell L L. Compliant Mechanisms. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 2001

[2] Howell L L, Magleby S P, Olsen B M. Handbook of Compliant Mechanisms. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 2013

[3] Trease B P, Moon Y M, Kota S. Design of large-displacement compliant joints. Journal of Mechanical Design, 2005, 127(4): 788–798

[4] Mackay A B, Smith D G, Magleby S P, Metrics for evaluation and design of large-displacement linear-motion compliant mechanisms. Journal of Mechanical Design, 2012, 134(1): 011008

[5] Olfatnia M, Cui L, Chopra P, Large range dual-axis micro-stage driven by electrostatic comb-drive actuators. Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering, 2013, 23(10): 105008

[6] Olfatnia M, Sood S, Gorman J, Large stroke electrostatic comb-drive actuators enabled by a novel flexure mechanism. Journal of Microelectromechanical Systems, 2013, 22(2): 483–494

[7] Olfatnia M, Sood S, Awtar S. Note: An asymmetric flexure mechanism for comb-drive actuators. Review of Scientific Instruments, 2012, 83(11): 116105

[8] Yong Y K, Moheimani S O R, Kenton B J, Invited review article: High-speed flexure-guided nanopositioning: Mechanical design and control issues. Review of Scientific Instruments, 2012, 83(12): 121101

[9] Hiemstra D B, Parmar G, Awtar S. Performance tradeoffs posed by moving magnet actuators in flexure-based nanopositioning. IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics, 2012, 19(1): 201–212

[10] Hao G, Meng Q, Li Y. Design of large-range XY compliant parallel manipulators based on parasitic motion compensation. In: Proceedings of the ASME 2013 International Design Engineering Technical Conferences & Computers and Information in Engineering Conference. Portland, 2013

[11] Genequand P M U S. Patent, 6059481, 2000-05-09

[12] Brouwer D M, Otten A, Engelen J B C, Long-range elastic guidance mechanisms for electrostatic comb-drive actuators. In: Proceedings of the 10th International Conference of the European Society for Precision Engineering & Nanotechnology. Delft, 2010, 47–50

[13] Zhao H Z, Bi S S, Yu J J, Design of a family of ultra-precision linear motion mechanisms. Journal of Mechanisms and Robotics, 2012, 4(4): 041012

[14] Zhao H Z, Bi S S, Yu J J. A novel compliant linear-motion mechanism based on parasitic motion compensation. Mechanism and Machine Theory, 2012, 50: 15–28

[15] Hubbard N B, Wittwer J W, Kennedy J A L, A novel fully compliant planar linear-motion mechanism. In: Proceedings of the 2004 ASME Design Engineering Technical Conferences. Salt Lake City, 2004

[16] Pei X, Yu J, Zong G, Bi S. Design of compliant straight-line mechanisms using flexural joints. Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering, 2014, 27(1): 146–153

[17] Beroz J D, Awtar S, Bedewy M, Compliant microgripper with parallel straight-line jaw trajectory for nanostructure manipulation. In: Proceedings of 26th American Society of Precision Engineering Annual Meeting. Denver, 2011

[18] Hopkins J B, Panas R M. A family of flexures that eliminate underconstraint in nested large-stroke flexure systems. In: Proceedings of the 13th Euspen International Conference. Berlin, 2013

[19] Zhao H Z, Bi S S. Accuracy characteristics of the generalized cross-spring pivot. Mechanism and Machine Theory, 2010, 45(10): 1434–1448

[20] Hao G, Kong X, He X. A planar reconfigurable linear rigid-body motion linkage with two operation modes. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Part C, Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science, 2014, 228(16): 2985–2991

[21] Kong X, Gosselin C M. Type Synthesis of Parallel Mechanisms. Berlin: Springer, 2007

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), United Kingdom, for the support under grant No. EP/K018345/1.

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

2014 Higher Education Press and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg