Robust design for a flexible bearing with 1-DOF translation using the Taguchi method and the utility concept

A flexible bearing with compliant mechanisms for high-precision mechanism applications has been established as an efficient structure. We have attempted to realize a novel robust design of a flexible bearing with one degree of freedom (1-DOF) translation for highprecision mechanisms. First, the relationship between five design variables and the stress of the displacement responses is illustrated using the response surface method. Next, the Taguchi method, combined with a utility concept, is adopted to determine the optimal parameter combination to minimize stress while simultaneously maximizing displacement. An orthogonal array L-27 is used in the experimental work. The experimental results show that displacement and stress values measured 0.11332 mm and 37.625 MPa, respectively. The confirmation results fall within 95% of the CICE. The proposed methodology is useful for the robust design of flexible bearings and related mechanisms.