The Interior Contact-Aided Rolling Element

Compliant Mechanisms (CMs) are currently employed in several engineering applications requiring high precision and reduced number of parts. For a given mechanism topology, CM analysis and synthesis may be developed resorting to the Pseudo–Rigid Body (PRB) method, in which the behavior of flexible members is approximated via a series of rigid links connected by spring-loaded kinematic pairs. From a CM analysis standpoint, the applicability of a generic PRB model requires the determination of the kinematic pairs’ location and the stiffness of a set of generalized springs. In parallel, from a design standpoint, a PRB model representing the kinetostatic behavior of a flexible system should allow to compute the flexures’ characteristics providing the desired compliance. In light of these considerations, this paper describes a Computer-Aided Design/Engineering (CAD/CAE) framework for the automatic derivation of accurate PRB model parameters, on one hand, and for the shape optimization of complex-shape flexures comprising out-of-plane displacements and distributed compliance. The method leverages on the modelling and simulation capabilities of a parametric CAD (i.e. PTC Creo) seamlessly connected to a CAE tool (i.e. RecurDyn), which provides built-in functions for modelling the motion of flexible members. The method is initially validated on an elementary case study taken from the literature. Then, an industrial case study, which consists of a spatial crank mechanism connected to a fully-compliant four-bar linkage is discussed. At first, an initial sub-optimal design is considered and its PRB representation is automatically determined. Secondly, on the basis of the PRB model, several improved design alternatives are simulated. Finally, the most promising design solution is selected and the dimensions of a flexure with non-trivial shape (i.e. hybrid flexure) is computed. This technique, which combines reliable numerical results to the visual insight of CAD/CAE tools, may be particularly useful for analyzing/designing spatial CMs composed of complex flexure topologies.

A new 2-degrees of freedom compliant parallel micromanipulator (CPM) utilizing flexure joints is proposed for two-dimensional nanomanipulation in this paper. By a proper selection of actuators, flexure hinges, and materials, this system is constructed and analyzed by a pseudorigid-body model, architectural optimization, and finite-element analysis. Both the position and velocity kinematic modelings are established, and afterwards, statics analysis is performed. In view of the physical constraints imposed by pizeo-actuators and flexure hinges, the CPM's workspace area is determined. And in order to achieve a maximum workspace subjected to the given dexterity indices, kinematic optimization of the design parameters is carried out, which results in a manipulator satisfying the operational requirements. Furthermore, the finite-element analysis has been undertaken to validate the analytical modeling, and the influence of architectural parameters on CPM performance has been evaluated as well. Note to Practitioners-This paper is motivated by the problem of designing a nanomanipulator for two-dimensional (2-D) assembly of nanoscale objects via nanomanipulation. A novel planar parallel mechanism incorporating compliant mechanisms is designed for such a purpose. Since the application of the manipulator depends significantly on the kinematic mathematical models, the designed compliant parallel micromanipulator (CPM) is analyzed by the established pseudorigid-body (PRB) model. The architectural optimization leads to a CPM satisfying the workspace and resolution requirements of this work. Moreover, finite-element analysis is performed to verify the accuracy of the developed PRB model, and simulation results illustrate the efficiency of the PRB model in designing and analyzing the CPM. Since the designed CPM is composed solely of flexural elements which are known to be competent in high precise applications, it is reasonable to expect that the CPM could find its way into 2-D manipulation of nanoscale components.

The design of the canopy utilizes the conventional rigid body mechanisms which is vulnerable to the presence of backlash, friction of joints or wearing of mechanical parts which lead to short product life. Compliant mechanisms are employed to reduce these mechanical problems, owing to their zero-joint and monolithic structure. A reference design for the conventional canopy was chosen and modified through reviewing different patent designs. Six different configurations of the pseudo-rigid-body model (PRBM) were constructed, and the best configuration was selected. Kinematic synthesis with function generation was performed for the chosen PRBM using MATLAB. The obtained results from the kinematic synthesis were then used to calculate the dimensions and stresses of the flexural pivots for the compliant stretcher mechanism. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) simulation was then performed on each of the models and the obtained flexural pivot stresses were compared with that of the PRBM. This research successfully replaces all the rigid joints and links of the stretcher mechanism of the conventional canopy to form a monolithic structure of compliant stretcher mechanism.

Analysis and synthesis of compliant mechanisms has recently been the subject of significant study in the research community. This focus has led to a number of design approaches for developing compliant mechanisms. This paper describes the value of using the Pseudo-Rigid-Body Model (PRBM) to design compliant mechanisms for commercial products. Application of the PRBM is illustrated through the development of two parallel mechanisms: a bicycle derailleur and parallel-motion bicycle brakes. The PRBM allows compliant mechanisms to be modeled and analyzed as rigid-body mechanisms and significantly reduces the complexity of analysis. Mechanisms with straightforward properties are used to demonstrate the use of the PRBM to design commercially viable compliant mechanisms for required motion and force-deflection characteristics.

