Effective envelope method for Stewart platform workspace

The workspace of Stewart platform is the intersection of 6 son workspaces of 6 loop chains, so it is important to determine the boundary of the son workspace when locating the boundary of the son workspace. An effective envelope method is proposed in this paper. Firstly the envelope theory of a family of singular parameter curve surfaces is used to find the envelope surfaces of the son workspace. Then the numerical method is applied to determine the effective envelope surface. And after that the full boundary of the son workspace, which is the envelope of the effective envelope surfaces, is determined. Finally the workspace can be obtained with a section plane method.