TOWARD THE DESIGN OF COMPLIANT ACTUATORS WITH A SPECIFIED FORCE AND STROKE

摘要

The design of compliant actuators with a user-specified output stroke and force is discussed. A classical problem in structural optimization where a beam is optimally designed for a particular output deflection is investigated. This problem serves as the motivation for a scheme to scale the member sizes of an optimal compliant mechanism topology solution so that the desired output deflection is achieved. It is concluded that the scaling scheme is successful only if the stiffness of the actuator element and the external load are not considered. For the problem where a piezoceramic actuator is coupled to the compliant mechanism, which in turn works against an external spring, the optimal topology solution gives the maximum output deflection.