Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Conceptual design of compliant translational joints for high-precision applications

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Frontiers of Mechanical Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Compliant translational joints (CTJs) have been extensively used in precision engineering and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). There is an increasing need for designing higher-performance CTJs. This paper deals with the conceptual design of CTJs via three approaches: parallelogram based method, straight-line motion mechanism based method and combination based method. Typical emerging CTJ designs are reviewed by explaining their design principles and qualitatively analyzing their characteristics. New CTJs are proposed using three approaches, including an asymmetric double parallelogram mechanism with slaving mechanism, several compact and symmetric double parallelogram mechanisms with slaving mechanisms and a general CTJ using the center drift compensation and a CTJ using Roberts linkage and several combination designs. This paper provides an overview of the current advances/progresses of CTJ designs and lays the foundation for further optimization, quantitative analysis and characteristic comparisons.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Howell L L. Compliant Mechanisms. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 2001

    Google Scholar 

  2. Howell L L, Magleby S P, Olsen B M. Handbook of Compliant Mechanisms. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 2013

    Book  Google Scholar 

  3. Trease B P, Moon Y M, Kota S. Design of large-displacement compliant joints. Journal of Mechanical Design, 2005, 127(4): 788–798

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Mackay A B, Smith D G, Magleby S P, et al. Metrics for evaluation and design of large-displacement linear-motion compliant mechanisms. Journal of Mechanical Design, 2012, 134(1): 011008

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Olfatnia M, Cui L, Chopra P, et al. Large range dual-axis micro-stage driven by electrostatic comb-drive actuators. Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering, 2013, 23(10): 105008

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Olfatnia M, Sood S, Gorman J, et al. Large stroke electrostatic comb-drive actuators enabled by a novel flexure mechanism. Journal of Microelectromechanical Systems, 2013, 22(2): 483–494

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Olfatnia M, Sood S, Awtar S. Note: An asymmetric flexure mechanism for comb-drive actuators. Review of Scientific Instruments, 2012, 83(11): 116105

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Yong Y K, Moheimani S O R, Kenton B J, et al. Invited review article: High-speed flexure-guided nanopositioning: Mechanical design and control issues. Review of Scientific Instruments, 2012, 83(12): 121101

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Hiemstra D B, Parmar G, Awtar S. Performance tradeoffs posed by moving magnet actuators in flexure-based nanopositioning. IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics, 2012, 19(1): 201–212

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Hao G, Meng Q, Li Y. Design of large-range XY compliant parallel manipulators based on parasitic motion compensation. In: Proceedings of the ASME 2013 International Design Engineering Technical Conferences & Computers and Information in Engineering Conference. Portland, 2013

    Google Scholar 

  11. Genequand P M U S. Patent, 6059481, 2000-05-09

  12. Brouwer D M, Otten A, Engelen J B C, et al. Long-range elastic guidance mechanisms for electrostatic comb-drive actuators. In: Proceedings of the 10th International Conference of the European Society for Precision Engineering & Nanotechnology. Delft, 2010, 47–50

    Google Scholar 

  13. Zhao H Z, Bi S S, Yu J J, et al. Design of a family of ultra-precision linear motion mechanisms. Journal of Mechanisms and Robotics, 2012, 4(4): 041012

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Zhao H Z, Bi S S, Yu J J. A novel compliant linear-motion mechanism based on parasitic motion compensation. Mechanism and Machine Theory, 2012, 50: 15–28

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Hubbard N B, Wittwer J W, Kennedy J A L, et al. A novel fully compliant planar linear-motion mechanism. In: Proceedings of the 2004 ASME Design Engineering Technical Conferences. Salt Lake City, 2004

    Google Scholar 

  16. Pei X, Yu J, Zong G, Bi S. Design of compliant straight-line mechanisms using flexural joints. Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering, 2014, 27(1): 146–153

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Beroz J D, Awtar S, Bedewy M, et al. Compliant microgripper with parallel straight-line jaw trajectory for nanostructure manipulation. In: Proceedings of 26th American Society of Precision Engineering Annual Meeting. Denver, 2011

    Google Scholar 

  18. Hopkins J B, Panas R M. A family of flexures that eliminate underconstraint in nested large-stroke flexure systems. In: Proceedings of the 13th Euspen International Conference. Berlin, 2013

    Google Scholar 

  19. Zhao H Z, Bi S S. Accuracy characteristics of the generalized crossspring pivot. Mechanism and Machine Theory, 2010, 45(10): 1434–1448

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  20. Hao G, Kong X, He X. A planar reconfigurable linear rigid-body motion linkage with two operation modes. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Part C, Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science, 2014, 228(16): 2985–2991

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Kong X, Gosselin C M. Type Synthesis of Parallel Mechanisms. Berlin: Springer, 2007

    MATH  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Engineering-Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland

    Guangbo Hao & Haiyang Li

  2. School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, EH14 4AS, UK

    Xiuyun He & Xianwen Kong

Authors
  1. Guangbo Hao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Haiyang Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Xiuyun He
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Xianwen Kong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Guangbo Hao.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hao, G., Li, H., He, X. et al. Conceptual design of compliant translational joints for high-precision applications. Front. Mech. Eng. 9, 331–343 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11465-014-0321-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11465-014-0321-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation