XY Flexure Translation Stage

This is an XY Translation stage that uses mutually compensating flexures to create "perfect" planar translational movement. In a perfect world, no rotation or Z-Movement would sneak in (but a little does). These stages have a +- 14mm movement range.

Because it's all one piece, there's no backlash or friction (from parts rubbing against each other), so this mechanism can be used to build micrometer repeatable motion stages.

There's a "Stiff-X-Axis" version of the STL that has much better rotational stiffness (but also more translation stiffness). The "Normal" version of the STL cuts out most of the X-Axis flexures in an attempt to match their stiffness to the Y-Axis, and it has a locator for the lid.

This design was inspired by: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2574629

Here's a video of the design process:
https://imgur.com/a/YH4HQpo

The Fusion 360 designs are here; it's mostly constrained so you can adjust the base sketch to your liking:
https://a360.co/2zL3d2o

Print Settings

Printer Brand:

Prusa

Printer:

I3 MK3S

Rafts:

No

Supports:

No

Resolution:

0.3mm DRAFT

Infill:

5%

Filament:
Generic PLA Black

Notes:

Print Settings -> Layers and Infills -> Detect Bridging Perimeters = TRUE

Print Settings -> Layers and Infills -> Detect Thin Walls = FALSE

Print Settings -> Advanced -> External Perimeters = 0.4mm

If the flexures have two lines running along them, then this was done properly.

Category: Engineering