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Flexible Tools For Specifying Design Variation, Trichy Pasupathy, Xiaoping Zhao, Robert Wilhelm
Flexible Tools For Specifying Design Variation, Trichy Pasupathy, Xiaoping Zhao, Robert Wilhelm
Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications
This paper describes flexible tools for specifying design variations that are based on nonuniform profile tolerance definitions. These tools specify bounds of design performance that can be used for negotiation among engineers in a collaborative design process. These specification methods allow for the capture of many different design functions that are not easily described with current tool designs. In addition, these specification methods lend themselves to efficient verification methods. Profile tolerance definitions provide the most general variation controls for complex mechanical surfaces. Common design practices and engineering standards for profile tolerances exhibit many weaknesses and limitations. We present a rationale …
Techniques In The Design Of Thermomechanical Microactuators, Larry L. Howell, Timothy W. Mclain, Michael S. Baker, Christian D. Lott
Techniques In The Design Of Thermomechanical Microactuators, Larry L. Howell, Timothy W. Mclain, Michael S. Baker, Christian D. Lott
Faculty Publications
The purpose of this chapter is to provide fundamental background for the design of thermomechanical microactuators. Actuation has been a particularly challenging aspect of microsystem development. Many actuation approaches used at the macro level, such as hydraulics, pneumatics, electric motors, internal combustion engines and turbines, are either too difficult to fabricate at the micro level or do not work well at that scale. Electrostatic attraction is one approach that has been widely used for actuation of microsystems; however, electrostatic actuators tend to have high voltage requirements and low output force capabilities. While electrostatic actuation is suitable for many applications, some …