Flexural pivot

A flexural pivot system, comprising:

• a flexural pivot including
• a first flexure support member,
• a second flexure support member rotatably coupled to the first flexure support member for relative rotation about a first axis,
• a third flexure support member rotatably coupled to the second flexure support member for relative rotation about a second axis, and
• a plurality of cross blade flexures rotatably coupling the flexure support members to one another, each cross blade flexure comprising first and second flexible blade units that have flexible blades arranged in a cross configuration, the flexible blade units comprising blade supports disposed at opposite ends of the flexible blades to facilitate coupling the flexible blade units to the flexure support members, wherein the flexible blade and the blade supports of each flexible blade unit form a monolithic structure, and wherein the flexible blades extend perpendicularly from respective planar surfaces of the respective blade supports;
• a first structure coupled to the first flexure support member;
• and
• a second structure coupled to the third flexure support member to facilitate relative rotation of the first and second structures about the first and second axes.

A method for making a cross blade flexure, comprising:

• obtaining a workpiece having a length;
• forming a profile in the workpiece of a flexible blade and blade supports disposed at opposite ends of the flexible blade such that the profile extends along the length;
• dividing the workpiece into portions along the length to form a plurality of flexible blade units, each having the same profile of flexible blades and blade supports in a monolithic structure;
• and
• pairing two of the flexible blade units such that the flexible blades are arranged in a cross configuration to form a cross blade flexure.

A flexural pivot, comprising:

• a first flexure support member;
• a second flexure support member rotatably coupled to the first flexure support member for relative rotation about a first axis;
• a third flexure support member rotatably coupled to the second flexure support member for relative rotation about a second axis;
• and
• a plurality of cross blade flexures rotatably coupling the flexure support members to one another, each cross blade flexure comprising first and second flexible blade units that have flexible blades arranged in a cross configuration, the flexible blade units comprising blade supports disposed at opposite ends of the flexible blades to facilitate coupling the flexible blade units to the flexure support members, wherein the flexible blade and the blade supports of each flexible blade unit form a monolithic structure, and wherein the flexible blades are recessed relative to interface surfaces of the blade supports to prevent the flexible blades from contacting adjacent components.

A flexural pivot system, comprising:

• a flexural pivot including
• a first flexure support member,
• a second flexure support member rotatably coupled to the first flexure support member for relative rotation about a first axis,
• a third flexure support member rotatably coupled to the second flexure support member for relative rotation about a second axis, and
• a plurality of cross blade flexures rotatably coupling the flexure support members to one another, each cross blade flexure comprising first and second flexible blade units that have flexible blades arranged in a cross configuration, the flexible blade units comprising blade supports disposed at opposite ends of the flexible blades to facilitate coupling the flexible blade units to the flexure support members, wherein the flexible blade and the blade supports of each flexible blade unit form a monolithic structure, and wherein the flexible blades are recessed relative to interface surfaces of the blade supports to prevent the flexible blades from contacting adjacent components;
• a first structure coupled to the first flexure support member;
• and
• a second structure coupled to the third flexure support member to facilitate relative rotation of the first and second structures about the first and second axes.