Design of a prototyping press for 3-d monolithic compliant mechanisms

The Precision Systems Design and Manufacturing Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has the need for a metal forming device capable of applying a plastic deformation to two-dimensional sheet metal templates of up to 1/8-inch thickness and 8-inch diameter in order to transform them into prototype three-dimensional monolithic compliant mechanisms. These mechanisms have applications in industrial positioning as they are highly accurate and free from normal performance reducers such as friction, wear, and backlash. This thesis presents the design of a prototyping press capable of achieving the deformation required to produce the 3DMCMs from their 2D templates. The prototyping press that is developed herein utilizes a multiple-piston, hydropneumatic cylinder to deliver up to 5,000 lbf over a 4-inch stroke. The press offers force sensing to within 10%, displacement sensing to within 0.005 inches, and rate control centered around a 6-inch per minute average rate. It is powered by a compressed air supply at up to 100 psi and motion is controlled by a single electrical solenoid shut-off valve.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2004

Author dc:creator

• Slowe, Thomas J. (Thomas John), 1982-

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Martin L. Culpepper.

• Mechanical Engineering.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/32787

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/32787