Expanding structure-conceptual design for space shuttle capsule connection

myminifactory

This competition design was created at our university, with the goal of connecting two capsules that expand in a high ratio and are extremely lightweight. The original capsule has a diameter of 240mm and a height of 49mm before expansion. However, after expansion, its diameter increases to an impressive 450mm while its height reaches 133.5mm. To bring this concept to life, we employed acrylic materials for construction and built a small motor at the center that controls both the expansion and contraction processes. Given the current boom in 3D printing technology, it's clear that this design is also 3D printable. Breaking down the components, we found that there are 32 small parts required for one layer of printing. Doubling these components would then be necessary for a two-layer print job. When it comes to securing these components together, we recommend using M3 screws.