Design and fabrication of a microgripper with a topology optimal compliant mechanism
by Shyh-Chour Huang, Chien-Ching Chiu, Wei-Liang Chen
International Journal of Computational Materials Science and Surface Engineering (IJCMSSE), Vol. 2, No. 3/4, 2009

Abstract: This study describes a new way of using a topology optimum compliant mechanism and a V-shaped beam electrothermal microactuator to design a microgripper. The compliant mechanism is a two-dimensional structure, and it employs flexibility to generate movement without any hinge. Topology optimisation means defining a design domain that has infinite possible shapes. In the topology optimisation procedure, the finite-element method is used to analyse the design domain structure and optimisation theory is applied to solve the problem. This study also discusses the effects of the optimum result when different parameters are defined in topology optimisation. The resulting prototype gripper displacement is as large as 43 µm for 1 V input.

Online publication date: Tue, 28-Jul-2009

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