Compliant mechanisms: from the conceptual design to their manufacture

Authors

  • Francisco Javier Ramírez Gil Universidad Nacional de Colombia
  • Esteban Sepúlveda Orozco Universidad Nacional de Colombia
  • Wilfredo Montealegre Rubio Universidad Nacional de Colombia

Keywords:

Compliant mechanisms, systematic design, structuraloptimization, topology optimization method (TOM), finite element method (FEM)

Abstract

The compliant mechanisms (CMs) are monolithic structures where the displacement is given by the flexibility of their structural members. Thus, the CMs show certain advantages compared with their counterparts, the rigid bodies; since assembling or lubrication are not required. This paper presents a systematic methodology to produce a gripper-type CM, from the design to their manufacture. For designing the CM, the topology optimization method (TOM) is used, where optimal structures are automatically designed by distributing a given amount of material within a specified design domain seeking for maximizing the displacement at a point. Next, a series of operations are applied to the TOM design for reducing the geometry complexity and then manufacturing costs. With the proposed methodology, an optimal and functional CM with innovative geometry is obtained.

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Author Biographies

Francisco Javier Ramírez Gil, Universidad Nacional de Colombia

Grupo de Diseño y Optimización Aplicada (DOA, www.doa-unal.co), Departamento de Ingeniería Mecánica, Facultad de Minas, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Medellín – Colombia. MSc fjramireg@unal.edu.co, 

Esteban Sepúlveda Orozco, Universidad Nacional de Colombia

Grupo de Diseño y Optimización Aplicada (DOA, www.doa-unal.co), Departamento de Ingeniería Mecánica, Facultad de Minas, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Medellín – Colombia. MSc esepulvo@unal.edu.co 

Wilfredo Montealegre Rubio, Universidad Nacional de Colombia

Grupo de Diseño y Optimización Aplicada (DOA, www.doa-unal.co), Departamento de Ingeniería Mecánica, Facultad de Minas, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Medellín – Colombia. DSc wmontealegrer@unal.edu.co

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Published

2017-06-30

How to Cite

Ramírez Gil, F. J., Sepúlveda Orozco, E., & Montealegre Rubio, W. (2017). Compliant mechanisms: from the conceptual design to their manufacture. Revista Politécnica, 13(24), 65–78. Retrieved from https://revistas.elpoli.edu.co/index.php/pol/article/view/1091

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