Design of compliant mechanisms based on compliant building elements. Part II: Practice

In Part II, we present the use and application of the Compliant Building Elements (CBE) method to generate practical designs for different multiple degree-of-freedom (DOF) compliant mechanisms. We first create a compliant mechanism library based on the combination of prismatic beams, which includes commonly used basic elements (BEs), serial elements (SEs), and parallel elements (PEs). Examples are given during the construction of the library. Based on the library and CBE method, we demonstrate the design of a six-axis nanopositioner, a compliant steering mechanism, and a one-dimensional mechanical metamaterial structure. The outcome of each design process yields a flexure topology that meets the design requirements as well as the corresponding parametric stiffness and compliance matrices, from which we can efficiently obtain the kinematic characteristics of the flexure system and optimize the stiffnesses in selected axes.

Automated summary

In Part II, the Compliant Building Elements (CBE) method is introduced for generating practical designs of multiple degree-of-freedom (DOF) compliant mechanisms. A library of compliant mechanisms is created based on the combination of prismatic beams, containing commonly used basic elements (BEs), serial elements (SEs), and parallel elements (PEs). Through examples, the design processes of a six-axis nanopositioner, a compliant steering mechanism, and a one-dimensional mechanical metamaterial structure are demonstrated using the library and CBE method. Each design yields a flexure topology that meets requirements and corresponding stiffness and compliance matrices for kinematic characteristics and stiffness optimization in selected axes.