Optimization of a Compliant Mechanical Amplifier Based on a Symmetric Five-Bar Topology

When combined with a piezoelectric actuator, a mechanical amplifier can achieve high resolution and long range motion. In this paper, a previously proposed compliant mechanical amplifier based on a symmetric five bar structure was studied for performance optimization. The amplifier was optimized based on its most significant design parameters with goals of large amplification ratio and high natural frequency. The design was also optimized for various load cases and over a range of input displacements. The optimization procedure validated the variability of the amplification based both on applied load, structure, and input displacement.