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A variation of the fixed-fixed flexure, the crab-leg flexure, is shown in the figure above. The ``thigh'' section, added to create the crab-leg, is designed to minimize peak stress in the flexure at the cost of reducing stiffness in the undesired direction. Deflection of the thigh can also reduce extensional axial stress in the flexure [Pisano]. Analytic spring-constants are given below. A mathematica file is also available.

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Spring Constants

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Definition of terms used in flexure equations:

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CMU MEMS Lab Home

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Revised: July 3, 1996 by fedder@ece.cmu.edu