Field driven design of additively manufactured CubeSat chassis

Field driven design has several potential advantages for astronomical instrumentation: particularly the optimisation of geometries based on simulation data. When coupled with the ability of additive manufacturing to create lightweight, stiff structures, the benefits are clear. Vibration loads were applied to the 6U A-DOT (Active Deployable Optical Telescope) CubeSat assembly to simulate launch conditions including modal analysis, sine vibration, and random vibration. A lightweight yet stiff, customised CubeSat chassis was then designed based on the response to this loading. The CubeSat chassis panels were additively manufactured in aluminium (AlSi10Mg) and the mounting features were machined.