JWST Mirror Actuators

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).

Video explanation here: 

Frame, base and flexures were printed in PLA. Gears and shafts were printed on a resin printer.  If your printer is better tuned than mine you can probably print the gears in PLA as well. Some grease lubricant helps considerably.

Shafts were printed because I was lazy, but sourcing some real 5mm metal shafts would be considerably better.  Only exception is the cam shaft which is easiest printed.

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!

You will also need:

• 1x 28byj-48 stepper motor
• 9x 625-2rs or 625-zz bearings
• 1x 20-30mm m8 screw with a hex head
• 1x m8 nut
• 4x m3 heat-set threaded inserts
• 4x m3x10 screws