Design and Performance Analysis of Double C-Type Flexure Hinges

Abstract

This paper proposes a series of double C-type flexure hinges for lamina emergent mechanisms (LEMs), designs the structure, and deduces the formula of the equivalent stiffness of the double C-type flexure hinge. Theoretical calculation and finite element simulation analyses of the design examples are used to verify the correctness of the equivalent stiffness calculation formula. In order to improve the bending performance of the flexure hinges, we propose a method to remove some materials of the semicircle of the flexure hinges according to certain rules. Then, the structure of the double C-type flexure hinge is further improved. Finally, the performance of the improved and unimproved double C-type flexure hinges is compared through the finite element simulation analysis, and the results show that the bending performance of the improved double C-type flexure hinge is better than the unimproved double C-type flexure hinge, while the antitensile properties undergo no significant decline.