This paper discusses one type of commonly used parallel manipulator mechanism for the generation of micro-motion. This mechanism is designed as a compliant mechanism. The design and control of such a compliant mechanism is an important issue. This paper focuses on kinematic issues with consideration of future real-time control of the system. In particular, a constant-Jacobian method to approximate the kinematics, which is based on a pseudo rigid body model of the compliant mechanism, is further validated. This validation is based on the difference between this approximate method and the finite element method to the actual device, for an actuator range of 0–15 μm. The computational time with this approximate method is nearly 50 times less than that with the finite element method. It is expected that this approximation method will be far superior to the finite element method in terms of real-time control.

The typical leaf-type isosceles-trapezoidal flexural (LITF) pivot consists of two flexural beams and two rigid-bodies. The single LITF pivot has the small range of motion and relatively large center shift. However, the vacancy in the pivot point makes LITF pivots much easier to be cascaded than other commonly used flexure joints. The performances of LITF pivots will be greatly improved by connecting them together in series. This paper presents an innovative design of LITF pivots. The single LITF pivot is regarded as a basic configurable module, and four of them can be used to construct new types of flexure joint, which are referred to here as quadri-LITF (Q-LITF) pivot. Ten types of Q-LITF pivots are synthesized in this paper. Compared with a single LIFT pivot, the stroke of a Q-LITF pivot is larger, and stiffness of the mechanism becomes smaller. The center-shift of the Q-LIFT pivot can be optimized by tuning geometric parameters of its single LITF modules. Based on the pseudorigid-body (PRB) model of the single LITF pivot, the method for analyzing the Q-LITF pivots is proposed. One type of the Q-LITF pivots is selected as an example to demonstrate the proposed method for the Q-LITF pivot analysis. The comparison between the results of PRB model analysis and the finite element analysis (FEA) shows the feasibility and efficiency of the analysis procedure.

The design of an effective hand-exercising device is based on an existing study of the force-deflection behavior of the human hand. This paper presents a design methodology using a compliant mechanism construct, for generating the desired force-deflection profile as the output. This is made possible by the integration of a rigid cam profile segment. The compliant segments serve as the followers, and their material and geometric properties serve as design variables. The force-deflection profile utilized was developed through experimental studies conducted on the human hand, along with a mathematical model that predicts the maximum grip force as a function of the handle’s diameter. A procedure is proposed herein that would allow the use of various force-deflection profiles, to be able to change the resistance level in order to meet individual requirements. The synthesis results obtained are investigated for cam-follower non-interference using a novel pseudo-rigid-body model (PRBM) approach and verified by finite element analysis. The exercise devices generally ignore in their conceptualization and design the anatomical mechanical advantage. This methodology, owing to the nature of the experiment, duly regards the variable mechanical advantage characteristic of the hand in different positions naturally.

摘要: 基于伪刚体模型,综合考虑平面柔顺机构中柔性杆件的横向变形和轴向变形影响,提出具有移动副的两自由度伪刚体新模型。分别用移动副和转动副描述柔顺杆件的轴向位移和横向位移,模拟末端受力和力矩复合载荷作用时柔顺杆的变形,建立平面柔顺机构的PR伪刚体模型,通过三维搜索得出了模型的最优特征半径系数,应用线性回归方法得到了模型的刚度系数。通过与1R、2R伪刚体模型以及柔顺杆的数值算例对比,说明了PR伪刚体模型的优越性。

This paper presents a novel piezoelectric XY micro-displacement scanning stage (MDSS), which features a parallel structure based on compliant mechanisms and has a compact configuration. Since the coupling problem between two motion axes, an innovative elliptical compliant restraint mechanism (ECRM) with a compact layout is proposed and utilized in XY MDSS to obtain high motion accuracy. And the XY MDSS can realize compact structure and lower input stiffness for a large workspace owing to the ECRM simultaneously. Due to the limited displacement of the piezoelectric stack actuator, compliant amplification mechanism is applied to achieve a large stroke. In order to estimate the static and dynamic characteristics theoretically, Castigliano’s second theorem and Lagrange’s method are utilized to establish the analytical models of the newfangled ECRM, compliant amplification mechanism, and XY MDSS. The finite element analysis and experimental tests are carried out to evaluate the performances of XY XDSS, and the results are all in correspondence with analytic solutions, which further validate the correctness of the analytical modeling methodologies. Experimental results show that the XY MDSS can realize a workspace of 58.8 μm × 51.5 μm with a resonance frequency of 576.5 Hz and nanometer-level resolution. The effectiveness of the designed ECRM is also proved simultaneously, which could well limit the coupling motion. The theoretical studies, finite element analysis, and experimental testing all demonstrate that the designed XY MDSS with ECRM has good performance while having a compact structure.

