Hexapods: for force measurement using strain gauges in six degrees of freedom
Last year, the norelem ACADEMY at Pforzheim University of Applied Sciences supported the funded project “Design and development of a hexapod for force measurement using strain gauges in six degrees of freedom”.
The design is based on a mathematical concept of the hexapod for force determination. In the hexapod, strain gauges attached to the weak points (yellow to red in the picture) are used to measure the strain of the test tubes.
This strain can then be calculated back to a force in the test tube. As a result, the original forces acting on the Hexapod can be determined via the mathematical model.
In the project, norelem rod ends with plain bearing internal thread, as well as clevis joints for rod ends were installed. By installing the norelem clevis joint, it was thus possible to achieve a radial load, the bending at the pin under the general condition of low tolerances. The maintenance-free nature of the norelem clevis joint supports its use in the hexapod. Thus, the use of the norelem clevis joint allowed the connection to the test tube, thus connecting the pin to the rod end.
The norelem rod ends were used to make the connection to the top and base plates. Due to the plain bearings three degrees of freedom could be achieved as well as a pure compressive and tensile load, and torsions could be excluded.