[ATM] Bowed Flexure

["Don Clement" <clement.focuser@verizon.net>]

I have uploaded some more pictures that help illustrates the bowed flexure.
The first picture shows separate parts consisting of a 0.75"x1.5" spring
steel strip, ¼-40tpi screw with knurled knob, 0.5 x1 x0.75 cantilevered
flexural steel beam, and steel body.

http://photobucket.com/albums/v332/DClement/?action=view&current=BowedFlexureParts.jpg

The second picture shows a dial indicator mounted in the bowed flexure.

http://photobucket.com/albums/v332/DClement/?action=view&current=BowedFlexureClock.jpg



One revolution of the bowed flexure knob moves the indicator 0.002". Each
division of the dial indicator is 0.0001" and with very little effort, one
can repeatable position to a 1/10 division or 0.00001". Operation is
extremely smooth, stiction free , and with resolution better than my Newport
differential micrometer.



The bowed flexure is extremely simple to build and could easily be built in
the home shop. Applications are numerous for the TN. An extremely sensitive
foucault tester knife-edge movement for example.  Another application would
be for use as an optical micrometer (precise tilting of a plane parallel
glass such as microscope slide) when used as the Y-axis of a caustic tester
or for  autocollimator ultra-fine angle readout.



Don Clement

Running Springs, California

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