Abstract: Multiple degree-of-freedom compliant mechanisms are widely used in the fields of micro-positioning and micro-manipulation. So it is highly necessary to study the topology optimization method for this kind of mechanism. A new topology optimization method of compliant mechanisms with multiple inputs and multiple outputs are presented. Firstly, the expressions of the mutual potential energy and the strain energy which indicate the flexibility and the stiffness of the multiple inputs and multiple outputs mechanism, respectively, are developed. The suppression strategy of input and output coupling terms is studied, and the expression of the output coupling terms is further developed. On the basis of the expressions, a multi-objective optimization model with input and output coupling terms suppression is developed. Secondly, based on the modified optimal criteria method, a computational procedure for the solution of the optimization model is presented. Finally, a numerical example is presented to show the validity of the new method. Simulation results show that the compliant mechanism can be deformed in the desirable manner and the coupling output displacements are suppressed significantly by using the presented method.

Key words: Multiple inputs and outputs, Compliant mechanism, Topology optimization Output coupling terms