We report on the accuracy of the pseudo-rigid-body model (PRBM) in predicting the behavior of a nanoscale parallel-guiding mechanism (nPGM) that uses two single-walled (5,5) carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as the flexural guiding elements. The nPGM has two regions of behavior: region 1 is governed by the bulk deformation of the nanotubes, and region 2 is characterized by hingelike flexing of four “kinks” that occur due to buckling of the nanotube walls. PRBM parameters for (5,5) CNTs are proposed. Molecular simulation results of region 1 behavior match PRBM predictions of (1) kinematic behavior with less than 7.3% error and (2) elastomechanic behavior with less than 5.7% error. Although region 1 is of more interest because of its well-defined and stable nature, region 2 motion is also investigated. We show that the PRBM parameters are dependent on the selection of the effective tube thickness and moment of inertia, the lesson being that designers must take care to consider the thickness and moment of inertia values when deriving PRBM constants.

This chapter presents the design of parallel-kinematic nanopositioning stages with large workspace and low crosstalk. Based on compliant Roberts mechanism, the design of multi-axis parallel compliant stage is synthesized. A new XY nanopositioning stage is studied in detail. Pseudo-rigid-body model (PRBM) is developed to build the quantitative models of the compliant Roberts mechanisms. In addition, finite-element analysis (FEA) is carried out to validate its performance. A prototype is fabricated and tested through experimental studies. Results show that the XY stage delivers a work range larger than 12 mm in each axis. Moreover, the parasitic motion of the stage in the non-working direction is less than 1.7 % of the motion stroke. It indicates that the designed stage meets the requirements of a large stroke and high precision linear guiding mechanism, which demonstrates the feasibility of the proposed design ideas using the Roberts mechanism. Moreover, a feedback control using PID control algorithm is implemented to demonstrate the positioning performance of the developed XY stage. The reported ideas can also be extended to the design and control of other types of micro-/nanopositioning systems.

Compliant constant-force linear-motion mechanism

Piezoelectric actuators (PEAs) and compliant parallel mechanisms (CPMs) are advantageous for designing nanopositioning stages (NPSs) with multiple degrees of freedom (multi-DOFs). This paper proposes a new NPS that uses PEAs and CPMs with multiple spatial DOFs. First, the design of the mechanism is introduced. Six parallel kinematics revolute-revolute-revolute-revolute (RRRR) branched chains were used to create a 6-RRRR CPM for superior mechanical performance. Three in-plane and three out-of-plane chains were combined using a two-in-one structure to ensure fabrication feasibility. A two-in-one 6-RRRR CPM was employed to build the proposed NPS. Second, the mechanical performance was analyzed. High-efficiency finite-element modeling approaches were derived using the compliance-based matrix method (CMM) and a pseudo-rigid body model (PRBM). The model included both 6-RRRR CPM and NPS. The simulation results validated the static and dynamic performance, and the experimental results verified the kinematics. Based on the newly designed mechanism and verified mechanical performance, the proposed 6-RRRR NPS contributes to the development of spatial multi-DOF NPSs using PEAs and CPMs.

A new pseudo-rigid-body model approach for modeling the quasi-static response of planar flexure-hinge mechanisms

Mechanical components in a robotic system were used to provide body structure and mechanism to achieve physical motions following the commands from electronic controller. This kind of robotic system utilizes complex hardware and firmware for sensing and planning. To reduce computational cost and increase reliability for a robotic system, employing mechanical components to fully or partially take over control tasks is a promising way, which is also referred to as “mechanical intelligence” (MI). This paper proposes a shape memory alloy driven robot capable of using a reciprocating motion to crawl over a surface without any use of electronic controller. A mechanical logic switch is designed to determine the activation timing for a pair of antagonistic shape memory alloy (SMA) actuators. Meanwhile, a compliant pre-strain bistable mechanism is introduced to cooperate with the SMA actuators achieving reliable reciprocating motion between the two stable positions. The SMA actuator is modeled base on a static two-state theory while the bistable mechanism is described by combining a pseudo-rigid-body model (PRBM) with a Bi-beam constraint model (Bi-BCM). Following this, the design parameters of the bistable mechanism and SMA actuators are determined according to theoretical simulations. Finally, a robotic prototype is fabricated using anisotropic friction on its feet to convert the reciprocating motion of the actuator to uni-directional locomotion of the robot body over a surface. Experiments are carried out to validate the presented design concept and the modeling methods.