A new approach is presented to design a robust sampled-data controller for an experimental flexible beam carrying an unknown payload at its free end. The purpose of this paper is to move the free end of the beam to a desired position in the specified time under vibration suppression. We derive a transfer function nominal model for the beam and quantitative description of model uncertainties based on experimentally obtained frequency response data. Robust controllers are designed by applying the sampled-data $H_{infty}$ control and ${mu}m-theory$, in which two types of uncertainties, structured and unstructured uncertainties, are adopted for satisfactory performance in terms of hinge position regulation and vibration damping, besides obviously asymptotic stability. The effectiveness of the proposed method is confirmed through simulation and experimentation.