Design and fabrication of a two-degree-of-freedom actuator utilizing electromagnetic actuators and flexure mechanism

• Main Author: Kelvin
• Other Authors: Yeo Song Huat
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2017
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Mechanical engineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/71997
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Flexure mechanism is used as a motion guide in small displacement applications, eliminating friction caused by using bearings. The removal of friction and addition of elastic stiffness allow the output shaft to have nanometre resolution. Several multi-DOF actuators have been developed utilizing piezoelectric actuators, voice coil motors, and electromagnetic actuators. Electromagnetic actuators are the preferred choice due to better combination of long stroke and high force density. However, there has not been many development of systems consisting of electromagnetic actuators and flexure mechanism. In this project, an actuator capable of providing translational and rotational motion, utilizing flexure mechanism was developed. The novel structural design combines two actuators (linear and rotary) with flexure mechanism as the motion guide and support. In addition, the proposed design only has the output shaft as the rotor. Even though friction forces exist in the prototype, the flexure mechanism helps to retract the system back to the original position. The designed 2-DOF compliant mechanism has a workspace of 3.72mm and 4.38˚ at 2.92 N and 87.1 N.mm respectively, based on ANSYS simulation. In the experiment, the prototype produced is displaced for 0.5mm and 1.35˚. The prototype can achieve a resolution of 0.05 mm and 0.09˚.