SOFTWARE FOR SYNTHESIS OF COMPLIANT MECHANISMS WITHOUT INTERSECTING ELEMENTS

Abstract

A compliant mechanism is defined as a single piece structure that transfer motion or force through elastic deformation. The synthesis of this kind of mechanisms represents a challenging task, especially because their flexible segments usually must undergo large, nonlinear deflections which include difficult nonlinear analysis. In this paper the new software for synthesis of compliant mechanisms is developed. The software uses an improved topology optimization technique that is especially useful when the designer does not have a particular compliant mechanism already in mind. Intersection between elements in the compliant mechanisms obtained by using existing topology optimization technique often increases stiffness of the structure which need to be flexible. The topology optimization technique is improved in the software so that compliant mechanisms without intersecting elements are obtained. The methodology that software uses and its capability will be shown on the examples of synthesis of the compliant gripper and the compliant displacement inverter.