XYZ Micropositioning System Based on Compliance Mechanisms Fabricated by Additive Manufacturing

Abstract

This article presents the design and implementation of a micropositioning system actuated by three piezoelectric stacks to control its displacements on XYZ axes. The use of conventional piezoelectric buzzers allows us to reduce fabrication costs. The working or mobile platform is the base for objects that will be manipulated, for example, in automated assembling. The micropositioner can be integrated into a microgripper to generate a complete manipulation system. For micropositioner fabrication, at first, Polylactic Acid (PLA) was chosen as the structural material, but after simulation and some experimental tests performed with a micropositioner made of Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), it showed larger displacement (approx. 20%) due to its lower stiffness. A third test was performed with a positioner made with Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol (PETG), obtaining an intermediate performance. The originality of this work resides in the geometrical arrangement based on thermoplastic polymer compliance mechanisms, as well as in the use of additive manufacturing to fabricate it. An experimental setup was developed to carry out experimental tests. ANSYS™ was used for simulation.

Additive Manufactured Piezoelectric-Driven Miniature Gripper

“…The structure of the micromanipulation systems is composed of different elements, usually a control system, a displacement platform, a tool for holding the sample, and a microscopic visual servo drive system, as well as various displacement and force sensors [7]. The sliding platform and the clamping tool are mechanical elements that can be manufactured with compliant [8] or rigid [9] body mechanisms. There is an increasing trend to create designs with compliant mechanisms due to their advantages over rigid body ones, because being structures manufactured in one piece, they are lubricant-free, have no friction losses, no backlash, and mass production is easily facilitated, and there are other advantages, such as high precision and low weight [10].…”

Omnidirectional Manipulation of Microparticles on a Platform Subjected to Circular Motion Applying Dynamic Dry Friction Control

“…The properties of the beams, such as stiffness and damping, were able to be tuned under the influence of magnetic fields. Ferrara-Bello et al [ 19 ] applied a micropositioning system actuated by three piezoelectric stacks to control the position and displacement in the three dimensions along the XYZaxis. The main disadvantage of micropositioning platforms is the limited size of their workspaces.…”

Downsizing Effects on Micro and Nano Comb Drives

“…This enduring trend [2], together with the consequent evolution of massive low-cost and large-scale semiconductor and microelectronics technologies [3], also triggered the conception and manufacturing of micromechanical structures [4], paving the way to the birth and growth of Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) [5][6][7][8]. MEMS can be used as extremely miniaturized sensors, actuators, microgrippers [9][10][11], with different sorts of actuation [12][13][14], piezoelectric resonators [15,16], and wave-guides [17], to only name but a few. They share with microelectronic devices the same conceptual platform: processes, technologies, and facilities able to produce low-cost, large-volume fabrication steps [18,19].…”