Shape Optimization for Flexure Hinges
T. Oiwa, T. Sugimoto
Oct 5, 1997
Citations
14
Citations
Journal
Journal of The Japan Society for Precision Engineering
Full text
Semantic Scholar
Key Takeaway Key Takeaway: The optimal flexure hinge profile has higher axial stiffness and bending flexibility, with 19% higher bending compliance and 67% higher deflection angle compared to conventional circular notched hinges.
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to design an optimum profile of the flexure hinge with high axial stiffness and high bending flexibility. The conventional circular notched and rectangular notched profiles are not optimum because of low flexibility and high stress concentration. In this paper, the optimum profile with uniform stress distribution was generated using the finite element method under constraint conditions which unify the axial stiffness and minimum thickness of the notched profiles. Moreover, the flexibility of the optimum profile was compared with the flexibility of ellipse profiles, round rectangular profiles and profiles described by higher degree functions. As a result, the optimum profile had flatter stress distribution and the highest flexibility under a maximum stress constraint condition. The optimum hinge has 19% higher bending compliance than the conventional circular notched hinge, and produces 67% higher deflection angle than the rectangular notched hinge.