Compliant continuous-locking micro mechanism

Conference paper (2016)

Authors

S. Van Bracht Flexous BV
G. Semon TAG Heuer
Just Herder Mechatronic Systems Design - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering
J.L. Herder Mechatronic Systems Design - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering
N. Tolou Mechatronic Systems Design - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering
Research Group
Mechatronic Systems Design (Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering) (TU Delft)
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Published Date

2016

Language

English

Reuse Rights

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Faculty

Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering

Department

Precision and Microsystems Engineering

Research Group

Mechatronic Systems Design

Abstract

Micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) often require tuning to correct for fabrication errors such as changed dimensions or to adapt for a different scenario such as changed temperature. To prevent continuous power consumption for maintaining system behavior, a locking system can be added which does not require any power during operation. A new comb finger locking mechanism design is proposed using an orthogonal spring force on a moving shuttle to generate a locking force in the motion direction through friction. Multiple contact points are placed in line with the spring force to increase the locking force in a volumetric efficient way. The spring is optimized for high locking force but low sensitivity to fabrication errors. Mechanism design is illustrated and successfully tested using a case study example.