Easy DIY James Webb Telescope Mirror.

13,157

161

16

Introduction: Easy DIY James Webb Telescope Mirror.

I love the new James Webb telescope design so I wanted to recreate the primary mirror.

Supplies

The list of tools and materials in this instucrables is quite small.


Materials.

  • 1mm thick hardboard. Or any thin timber or card.
  • Printer paper.
  • Black paint. (I used matt black spray)
  • Hexagonal mirror panels. I got mine from eBay and they are 23mm per side.


Tools.

  • Printer (for printing templates)
  • Saw, Scroll saw, frett saw.
  • Craft knife.
  • File, sandpaper.
  • Ruler ,straight edge.
  • Pen or pencil.
  • Computer with some drawing software. I used coreldraw.

Step 1: Designing the Template.


I Wanted the backing board to match the black support material of the telescope mirror. I’ve seen some other mirrors that are just the hexagon shape, I wanted my mirror to look more like the actual one.


So I used a photo of the real James Webb mirror and traced over it in coreldraw.

I used the size of the hexagon mirrors I had to scale the drawing.

Once I had the design drawn up I printed out some colour versions and some line drawings.

Step 2: Cutting Out the Background

I pasted two of the printouts together as the design is just a bit wider than an A4 sheet.

Then I attached the template to the hardboard and cut it out with a scroll saw.

This type of hardboard can be cut with a knife if you go gently, I had a scroll saw so I used that.

you can use any type of wood or thick card, whatever you have or want is fine.

Step 3: Refining the Background Edges.

Once the background was cut, I used a file and some sandpaper to refine the edges and make them straight and neat.

Then I did a test layout of the mirror panels just for fun. To get an idea of what it might look like when finished.

Step 4: Painting the Background.

I then removed the template and sanded the hardboard.

Then I did another test layout just for fun.

I gave the board a few coats of matt black spray paint, sanding between coats.

Step 5: Transferring the Layout.

using the line drawing template I placed the template on the background board and secured it in place with a bit of tape.


Using a ruler and a pen I traced the lines of the hexagons so it made slights marks in the paint to show the placement of the mirror panels.

Step 6: Applying the Mirrors.

Using the lines scribed from the last step I used the self adhesive backing on the mirror panels to attach them to the black background.

Once they were all applied I removed the front protective film on all the mirrors and gave them a little clean.

Step 7: Finished Mirror.

Now you have your finished mirror, it’s time to find somewhere suitable to display it.


Thank you for reading my instructable.

if you have any questions please ask and I will do my best to answer them.

Anything Goes Contest

Runner Up in the
Anything Goes Contest

1 Person Made This Project!

Recommendations

  • Make It Bridge

    Make It Bridge
  • For the Home Contest

    For the Home Contest
  • Game Design: Student Design Challenge

    Game Design: Student Design Challenge

16 Comments

0
Crafty platform
Crafty platform

2 days ago

Good steps and spectacular results :)

1
oldmaninSC
oldmaninSC

4 weeks ago

I made a very easy 3dprint JWT. Your JWT is great but mine is without power tools.
See my Instructable. Thanks

0
atlmaker
atlmaker

4 weeks ago

For true authenticity, you need to drill a tiny hole in mirror C3 that was damaged my a micrometeor!

2
Ventitacci
Ventitacci

6 weeks ago

I can’t wait to start on this. Thank you!

0
GTO3x2
GTO3x2

7 weeks ago

Where are the goldish hexagonal mirrors coming from?

1
backwards lamb
backwards lamb

Best Answer 7 weeks ago

I got them from eBay.

865ED71E-E34F-4567-87BE-B57BEFB885E7.jpeg
0
Khovet1
Khovet1

Answer 7 weeks ago

Can you supply a link?
Thanks

2
backwards lamb
backwards lamb

Answer 7 weeks ago

If you search the words in the image you should find them. Or just search hexagon mirror tiles.

1
ChrisWx
ChrisWx

7 weeks ago

Now you just need to change the backing to 1/8" rubber, put a sealed pressure chamber behind it, and a pump to regulate the vacuum inside. Boom - your own vari-focal mirror! :-)
(Yes, I know this wouldn't work very well. It was meant to be funny, a bit facetious, with a generous dab of "I wish...")

1
PeterH293
PeterH293

Reply 7 weeks ago

I had much the same idea, but of course the original elements of the James Webb telescope are not flat but curved. The model is pretty in its own right and there is little purpose served by placing the model's flat elements in a pseudo-curved array.

2
backwards lamb
backwards lamb

Reply 7 weeks ago

Other than … you know… using it as a mirror, a piece of art or just a model of the mirror.

This isn’t an exact scale replica, it’s a bit of decorative fun.

1
PeterH293
PeterH293

Reply 7 weeks ago

Indeed. That's exactly what I meant.

2
GTO3x2
GTO3x2

7 weeks ago

Looks good! Good idea!

5
Paper Mechanic
Paper Mechanic

8 weeks ago

This is a really cool idea, and well executed!

0
backwards lamb
backwards lamb

Reply 8 weeks ago

Thank you.