3D Printed Cubesat Frame
Oct. 5, 2023To my delight, there is already a 3D-printed 1U CubeSat frame model available on Thingiverse (see below). The kit includes mounts for all Raspberry Pi models and the Arduino Uno. When harnessing the computing power of the Raspberry Pi, you can attach a Raspi Cam to the side. This provides an exciting opportunity to experiment with various camera types, such as infrared or night vision.
The design facilitates a sandwich-layer approach by utilizing the existing mounting holes for M3 standoff screws. Additionally, it allows for the incorporation of a custom PCB in the PC/104 size format.
On top the author juliano85 include an incredible detailed assembly instruction and a 2U cubesat model.
Cubesat frame set
I printed the top and bottom parts, as well as the side parts without the Raspi Cam mount, on my Anycubic Viper. The top and bottom came out nicely without needing support. However, the side parts experienced some warping on the first attempt. Adding brims resolved the issue.
Addon
Additionally, there’s an remix by alanbjohnston that is compatible with CubeSatSim for educational purposes. It’s worth noting that a PLA-printed frame may not withstand the g-forces experienced during a rocket launch. Nevertheless, it’s entirely suitable for testing different setups, and it’s certainly a lot of fun!