A novel design of asymmetric and cartwheel flexure hinges for achieving precision rotational movement in compliant mechanism

Abstract

newline Precision engineering industries demand devices with high precision manipulation of micro objects in particular which is a highly challenging task Hence compliant mechanism is the appropriate choice over conventional rigid link mechanism The performance of compliant mechanisms relies on flexure hinges integrated into the design This research thesis aims to develop the flexure hinges with high precision motion through asymmetric circular flexure hinge and cartwheel flexure hinge The circular flexure hinge provides high precision motion and cartwheel provides large deformation The circular flexure hinge with offset distance from 01 mm to 10 mm is carried and obtained stiffness using FEA and experimental methods with the acceptable variation of 14% Cartwheel hinges are intended to design for attaining the large deformation and verified with the appropriate complex application A compliant mechanism microgripper with parallel moving jaws is designed made and examined for its performance Hoekens straight line mechanism is employed for achieving parallel motion and it consists of binary and ternary revolute joints which demand a special type of flexure hinges Hence this research introduces the cartwheel type of flexure hinges with different parameter to allow ternary and binary joints between moving links Cartwheel is designed with curved arms from 1 to 8 eight numbers of flexures and from 5 to 8 arms shows converged results The structural performance of the cartwheel integrated microgripper is carried out through FEA and experimental technique, and its parallel movement is verified newline newline