T.A.C.S. Cube Sat System

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Concept: This cube sat system is designed to printed via FDM 3D printing technology to provide an inexpensive, robust, and easily adaptable micro satellite solution. The main focus of the Transposable Adaptable Cube Sat (T.A.C.S.) is to provide easy interchangeability and adaptability to using the least amount of hardware. The T.A.C.S. System accomplishes this by incorporating locking mechanisms into every exterior panel and by allowing the main frame pieces to interlock. Once a frame is interlocked two to six panels can be installed locking the entire fixture together. Similarly, if a "Link" frame is installed between the frames an exterior panel then locks the three main components together producing a taller, more spacious unit. The T.A.C.S. system follows all guidelines set by the CubeSat Guidelines provided by cubesat.org and is install able in all current payload delivery systems. The overall exterior working space is 100mm^3 with the interior working space of 96mm^3. All exterior panels have 166mm of working space and include locking mechanisms. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Cost: A cost analysis of 1U-6U is provided within the Material Analysis download folder; prices range from $47.56-$236.67 depending on the unit. Prices are assumed cost of $3.66 per cubic inch and material is Polycarbonate. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Alternative Materials/Processes: Fused Disposition Modeling (FDM) - While polycarbonate (PC) is the preferred material, this could be produced from Ultem, and PPSF for production use. Prints using ABS and Nylon should be limited to in house concept development. Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) - While SLS processes would be acceptable for concept development, production using SLS is discouraged due to material limitations. Currently, the most common materials used for SLS are Nylon based and would require,at least, glass reinforcement for production use due to low strength properties. Selective Metal Laser Sintering (SMLS) - SMLS is NOT recommended for this unit. SMLS processes DO NOT use support material, thus filling all cavities within a part. Because of this the part will require rework to be functional which will increase the units cost drastically. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Reference Links: http://www.cubesat.org/images/developers/cds_rev13_final2.pdf https://www.solidconcepts.com/resources/design-guidelines/dmls-design-guidelines/ https://www.solidconcepts.com/resources/design-guidelines/sls-design-guidelines/ https://www.solidconcepts.com/resources/design-guidelines/fdm-design-guidelines/ Solid models available upon request, product is in limited development.