Flex-16: Large-Displacement Monolithic Compliant Rotational Hinge

This compliant mechanism is a large-displacement monolithic compliant rotational hinge, designed by BYU's Compliant Mechanisms Research Lab (CMR) to help deployable hinges on spacecraft be more efficient.

What is a large-displacement monolithic compliant rotational hinge? 
Large displacement means that it has a large degree of movement, and monolithic means that it can be made out of a single piece of material. This is a hinge that is designed to move 180 degrees and can be manufactured in a single piece.

Learn More

This design was developed by the Compliant Mechanisms Research Group (CMR) from Brigham Young University (BYU). Follow us at @byucmr on Instagram, @CompliantMechanismsResearchGroup on Facebook, or visit the BYU Compliant Mechanisms Research (CMR) website to learn more about compliant mechanisms.

Technical Information

For in-depth technical information, see the following publications:

Fowler, Robert M., et al. "Flex-16: A large-displacement monolithic compliant rotational hinge." Mechanism and Machine Theory 82 (2014): 203-217.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0094114X14002055

To learn more about compliant mechanisms in general, see the BYU Compliant Mechanisms Research (CMR) website or these books: Compliant Mechanisms, Handbook of Compliant Mechanisms

Intellectual Property

The downloadable 3D print files provided here may be used, modified, and enjoyed for noncommercial use. To license this technology for commercial applications, contact:

BYU Technology Transfer Office
3760 Harold B. Lee Library
Brigham Young University
Provo, UT 84602
Phone: (801) 422-6266
https://techtransfer.byu.edu/contact