Controllable Rotation Workspace of a Metamorphic Parallel Mechanism With Reconfigurable Universal Joints

Abstract

This paper introduces a metamorphic parallel mechanism which has three topologies with pure translational, pure rotational and 3T1R degrees of freedom. Mobility change stemming from the reconfigurability of a reconfigurable Hooke (rT) joint is illustrated by change of the limb twist screw systems and the platform constraint screw system. Then the paper focuses on the pure rotational topology of the mechanism of which the rotational center can be altered along the central line perpendicular to the base plane by altering the radial rotational axes in the limbs. Singularity analysis is conducted based on the dependency of constraint forces and actuation forces in a screw based Jacobian matrix. Following these, rotation workspace variation is demonstrated in a 2D projection format using the Tilt-and-Torsion Euler angles based on the actuation limits and joint rotation ranges.