Abstract
In this study, a diamond end effector used to grasp minute objects is manufactured. The end effector has an elastic hinge mechanism and is driven using a shape memory alloy (SMA) sheet. However, the end effector is approximately square with side 2-3mm, which is inappropriate for stress measurement. Also, diamond is a brittle material; thus, it is difficult to predict the behavior of the end effector. Therefore, we carried out a simulation of stress concentration with respect to the displacement of the end effector by finite element analysis using linear programming to optimize the design of the end effector. As a result, we succeeded in reducing the use of diamond by approximately 21.4% (volume) without significantly changing the maximum stress. It was confirmed that our design method is effective for the design of end effectors made of diamond.
