Compliant mechanisms with flexure hinges represent a defining element of many precision devices in various fields of science and technology. Due to their importance, the ability of modeling their behavior with high precision represents the key for a further enhancement of their performance. The present scientific work contributes to the experimental verification of distinct mechanical models for thin semicircular flexure hinges. For this purpose an experimental setup for the load application on the hinge has been developed, designed and set up. The device is designed to precisely determine the rotational stiffness of thin flexure hinges in their elastic range with a minimal notch height of 50, 75 and 100 ➭m, but can be applied in a wider context in other applications as well. Two sets of hinges were analyzed, both manufactured by wire EDM in different companies. Although both sets were...

Compliant mechanisms with flexure hinges represent a defining element of many precision devices in various fields of science and technology. Due to their importance, the ability of modeling their behavior with high precision represents the key for a further enhancement of their performance. The present scientific work contributes to the experimental verification of distinct mechanical models for thin semicircular flexure hinges. For this purpose an experimental setup for the load application on the hinge has been developed, designed and set up. The device is designed to precisely determine the rotational stiffness of thin flexure hinges in their elastic range with a minimal notch height of 50, 75 and 100 ➭m, but can be applied in a wider context in other applications as well. Two sets of hinges were analyzed, both manufactured by wire EDM in different companies. Although both sets were...