AEROSPACE SHANGHAI, Volume. 42, Issue 1, 126(2025)

Design and Analysis of a Cross-spring Flexure Hinge Based on Additive Manufacturing

Lin CHEN*, Qiuyang LU, Kai ZHAO, and Yi YUE
Author Affiliations
  • School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering,Shanghai University Of Engineering Science,Shanghai201620,China
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    The flexure hinge,as a critical component of compliant mechanisms,has garnered widespread attention from researchers worldwide.To explore the feasibility of applying the additive manufacturing technology in the design of flexure hinges,a cross-spring flexure hinge for additive manufacturing processes is designed.First,an equivalent stiffness model of the crossed-spring flexure hinge is established.Second,three key design parameters,i.e.,the spring thickness t,the hole dimensions a and b,and the crossing angle α,are selected,and the selective laser melting (SLM) technique is used to fabricate a set of hinge prototypes.Third,the fabricated prototypes are analyzed theoretically,simulated by the finite element method,and tested by a visual testing platform.The results demonstrate good consistency among the theoretical,simulation,and experimental stiffness values,verifying the validity of the proposed model.Finally,the flexible hinge structure is optimized by introducing reeds at the contact points between the springs and the matrix and employing springs with non-uniform thicknesses,which enhances the manufacturing stability and improves the transmission performance of the hinge.

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    Lin CHEN, Qiuyang LU, Kai ZHAO, Yi YUE. Design and Analysis of a Cross-spring Flexure Hinge Based on Additive Manufacturing[J]. AEROSPACE SHANGHAI, 2025, 42(1): 126

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    Paper Information

    Category: Integration of Material Structure and Function

    Received: Nov. 27, 2024

    Accepted: --

    Published Online: May. 13, 2025

    The Author Email:

    DOI:10.19328/j.cnki.2096-8655.2025.01.013

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