Synthesis through Rigid‐Body Replacement

One of the most practical and user‐friendly ways to synthesize compliant mechanisms is through rigid‐body replacement. Rigid‐body replacement synthesis begins with a rigid‐body mechanism that is capable of accomplishing the desired task. The rigid‐body mechanism is then transformed into a compliant mechanism by replacing rigid links and movable joints with equivalent compliant members and joints. The links and joints of a rigid‐body mechanism are used exactly as in the pseudo‐rigid‐body model for a compliant mechanism that can accomplish the same task. Rigid‐body replacement is an ideal design approach for companies that have existing rigid‐body mechanisms that they would like to transition into compliant mechanisms. We show how the library in this handbook facilitates rigid body replacement.