A Flexure-Based Linear Guide With Torsion Reinforcement Structures

A Flexure-Based Linear Guide With Torsion Reinforcement Structures

Rommers, J. (TU Delft Mechatronic Systems Design)
Naves, M. (University of Twente)
Brouwer, D. M. (University of Twente)
Herder, J.L. (TU Delft Precision and Microsystems Engineering)

Precision and Microsystems Engineering

2022

In this study, a flexure-based (compliant) linear guide with a motion range comparable to its footprint is presented. The design consists of two-folded leaf springs on which torsion reinforcement structures are added. Due to these structures, only two-folded leaf springs are needed instead of a minimum of five as in preexisting designs. The new design is compared to such a preexisting design, after optimizing both on a support stiffness metric. The new design scores over twice as high on the support stiffness metric, while occupying a smaller (-33%) and a less obstructive build volume. Stress, build volume, and manufacturing limitations are taken into account. In addition, a variation on the new design using three torsion reinforced folded leaf springs is presented and optimized. This design occupies a build volume similar to the preexisting design, but scores four times higher on the support stiffness metric. A prototype of the new design is built and its parasitic eigenfrequencies are measured, validating the theoretical models (normalized mean absolute error of 4.3%).

Compliant mechanisms
Dynamics
Mechanism design
Mechanism synthesis
Robot design

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:60204890-f4dd-423b-8c60-e05b922b9e66

https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4052971

2023-07-01

1942-4302

Journal of Mechanisms and Robotics, 14 (3)

Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository 'You share, we take care!' - Taverne project https://www.openaccess.nl/en/you-share-we-take-care Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public.

Institutional Repository

journal article

© 2022 J. Rommers, M. Naves, D. M. Brouwer, J.L. Herder