Abstract: Lamina emergent mechanisms (LEMs) are a new typical compliant mechanism, and the most advantage is that LEMs are fabricated from planar materials with the motion that emerges out of the fabrication plane. And the flexure hinge of LEMs is the key part to realize the motion. A new flexure hinge is proposed and analyzed. By using method of equivalent and differential, the deduction process of two formulas for calculating the equivalent stiffness is presented. The applicable range of the formulas is studied. Through the analysis and calculation of design examples, the applicable range is derived. Then, the applicable range is verified by comparing a group of examples of the theoretical analysis and finite element analysis results.

Key words: lamina emergent mechanisms;compliant mechanism;new flexure hinge;equivalent stiffness;finite element