Dimensional design of hexaslides for optimal workspace and dexterity

The paper presents the dimensional design of a class of parallel manipulators, namely, Hexaslides. The design of hexaslides is formulated as a multiobjective optimization problem considering workspace and dexterity as dual objectives. As the relative emphasis on workspace and dexterity varies depending on the application, a set of Pareto-optimal solutions is found. The present analysis is a useful tool for designers to select suitable hexaslide parameters for a given application, particularly, in machine tool applications.