JWST Mirror Actuators

prusaprinters

<p>This is a replica of JWST's mirror actuators. Six of these actuators are paired into a hexapod / stewart platform arrangement and used to control 6 degrees of freedom of each mirror segment (tip, tilt, roll, x, y, z translation).</p><p>Video explanation here:&nbsp;</p><figure class="media"><oembed url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MxH1sfJLBQ"></oembed></figure><p>Frame, base and flexures were printed in PLA. Gears and shafts were printed on a resin printer. &nbsp;If your printer is better tuned than mine you can probably print the gears in PLA as well. Some grease lubricant helps considerably.</p><p>Shafts were printed because I was lazy, but sourcing some real 5mm metal shafts would be considerably better. &nbsp;Only exception is the cam shaft which is easiest printed.</p><p>Warning! Nothing was toleranced to work straight off the printer, I had to do a lot of filing/sanding/glueing. The design could definitely use some improvements to make it more friendly!</p><p>You will also need:</p><ul><li>1x 28byj-48 stepper motor</li><li>9x 625-2rs or 625-zz bearings</li><li>1x 20-30mm m8 screw with a hex head</li><li>1x m8 nut</li><li>4x m3 heat-set threaded inserts</li><li>4x m3x10 screws</li></ul>