This design was developed for a safing and arming mechanism for nuclear weapons. The use of compliant mechanisms allowed the design to be scaled down with some components the size of a human hair, yet still being reliable.

The design is a linear-motion large-displacement compliant mechanism.

Prusa

i3 MK3

No

No

0.2

20%

You don't need to print with support.

Technical Papers

Hubbard, N.B., Wittwer, J.W., Kennedy, J.A., Wilcox, D.L., and Howell, L.L., “A Novel Fully Compliant Planar Linear-motion Mechanism,” DOI:10.1115/DETC2004-57008, Proceedings of the 2004 ASME Mechanisms and Robotics Conference, DETC2004-57008.

Kennedy, J.A., Howell, L.L., and Greenwood, W., “Compliant High-precision E-Quintet Ratcheting (CHEQR) Mechanism for Safety and Arming Devices,” Precision Engineering, Vol. 31, No. 1, pp. 13-21, 2007

To learn more about compliant mechanisms, see the BYU Compliant Mechanisms Research (CMR) website or these books: Compliant Mechanisms, Handbook of Compliant Mechanisms.

The downloadable 3D print files provided here may be used, modified, and enjoyed for noncommercial use. To license this technology for commercial applications, contact:

BYU Technology Transfer Office

3760 Harold B. Lee Library

Brigham Young University

Provo, UT 84602

Phone: (801) 422-6266

https://techtransfer.byu.edu/contact.

Similar Build: https://www.printables.com/model/583713-large-displacement-linear-motion-mechanisms.

This design was developed by the Compliant Mechanisms Research Group CMR from Brigham Young University (BYU). Follow us at @byucmr on Instagram or visit the BYU Compliant Mechanisms Research (CMR) website to learn more about compliant mechanisms.

See https://rdcu.be/dnHx0 for an article in Nature Communications about how and why we share these maker resources.

Check out a similar build here: https://www.printables.com/model/583713-large-displacement-linear-motion-mechanisms.