Design of a Servo Driven Adjustable Pick and Place Mechanism

The goal of this project was to design a tooling station consisting of three of the same linkage mechanisms providing motion along three different axes. Each of the linkages needed to be driven by a servo motor to achieve variable output stroke between zero and fifty six millimeters and to reduce the replacement cost of cams in the sponsor\u27s production-line machinery. Each mechanism is a six-bar linkage consisting of a slider, which is constrained within a slot in the main rocker whose motion is guided by a crank. A right-angle gearbox and servo motor were chosen to drive the linkage. Three linkages were efficiently packaged within the 250 mm x 250 mm x 1000 mm work envelope specified by the sponsor to deliver motion along three different axes

Kinematic Tester for Knee Replacements

Knee replacement surgery has become one of the most common orthopedic procedures performed on older people suffering from osteoarthritis. In an aging society, the demand for knee replacement surgery is predicted to rise. The goal of this project was to design a mechanism for evaluating knee replacements that simulates the motion of a knee replacement during walking. The team designed a mechanism that accommodates a 3D printed total knee replacement. The knee replacement within the mechanism reproduces the correct angular displacement between the tibia and femur and the angular displacement of the femur swing according to our kinematic analyses. It is hoped that future iterations of this mechanism can be used for the evaluation of knee replacement designs

Module-based structure design of wheeled mobile robot

This paper proposes an innovative and systematic approach for synthesizing mechanical structures of wheeled mobile robots. The principle and terminologies used for the proposed synthesis method are presented by adopting the concept of modular design, isomorphic and non-isomorphic, and set theory with its associated combinatorial mathematics. The modular-based innovative synthesis and design of wheeled robots were conducted at two levels. Firstly at the module level, by creative design and analysing the structures of classic wheeled robots, a wheel module set containing four types of wheel mechanisms, a suspension module set consisting of five types of suspension frames and a chassis module set composed of five types of rigid or articulated chassis were designed and generalized. Secondly at the synthesis level, two kinds of structure synthesis modes, namely the isomorphic-combination mode and the non-isomorphic combination mode were proposed to synthesize mechanical structures of wheeled robots; which led to 241 structures for wheeled mobile robots including 236 novel ones. Further, mathematical models and a software platform were developed to provide appropriate and intuitive tools for simulating and evaluating performance of the wheeled robots that were proposed in this paper. Eventually, physical prototypes of sample wheeled robots/rovers were developed and tested so as to prove and validate the principle and methodology presented in this paper

Analysis and re-design of an outdoor fitness equipment's mechanism

Thesis (Master)--Izmir Institute of Technology, Industrial Design, Izmir, 2011Includes bibliographical references (leaves: 42-44)Text in English; Abstract: Turkish and Englishx, 44, leavesThis research study emphasizes the importance of biomechanics and mechanics knowledge in industrial design as an interdisciplinary approach for designing safety products through an example, FE02 Stepper. First of all, the concurrency of FE02 Stepper with human movements was analysed. After the errors were determined, a new mechanism was designed and analysed by using algebraic position analysis method and implemented in Microsoft Excel 2007® and modeled by using Rhinoceros Evolution v4.0®

Kinematics and Robot Design IV, KaRD2021

This volume collects the papers published on the special issue “Kinematics and Robot Design IV, KaRD2021” (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/robotics/special_issues/KaRD2021), which is the forth edition of the KaRD special-issue series, hosted by the open-access journal “MDPI Robotics”. KaRD series is an open environment where researchers can present their works and discuss all the topics focused on the many aspects that involve kinematics in the design of robotic/automatic systems. Kinematics is so intimately related to the design of robotic/automatic systems that the admitted topics of the KaRD series practically cover all the subjects normally present in well-established international conferences on “mechanisms and robotics”. KaRD2021, after the peer-review process, accepted 12 papers. The accepted papers cover some theoretical and many design/applicative aspects

Continuously Variable Ratio Rocker Arms

A design for continuously variable ratio rocker arms was to be considered as a personal project for a a-series engine. It is the desire for me to design a variable lift system to be used in older pushrod engines. The purpose of this paper is to design a continuously variable valve lift that can be used with a british motor company a-series engine as for completion of ENG4111 and ENG4112 reasearch project. First current literature was conducted to find out what designs are available and how they are implenented. From this a methodology was created to generate a design for the A-series engine. Finally the results are published showing how the design was established and a material outcome is conluded. Conclusions and further work is published along with a complete set of detailed and assembly drawings

Comparison of Cam and Servomotor Solutions to a Motion Problem

The manufacturing lines of the sponsoring company utilize cam129]follower systems where complex motion is required. Insight into the suitability of servomotor mechanisms as replacements for cam129]follower systems was desired. To that end, design and manufacture of a Cam129]Servo Test Machine actuated by either cam-follower or servomechanism was undertaken by the project129fs participants. The machine design employed a timing belt speed reduction in its drive train, which had an unintended deleterious impact on system stiffness. A revised design was developed and analyzed in its stead. The project team concluded that a larger servomotor, directly mounted, can be a suitable replacement for a cam129]follower system at a cost that is several orders of magnitude greater

Strike 3000: Standing Electric Trike

In the past decade there has been much research conducted on maintaining a healthy lifestyle, even in sedentary activities. It is clear to see this trend in the rising popularity of standing desks, ergonomic mice and keyboards, and the plethora of applications that remind the user not to stay inactive for too long. Ken Howes suggests that this revolution be brought to the world of motor vehicles with his proposed concept of the Strike 3000: an electric-powered three-wheeled vehicle that keeps the operator in a standing position while still maintaining all of the functionality and reliability of a standard automobile. To accomplish this goal, the members of Team 4 conducted thorough technical research into existing patents, competitive designs, and literature concerned with the essentials in designing a vehicle. With the information that was gathered, Team 4 then began to generate design concepts for every component of the vehicle including the chassis, steering, braking, suspension, etc. Together the team generated over one-hundred and fifty concepts. The team also conducted a Quality Function Deployment comparison to create a visual representation of how each component of the vehicle will help meet the wants of the sponsor as well as a comparison between the Strike 3000 and other competitive products. This gave the team a better understanding of what components were important to focus on and which could be sacrificed in order to improve the most essential parts. After the foundation work of the design was completed, Team 4 and Ken Howes collaborated to design a chassis to the aesthetic standards of Mr. Howes’ proposed design while making necessary revisions to keep the design technically acceptable. At the start of the second semester, Team 4 had sent out a final design and engineering drawing to a local welder for construction of the chassis. They ordered all the parts to be implemented into the vehicle. When the chassis arrived they began assembling the vehicle in the Kirk Machine Shop so that custom parts, such as suspension mounts and tie rods could be welded and modifications to the chassis could be made accordingly. The team was able to finish the construction with a lot of help from Nick Ladyga, a member of the team who lead the build effort. The motor was not able to be installed by the time of the Design Showcase but with technical documentation and guidance the team will be able to help Mr. Howes complete the vehicle in a short amount of time