Generative Design Framework for Remote Centre of Motion Mechanisms (September 2026).

This paper was presented by Caitlin Sands at the 42nd International Manufacturing Conference (IMC42), co-organized by the Irish Manufacturing Council and Queen’s University Belfast, which was held on 10 and 11 September 2026 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The plenary sessions of the conference occurred on the 10th September at the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre (AMIC), Global Point, Newtownabbey, followed by technical sessions and a tour of AMIC facilities in the afternoon.
 

Abstract
This paper presents a computational framework for analysing remote centre of motion (RCM) mechanisms through parameter variation and workspace evaluation. By sampling geometric parameters and tracking the tool tip trajectory, the reachable workspace is visualised alongside representative mechanism configurations. The approach is an early-stage generative design (GD) method that enables rapid exploration of design-performance relationships. Results highlight the influence of link parameters on the workspace. The framework provides an intuitive and efficient tool for preliminary mechanism design and can be extended toward optimisation-driven synthesis in future work.

The link to the full paper will be provided in due course.