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Additive Manufactured Piezoelectric-Driven Miniature Gripper.
C Andres Ferrara-Bello1, Margarita Tecpoyotl-Torres2, S Fernanda Rodriguez-Fuentes3
1Posgrado en Ingeniería y Ciencias Aplicadas del Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Básicas y Aplicadas-Centro de Investigación en Ingeniería y Ciencias Aplicadas (IICBA-CIICAp), Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM), Cuernavaca 62209, Mor., Mexico.
This study presents a low-cost, 3D-printed miniature gripper using piezoelectric actuators. The design is simple, enabling precise handling of micro-objects for research and industry applications.
Area of Science:
- Engineering
- Materials Science
- Robotics
Background:
- Miniature and microgrippers are essential tools in academic and industrial settings for analyzing small objects.
- Traditional microgrippers, often made from aluminum as Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS), can be costly and complex to fabricate.
- Additive manufacturing offers a promising alternative for creating low-cost, functional miniature grippers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and characterize a novel piezoelectric-driven miniature gripper.
- To utilize additive manufacturing with polylactic acid (PLA) for cost-effective fabrication.
- To demonstrate the gripper's capability for handling micro-scale objects.
Main Methods:
- The miniature gripper was designed using a pseudo rigid body model (PRBM).
- Additive manufacturing (3D printing) with polylactic acid (PLA) was employed for fabrication.
- The gripper's performance was evaluated through numerical simulations and experimental testing.
Main Results:
- The piezoelectric-driven miniature gripper was successfully fabricated using PLA.
- The gripper can hold objects with diameters below 500 μm and weights up to 1.4 g.
- Numerical and experimental characterization showed an acceptable level of approximation, validating the design.
Conclusions:
- The developed miniature gripper offers a simple, low-cost solution for micro-manipulation tasks.
- The use of readily available piezoelectric buzzers and PLA makes the fabrication process economical.
- Adjustable jaw apertures enhance the versatility of the gripper for various micro-objects.
