Compliant linear-rotation motion transduction element based on novel spatial helical flexure hinge

In this paper, a novel sort of motion transduction elements (MTEs) with cylindrical helix structures are proposed for directly transforming a linear motion into a rotation. To characterize the elastic deformation behaviors of the MTEs based on the novel spatial helical flexure hinges (SHFHs), the finite beam based matrix modeling (FBMM) method is employed for calculation of its complete compliance matrix, and a transform ratio is defined to quantify its performances. Based on the FBMM method verified by the finite element analysis (FEA), the dependences of input/output stiffnesses and transform ratios on the dimensional parameters of the MTEs are theoretically revealed. By means of three-dimensional printing, a prototype of MTE is rapidly produced. Experimental test on it well verifies the working performance of the MTE as well as the effectiveness of the FBMM method.