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Development and Execution of Manufacturing Plans for the Machining Chassis of the Electra CubeSat at the RAVE Creativity Forge
James Chandler
Abstract
Electra Satellite – For the past few years MSU students have developed several cube satellites that they have launched into space, Electra being the latest and most efficient design. This program is extracurricular and purely student run. Mechanical and Electrical Engineering students come together to design model, analyze, test, and build these intricate devices. Students at Rave are involved in the precise and complex machining of the frame of the Electra Satellite which will house all the electronics and other components. The material is chosen for strength, stiffness, thermal resistance, and aesthetics while the actual design of the frame is based off of a maximum weight allowed for the entire structure and electronic components, such as antennas and ports. My part in this project is to generate toolpaths, setups and make sure each part is produced within the required tolerances of .003” in the shortest time possible, which was quite the challenge. The whole process took two months to complete but was finished on time and is now being outfitted and assembled in the SSEL labs where it will then be launched to begin its journey.
Biography
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An original native of San Diego, California I moved to Montana in 1995 and completed High School in Hamilton. My path then took me back to California to attend Santa Clara University where I graduated in 2004 with a degree in political science and a minor in business. During my stay there I joined the crew team for a year and from the training I took with me the discipline and work ethic that has guided me since. Upon my graduation I had no employment however in a twist of fate I heard about the reputation of Montana Tech in Butte of not only having a high placement upon graduation but the excellence of the engineering programs. Mechanical Engineering has always been a career I have wanted to follow, unfortunately this career choice did not come to be at Santa Clara so I decided to try again at Montana Tech.
The spring semester of my “freshman” year I found a job opening at RAVE for a CNC machinist. I applied and was hired, since then not only has my job experience been an asset to potential employers but is also closely linked with my school work. The Electra Satellite was the first challenging project I have taken on at RAVE and the experience behind it has been invaluable, not only for the work but the connection to the students at MSU who have developed the project. Besides the work at Montana Tech I enjoy playing soccer and for the past couple years have been running the program here at Tech. I also enjoy golf, tennis, martial arts, and most any outdoor activity.
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