STR/03/035/MECH Design of a Flexure-based Gripper used in Optical Fiber Handling

Abstract- In optical fiber handling, a major requirement for the handling tools is to avoid introducing flaws on the cladding surface or excessive stress in the core. Conventional tools built with bearing-based mechanisms are difficult to meet the requirements because they cannot precisely control their motion and the gripping force due to backlash and Coulomb friction in their joints. The flexure-based tools however, due to absence of Coulomb friction and backlash in their motion, can provide a solution to the challenges. The paper presents a design method for a flexure-based gripper used in fiber handling. A prototype of the gripper developed by means of the method is described as well