Skip to content

Structure

The structure forms the mechanical backbone of a CubeSat, supporting all subsystems and ensuring compatibility with deployers. This section covers standard CubeSat frames, custom designs, materials, fasteners, mounting strategies, and mechanical interfaces. It also includes deployable elements such as antennas, booms, and solar panels, along with the mechanisms and constraints involved in their reliable release. Structural analysis, tolerancing, and environmental resilience (e.g. vibration and thermal effects) are also addressed.

Frames and Primary Structure

To be added here:

  • Standard CubeSat frames vs. custom structures
  • Rails, envelopes, and deployer compatibility
  • Load paths and structural margins
  • Commercial off-the-shelf vs. in-house designs

Materials and Manufacturing

To be added here:

  • Common structural materials (aluminum, titanium, composites, plastics)
  • Machining, sheet metal, and additive manufacturing
  • Surface treatments, coatings, and finishes
  • Material selection tradeoffs (mass, stiffness, cost)

Fasteners and Assembly

To be added here:

  • Screw types, locking methods, and torque control
  • Thread engagement and strip prevention
  • Assembly order and accessibility
  • Mitigating loosening under vibration

Mounting and Mechanical Interfaces

To be added here:

  • PCB mounting strategies and standoffs
  • Subsystem alignment and tolerancing
  • Thermal vs. mechanical coupling
  • Serviceability and late integration considerations

Deployable Structures and Mechanisms

To be added here:

  • Deployable antennas, booms, and solar panels
  • Hold-down and release approaches
  • Routing and strain relief for moving elements
  • Failure modes and redundancy considerations

Structural Analysis and FEM

To be added here:

  • Static load analysis and safety factors
  • Modal and frequency analysis
  • Load cases derived from launch environments
  • Tooling (commercial vs. open-source FEM tools)
  • Interpreting results and common pitfalls

Tolerancing and Stack-Up

To be added here:

  • Rail and envelope tolerances
  • Accumulated tolerances across assemblies
  • Machining vs. assembly-driven tolerances
  • Inspection and verification strategies

Environmental Considerations

To be added here:

  • Launch vibration and shock environments
  • Thermal expansion and distortion
  • Structural survivability vs. fatigue
  • Interfaces with environmental testing

👉 Please consider contributing!