The Design of a Novel Prismatic Drive for a Three-DOF Parallel-Kinematics Machine

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel prismatic drive based on Slide-o-Cam for three-DOF parallel robots, aiming to replace traditional ball-screws and enhance motion efficiency in machining applications.

Contribution

It presents a new prismatic drive design utilizing Slide-o-Cam technology specifically for parallel-kinematics machines, improving motion smoothness and reducing friction.

Findings

Provides pure-rolling motion reducing friction

Suitable for replacing ball-screws in parallel robots

Enhances efficiency in machining applications

Abstract

The design of a novel prismatic drive is reported in this paper. This transmission is based on Slide-o-Cam, a cam mechanism with multiple rollers mounted on a common translating follower. The design of Slide-o-Cam was reported elsewhere. This drive thus provides pure-rolling motion, thereby reducing the friction of rack-and-pinions and linear drives. Such properties can be used to design new transmissions for parallel-kinematics machines. In this paper, this transmission is intended to replace the ball-screws in Orthoglide, a three-dof parallel robot intended for machining applications.