Abstract
In this paper, output precision characteristics of a planar 6 degree-of-freedom parallel mechanisms are investigated, where the 6 degree-of-freedom mechanism is formed by adding an additional link along with an actuated joint in each serial subchain of the planar 3 degree-of-freedom parallel mechanism. Kinematic analysis for the parallel mechanism is performed, and its first-order kinematic characteristics are examined via kinematic isotropic index, maximum and minimum input-output velocity transmission ratios of the mechanisms. Based on this analysis, two types of planar 6 degrees-of-freedom parallel manipulators are selected. Then, dynamic characteristics of the two selected planar 6 degree-of-freedom parallel mechanisms, via Frobenius norms of inertia matrix and power modeling array, are investigated to compare the magnitudes of required control efforts of both three large actuators and three small actuators when the link lengths of three additional links are changed. It can be concluded from the analysis results that each of these two planar 6 degrees-of-freedom parallel mechanisms has an excellent control-in-the-small characteristics and therefore, it can be very effectively employed as a high-precision macro-micro manipulator when both its link lengths and locations of small and large actuators are properly chosen.
