Engineering Commons^™

A Model For Multi-Input Mechanical Advantage In Origami-Based Mechanisms, Jared Butler, Adam Shrager, Timothy Simpson, Landen Bowen, Mary Frecker, Robert Lang, Eric Wilcox, Paris Von Lockette, Larry L. Howell, Spencer P. Magleby

Faculty Publications

Mechanical advantage is traditionally defined for single input and single-output rigid-body mechanisms. A generalized approach for identifying single-output mechanical advantage for a multiple-input compliant mechanism, such as many origami-based mechanisms, would prove useful in predicting complex mechanism behavior. While origami-based mechanisms are capable of offering unique solutions to engi neering problems, the design process of such mechanisms is complicated by the interaction of motion and forces. This paper presents a model of the mechanical advantage for multi input compliant mechanisms and explores how modifying the parameters of a model affects their behavior. The model is used to predict the force-deflection …

Origami-Inspired Sacrificial Joints For Folding Compliant Mechanisms, Todd G. Nelson, Alex Avila, Larry L. Howell, Just L. Herder, Davood Farhadi Machekposhtic

Faculty Publications

Folding is a manufacturing method which can create complex 3D geometries from flat materi- als and can be particularly useful in cost-sensitive or planar-limited fabrication applications.

This paper introduces compliant mechanisms that employ folding techniques from origami to evolve from a flat material to deployed state. We present origami-inspired sacrificial joints, joints which have mobility during assembly of the mechanism but are rigid in their final position, to create regions of high and low stiffness and the proper alignment of compliant flexures in folded mechanisms. To demonstrate the method we fold steel sheet to create some well-known and complex compliant …

Normalized Coordinate Equations And Energy Method For Predicting Natural Curved-Fold Configurations, Jacob Badger, Todd G. Nelson, Rober J. Lang, Denise M. Halverson, Larry L. Howell

Faculty Publications

Of the many valid configurations that a curved fold may assume, it is of particular interest to identify natural—or lowest energy—configurations that physical models will preferentially assume. We present normalized coordinate equations—equations that relate fold surface properties

to their edge of regression—to simplify curved-fold rela- tionships. An energy method based on these normalized

coordinate equations is developed to identify natural con- figurations of general curved folds. While it has been noted

that natural configurations have nearly planar creases for curved folds, we show that non-planar behavior near the crease ends substantially reduces the energy of a fold.

Origami-Based Design Of Conceal-And-Reveal Systems, Bryce P. Defigueiredo, Kyler A. Tolman, Spencer P. Magleby, Nathan A. Pehrson, Erica Crampton, Larry L. Howell

Faculty Publications

This work introduces a type of motion termed “conceal-and-reveal” which is characterized by a state that protects a payload, a state that exposes the payload, and coupled motions between these two states. As techniques for thick, rigid origami-based engineering designs are being developed, origami is becoming increasingly more

attractive as inspiration for complex systems. This paper proposes a process for designing origami-based conceal- and-reveal systems, which can be generalized to design similar thick, rigid origami-based systems. The process

is demonstrated through the development of three conceal-and-reveal systems that present a luxury product to the consumer. The three designs also confirm …