1. Design of a six-axis micro-scale nanopositioner—μHexFlex
- Author
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Chen, Shih-Chi and Culpepper, Martin L.
- Subjects
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AUTOMATIC control systems , *MICROFABRICATION , *ACTUATORS , *MANUFACTURING processes - Abstract
Abstract: This paper presents the design of a small-scale nanopositioner, the μHexFlex, which is comprised of a six-axis compliant mechanism and three pairs of two-axis thermo-mechanical micro-actuators. In this paper, we cover the modeling, design and fabrication of the μHexFlex. Specific attention is given to: (1) the use of constraint-based design in generating the compliant mechanism design, (2) the modeling of the actuators, and (3) the system model which links the actuator input and mechanism response. The measured, quasi-static performance of a 3mm diameter prototype shows a maximum range of 8.4μm×12.8μm×8.8μm and 19.2mrad×17.5mrad×33.2mrad (1.1°×1.0°×1.9°). Experimental results indicate that a constant mechanical/electrical material property system model may be used to predict the position and orientation over a range of 3.0μm×4.4μm×3.0μm and 6.3mrad×6.3mrad×8.7mrad (0.36°×0.36°×0.5°). The dynamic characteristics of the device were investigated experimentally. Experimental results show a lowest natural frequency of 4kHz. The resolution characteristics of the device have been measured at 1Å/mV. The device was created using deep reactive ion etching (DRIE). Bulk fabrication costs are estimated at less than $ 2 per device. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]
- Published
- 2006
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