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Foeken, Kiet (author)This study focuses on enhancing the performance and reliability of piezoelectric bistable vibration energy harvesters. The research systematically classifies and evaluates different design strategies, aiming to maximize power density through strategic stress manipulation. Five designs are selected for optimization using a finite element model...master thesis 2024
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van Velden, Joran (author)In this study, a promising design for a compact, ultra-linear Compliant Torsion Reinforced Sarrus mechanism (CORS), capable of achieving ultra-linear motion is presented. The CORS prototype, made entirely of aluminum, is produced monolithically using electric discharge machining (EDM). The design incorporates four torsion-reinforced folded leaf...master thesis 2024
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Kuntz, Mark (author)This thesis presents the state-of-the art gripping literature and the implementation and extension of an existing Pseudo-Rigid Body Modelling (PRBM) method for modelling initially-curved compliant grippers out of which a circular object is extracted. From the existing literature, challenges are found in the design and evaluation of concepts of...master thesis 2024
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Kok, Wouter (author)In this master thesis, the development of an innovative gripper specifically designed for grasping the delicate peduncles of vine tomato trusses is presented. This research addresses a critical challenge in agricultural automation: efficiently and safely manipulating high-value crops without causing damage. The thesis begins with a comprehensive...master thesis 2024
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Römer, Nol (author)As mechanisms become increasingly precise, so becomes the reduction of noise and vibration increasingly important. One method for eliminating vibrations in mechanisms is dynamic balancing. This method prevents vibrations from occurring by designing the mechanism such that the inertial forces and moments of all bodies in the mechanism cancel each...master thesis 2023
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Miltenburg, Hero (author)This paper presents a validation of a parametric compliance matrix of a circularly curved leaf flexure (CCLF), which has been obtained using the direct method. This is done for three case studies. In case study one, the compliance matrix of a single flexure is evaluated. The results are compared with the results from a finite element analysis...master thesis 2023
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Pels, Jasper (author)The bending stiffness of a structure is highly dependent on its shape, and this relation can be utilized to allow for a structure to morph into different shapes during deformation. This paper focuses on shape-morphing into multiple shapes (Multi Shape-Morphing), and presents a design method for a parametric<br/>structure consisting of beams,...master thesis 2023
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Colin, Flip (author)Flexure mechanisms are widely utilized in precision mechanisms, but their practical use is limited by three major factors, namely restricted range of motion, parasitic motion, and significant reduction in support stiffness when deflected. To address this limitation, in this research the potential of variable thickness flexures in minimizing the...master thesis 2023
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de Sonnaville, Rudolf (author)Background<br/>One of VDL most complex products is the Wafer Handler a machine with the function of thermal conditioning, centering and aligning wafers for the subsequent photolithography processes. The function of centering a wafer is performed by a submodule of the WH, the Centring Unit (cu) Currently the CU has two main limitations which make...master thesis 2022
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van der Star, Anne (author)In this paper the first gripper that can grasp bunches of bananas is presented. Bunches of bananas are difficult to grasp by a mechanical gripper, as they vary in size and shape and are sensitive to damage caused by mechanical impact. In former research, single bananas have been grasped with pinching- or granular grippers. The gripper proposed...master thesis 2022
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Resink, Jaap (author)Kinematic couplings (KCs) are a subclass of couplings known for reaching unmatched precision, through relatively simplistic designs. The 3-vee-groove and Kelvin clamp are the archetype designs, and are still being further investigated for their potential. One of the limiting factors in the field of kinematic couplings is the lack of proper...master thesis 2022
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Boere, Dennis (author)Robotic manipulators are desired to keep their settling time as low as possible for the pick-and-place industry. If the settling time is lower, more cycles can be made, increasing productivity. For high-speed parallel manipulators, a significant vibration cause that increases the settling time is the movable mass and inertia. By dynamic...master thesis 2022
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Hennissen, Koen (author)This report describes the design, build and verification of a setup to measure and adjust the Rx, Ry, and Z coordinates of an element within a microscope at ASML to improve the precision of a microscope. The required tolerance budget for the measurement and adjustment of these coordinates are $\pm 1~mrad$ in Rx and Ry and $0.1~mm$ in Z. The...master thesis 2022
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van Wegen, Myla (author)Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is one of the most common neuro-degenerative diseases worldwide, affecting patients’ ability to perform Activities of Daily Living (ADL), such as cooking and dressing, and consequently decreasing Quality of Life (QoL). Most ADL require dexterous skills which are often impaired in PD. Pharmacological therapy is often not...master thesis 2022
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Wijnja, Marten (author)With PLATO the European Space Agency (ESA) will launch its third medium-class mission in its Cosmic Vision program. The PLATO satellite consists of 26 optical refractive telescopes where 24 identical wide field cameras form composed images.<br/><br/>Each individual camera must be tested and characterized before being integrated in the satellite....master thesis 2021
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Kapildewsing, Rajiv (author)Vibration energy harvesters can help in different areas. These vary from supplying power to medical implants or wireless sensors that can aid in predicting natural disasters. However, the problem is that they are not able to generate power across a large bandwidth of frequencies. Bistable energy harvesters can solve this problem when these are...master thesis 2021
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Knipscheer, Cassey (author)Curved crease origami (CCO) is a newer, interesting field in origami mechanisms. The surfaces on CCO can be bent to initiate folding, thus allowing for the use of planar bending actuation. In this work, the use of more or less of the available actuation surface of CCO is explored. This is done by heating a bilayer material made of paper and...master thesis 2021
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Gritter, Marc (author)Especially in the car industry, spot and projection resistance welding are commonly used to weld thin sheets of steel and aluminium. Spot welding leaves visible indentations after welding, whereas the company Arplas Systems uses a projection welding method resulting in almost invisible welds. For spot welding, C- and X-type welding machines are...master thesis 2021
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Meinders, Naut (author)There is a constant drive to make the next generation machines in the semiconductor industry more precise and faster. For this machines with a high repeatability, good dynamics and long lifetime are needed. Compliant mechanisms are suitable candidates to be used in this kind of machines because they can be manufactured monolithically, don’t wear...master thesis 2021
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Mak, Robin (author)People in healthcare, warehousing, and the agriculture sector all have one thing in common. They require labour which can be demanding on the human body, this could lead to problems in the long term. A way to alleviate these problems is to use a passive exoskeleton. While passive exoskeletons can have a variety of different use cases and types...master thesis 2021