Realization of a Compliant Mechanism-Based Compensation Technique for Multiplexer Filter of Communication Space Payload

Abstract

Multiplexer is a space payload system used in the communication satellites to combine radio frequency signals. The task of development of multiplexer is multi-disciplinary and involves dissimilar materials. This paper presents the design, development and realization of the compliant mechanism for multiplexer filters adopting CAD involving multi-disciplinary domains used to make the design robust enough to fit into the applications requirements. Compensating the effects of the expansion is a common practice and is widely reported in the literature on the subject. Many of the compensating solutions which are in use in the literature are heavy, involving dissimilar materials introducing further joint stress, cumbersome assembly procedures, difficult to manufacture and end up in generating insufficient compensation effect. This approach eliminates all the problems associated with the conventional techniques. The optimized design is realized using fusion deposition methods and conventional manufacturing techniques. Measurements performed on the prototype show nearly matching results with the simulated results and enabled a viable solution for the compensation of multiplexers.