fem modelling of a bellows and a bellows- based micromanipulator

FEM modelling of a bellows and a bellows-based micromanipulatorIV. OutlookThe next example proves that the model is consistent with its expected behaviour. A verticalload F = 100 [mN] – equivalent to a platform mass of 10 grams, for instance – is applied andlook at the platform y-displacement.The movement is magnified, so that its correct appearance can be inspected. But the result isin fact very small, since it is about 1.05·10 -5 [µm]. There are no measurement at this time tosupport the correctness of that assumption, but the micromanipulator should effectively bevery inflexible in the y-direction, since the bellows are filled with incompressible oil.It can also be noted that the micromanipulator behaves in a very symmetric way. The beampart with the same colour on the plot sustain the same removal. So as can be seen, eachbellows seems to undergo an identical compression.4.3 PerspectivesThis chapter showed one way to use results of chapter 3. The construction of our model wasexplained step by step. At each level, it was checked if the intermediate results were suitable.Hence, the model should be able to furnish all necessary data to complete the kinematicmodel of the micromanipulator.But there are many ways to construct a beam-based model. One could for instance stackseveral beam-elements for each of the bellows, as suggested by ANSYS ® ' VerificationManual. The solid region may be a very simple way to model it, but the platform can as well41