Papers by Author: Lan Lei Zhao

Abstract: Though computer technology has brought about virtual manufacturing to expedite design and analysis through simulation and visualization, machines remain essential, as ultimately products need to be made. There is a need for equipment providing more than three degrees of freedom (DOF) arranged in parallel and based on simpler arrangements than 6-DOF arrangements in application. This paper presents a new 4-DOF hybrid parallel platform manipulator with fixed-leg lengths and base mounted prismatic actuators. The movable platform of the manipulator can translate along two directions and rotate around two axes respectively (2T-2R). The kinematics model is formulated, which describes the inverse and forward kinematics transformation. It is very easy to develop a 5-axis NC machine-tool which is of large-workspace based on the 2T-2R, 4-DOF parallel mechanism presented in this paper.

Abstract: Though computer technology has brought about virtual manufacturing to expedite design and analysis through simulation and visualization, machines remain essential, as ultimately products need to be made. This paper presents a new type of 5-axis parallel machine tool based on a 3 degrees of freedom parallel platform manipulator with base mounted prismatic actuators. This machine tool is different from the Stewart platform type parallel machine tool in that its feed motion in X-direction is realized by the worktable on which work-piece is fixed and the parallel manipulator sliding on the gantry structure of the machine tool is responsible for the translation along Y-direction instead of the movable platform of the manipulator. Due to this special architecture, the workspace in X-direction and Y-direction of the new machine tool is enlarged greatly. And its rigidity is higher because of the adaptation of gantry structure. This machine tool is controlled by a PC based NC system in simultaneous 5 axes control mode.