Title: Computer-aided tolerance allocation of compliant ortho-planar spring mechanism

Authors: Pier Paolo Valentini; Eugenio Pezzuti

Addresses: Department of Enterprise Engineering, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via del Politecnico 1 - 00133, Rome, Italy ' Department of Enterprise Engineering, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via del Politecnico 1 - 00133, Rome, Italy

Abstract: The allocation of the right tolerances is one of the most important phases in the design process of mechanical devices and systems. In general, the choice has to take into account the manufacturing costs and limitations, looking at the specific functionality of the device and the assemblability of parts. In the case of flexible components, the designer has to include the evaluation of the compliance effects and the structural resistance. The paper discusses a numerical methodology for addressing the problem of the geometrical tolerance allocation for the compliant ortho-planar spring. The methodology is based on the definition of the functionality and resistance objective functions by means of finite element models. Numerical constrained optimisation is then applied to find the suitable combination of tolerance parameters acting on the main dimensions.

Keywords: computer-aided tolerance allocation; flexible components; compliant mechanisms; ortho-planar springs; compliance effects; structural resistance; geometrical tolerance allocation; finite element method; FEM; modelling; constrained optimisation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCAT.2016.076801

International Journal of Computer Applications in Technology, 2016 Vol.53 No.4, pp.369 - 374

Received: 11 Apr 2014
Accepted: 21 Dec 2014

Published online: 01 Jun 2016 *

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