Plastic latching accelerometer based on bistable compliant mechanisms

• Published in: Smart materials and structures Vol. 16; no. 5; pp. 1967 - 1972
• Main Authors: Hansen, B J, Carron, C J, Jensen, B D, Hawkins, A R, Schultz, S M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bristol IOP Publishing 01.10.2007; Institute of Physics
• Subjects: Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); General equipment and techniques; Instruments, apparatus, components and techniques common to several branches of physics and astronomy; Measurement and testing methods; Measurements common to several branches of physics and astronomy; Metrology, measurements and laboratory procedures; Physics; Servo and control equipment; robots; Solid mechanics; Structural and continuum mechanics; Velocity, acceleration and rotation; Accelerometers; Compliant mechanism; ABS; Laser cutting; Free surface; Laser beam machining; Metering
• ISSN: 0964-1726; 1361-665X
• DOI: 10.1088/0964-1726/16/5/055

This paper presents the design, fabrication, and testing of a miniature latching accelerometer that does not require electrical power. Latching is attained by using a bistable compliant mechanism that switches from one mechanical position to another when the force on the accelerometer exceeds a threshold value. Accelerometers were fabricated by laser cutting the compliant mechanism switch out of both ABS and Delrin plastic sheets. Packaging consisted of gluing the single compliant layer to a supporting substrate. The switching thresholds of the accelerometers were varied from 10g to 800g by varying the surface area of the free moving section between 100 and 500 mm2.