Design and Experimental Characterization of a Flexure Hinge-Based Parallel Four-Bar Mechanism for Precision Guides

This paper presents the investigation of the influence of the flexure hinge contour in compliant linkage mechanisms for precision engineering applications. Especially the influence on the precision of the path of motion and the stroke of the compliant mechanism is reflected. Based on previous results on optimized single polynomial flexure hinges, the validity of proposed guidelines is analyzed for a combination of several flexure hinges in one compliant mechanism. A parallel crank mechanism is used as an example for a compliant rectilinear guiding mechanism with constant link orientation. The parameters of the approximated linear motion are investigated for the rigid-body model, a compliant analytic model and a FEM model. Finally these results are compared with measurement results taken at manufactured prototypes.