Additive Manufacturing of a Bistable Mechanism Using Fused Deposition Modeling: Experimental and Theoretical Characterization

Abstract

Bistable mechanisms can be used for performing specific functions such as locking or negative stiffness generation. These compliant structures are then of interest at different scales, with different corresponding manufacturing technologies. One of them is additive manufacturing, which is interesting for the integration of such structures. Although this technology has undergone a revolution with the development of high-accuracy machines, the manufacturing of small-sized compliant structures is still quite a challenge especially for bistable mechanisms, which was not yet finely characterized. This is the focus of this paper, with presentation of an experimental and analytical confrontation in the case of Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM).

Towards a Discrete Snake-Like Robot Based on SMA-Actuated Tristable Modules for Follow the Leader Control Strategy

“…In order to determine the negative forces, the bistable mechanism has been reversed. This setup is not illustrated in this article but is identical to the one used in previous experiments [28]. The results from this experiment are presented in Fig.…”

Towards a compact and low-cost mesoscopic XY positioning system using 3D printing of conductive polymers

“…A K-type thermocouple was used to measure the surface temperature after applying different voltages. The mechanical characterisation of the material was carried out with a FK50 force sensor (Sauter) and a LK-H152 laserbased displacement sensor (Keyence), as detailed in [13]. A beam was printed with carbon-PLA and the Young's modulus E ′ was characterised using Euler Bernoulli's relationship between applied force F and measured displacement δ:…”