Simplified Manufacturing Through a Metamorphic Process for Compliant Ortho-Planar Mechanisms

Abstract

Most simplified manufacturing processes generally result in two-dimensional features. However, most products are three-dimensional. Devices that could be manufactured through simplified manufacturing processes, but function in a three-dimensional space, would be highly desirable — especially if they require little assembly. Compliant ortho-planar metamorphic mechanisms (COPMMS) can be fabricated through simplified manufacturing processes, and then metamorphically transformed into a new configuration where they are no longer bound by the limitations of ortho-planar behavior. The main contributions of this paper are the suggestion of COPMM definitions, an investigation into the morphing process, and the description of a COPMM design process. This work also contributes a case study in designing COPMMs to meet particular design objectives.