XYZ Micropositioning System Based on Compliance Mechanisms Fabricated by Additive Manufacturing

CARLOS ANDRES FERRARA BELLO Pedro Vargas Chable José Gerardo Vera Dimas Margarita Tecpoyotl Torres (2021)

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.

Artículo

INGENIERÍA Y TECNOLOGÍA CIENCIAS TECNOLÓGICAS PETG, MEMS, micromanipulation, piezoelectric actuation, hysteresis effect linearization