DECOMPOSITION STRATEGIES FOR THE SYNTHESIS OF SINGLE INPUT-SINGLE OUTPUT AND DUAL INPUT-SINGLE OUTPUT COMPLIANT MECHANISMS

摘要

In this paper a new method for the synthesis of compliant mechanism topologies is presented which involves the decomposition of motion requirements into more easily solved sub-problems. The decomposition strategies are presented and demonstrated for both single input-single output (SISO) and dual input-single output (DISO) planar compliant mechanisms. The methodology makes use of the single point synthesis (SPS) which effectively generates topologies which satisfy motion requirements at one point by assembling compliant building blocks. The SPS utilizes compliance and stiffness ellipsoids to characterize building blocks and to combine them in an intelligent manner. Both the SISO and DISO problems are decomposed into sub-problems which may be addressed by the SPS. The decomposition strategies are demonstrated with illustrative example problems. This paper presents an alternative method for the synthesis of compliant mechanisms which augments designer insight.