Modeling and design of a high precision microgripper for microhandling operation

This paper focuses on the unification of two designing approaches to develop a compliant-based microgripper for performing high precision manipulation of micro-objects. A combination of pseudo rigid body model (PRBM) and finite element analysis (FEA) technique has proven to improve the design efficiency by providing the essential guideline for mechanism designers to expedite the prototyping procedure. This tool will effectively reduce the cost and modeling time to devise variety of flexure based mechanisms. A wire electro discharge machining (EDM) technique was utilized for the fabrication of the device. Series of experimental studies were conducted for performance verification and the results were compared with the computational analysis results. A high displacement amplification and maximum stroke of 100 mum can be achieved.