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Old 1st June 2019, 01:48 PM   #1
DaveS
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Default Spine structures

Hey all.

So I am trying to create a 3D model of the Space Shuttle Ku band antenna (this is the structure you can see extending from the forward-right corner of the cargo bay in on-orbit photos). I've hit a bit of a stumbling block on this and that is the spines at the back of the 36" diameter reflector dish. These spines are what gives the dish (it's made of an aerospace-grade graphite-epoxy composite material) the strength required for it survive launch.

Does anyone have any efficient way of making these spines? I have attached two photos of the Ku band antenna on the orbiter Endeavour that shows the spines.
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Old 2nd June 2019, 03:39 PM   #2
Andy
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Default Re: Spine structures

I'd use subdivision. Here's a quick (very) example I just made from three blocks, stretched and then some of the vertices moved. Some of the ends were squared off by doing a zero distance extrusion. The object on the right is the same object without subdivision.

Obviously, you'd need to spend some time making the 'flat' shapes before subdividing and bending them. You could make the 'spines' using flat 2d meshes and then using Object->thicken to turn them into the 3D grid shape.
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Old 7th June 2019, 10:22 AM   #3
DaveS
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Default Re: Spine structures

Thank you for the reply Andy. I'll check out the suggestions and see how they work out.
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