Error Model and Accuracy Analysis of a Cubic Parallel Device

An error analysis is very important to estimate performance of a precision machine. This study proposes an error analysis for a new parallel device, a cubic parallel device. The cubic parallel manipulator has error sources including upper and lower universal joint errors due to the directional changes in the link and actuation errors. The maximum errors of the end effector are affected by the axial direction changes of each links and the clearances of the universal joints when the parallel manipulator is moving along a path. It is found that the changes of errors mostly occur at the positions where the directions of exerting link forces shift. The error analysis is based on an error model formed from the relation between the universal point errors and the end-effector accuracy. The analysis method can be also used in predicting the accuracy of other parallel devices.