Print Email Facebook Twitter Monolithic binary stiffness building blocks for mechanical digital machines Title Monolithic binary stiffness building blocks for mechanical digital machines Author Kuppens, P.R. (TU Delft Mechatronic Systems Design) Bessa, M.A. (TU Delft Team Georgy Filonenko) Herder, J.L. (TU Delft Precision and Microsystems Engineering; TU Delft Mechatronic Systems Design) Hopkins, J. B. (University of California) Department Precision and Microsystems Engineering Date 2021 Abstract We introduce two essential building blocks with binary stiffness for mechanical digital machines. The large scale fully compliant mechanisms have rectilinear and rotational kinematics and use a new V-shaped negative stiffness structure to create two extreme states of stiffness by static balancing. The use of a mechanical bistable switch allows us to toggle between near-zero-stiffness and high-stiffness states, effectively turning off and on stiffness. A stiffness reduction of 98.8% and 99.9% is achieved for linear and rotary motion over a range of 13.3% (20mm) and 0.4rad (23∘) respectively. Stiffness states can be reversibly changed by toggling the mechanical switch, or irreversibly by actuating the main stage. These binary stiffness mechanisms could set the stage for a new type of mechanical logic, adaptive and programmable metamaterials and other types of digital mechanical devices. Practical mechanical digital machines and materials require miniaturized and easily micro-manufactured components. We have therefore carefully considered scalability by integrating all required structures into a planar and monolithic architecture. This allows miniaturization and fabrication with conventional surface-micro-machining and additive manufacturing such as photolithography, two-photon lithography and fused deposition modeling. Subject Digital mechanismMechanical logicMetamaterialsStatic balancingZero stiffness To reference this document use: http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:49caa97b-bd24-4273-8be1-42836be44427 DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eml.2020.101120 Source Extreme Mechanics Letters, 42 Part of collection Institutional Repository Document type journal article Rights © 2021 P.R. Kuppens, M.A. Bessa, J.L. Herder, J. B. Hopkins Files PDF 1_s2.0_S235243162030290X_main_1.pdf 2.01 MB Close viewer /islandora/object/uuid:49caa97b-bd24-4273-8be1-42836be44427/datastream/OBJ/view