Jake was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawai‘i. He’s currently pursuing a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa. His interest in engineering emerged from high school engineering courses. This, paired with a lifelong admiration for nature, sparked his fascination with environmental solutions through applications of mechanical design—bridging the gap between engineering and environmental sustainability. Outside of school and related work, Jake enjoys swimming, running, mountain biking, and spending time with family and friends.
Home Island: O‘ahu
Institution when accepted: UH Manoa
Site: W. M. Keck Observatory, Waimea, Hawai‘i Island
Mentors: Jason Worden & Justin Ballard
Project title: Designing a Load-Testing System for the Keck Telescopes’ Primary Mirror Actuators
Project Abstract:
The Keck I and Keck II telescopes are each equipped with a primary mirror responsible for collecting light from celestial objects. Each mirror consists of thirty-six hexagonal mirror segments controlled by three linear actuators arranged in a tripod configuration, varying tip, tilt, and heave relative to neighboring segments. At Keck headquarters, actuators are tested before installation, during servicing, and after operational failure. Currently, the actuator tests at headquarters verify electronics and mechanics under no loads, which is a limitation in the testing method. Instances have occurred where actuators meet performance requirements under testing conditions but fail before their expected lifetime. Faulty actuators are characterized by hydraulic oil leakage, leading to a reduction in output shaft extension or complete seizure. The objective of this project is to design a testing system that simulates the forces experienced by primary mirror actuators in their operational environment. This system will help determine the root cause of actuator failures and provide a comprehensive method for testing the actuators before installation. A modular preloaded spring assembly was designed in SolidWorks with optimizations in safety, manufacturability, and total cost, while meeting design requirements. Additionally, finite element analysis (FEA) was utilized, alongside analytical calculations, to validate the safety and reliability of the preloaded spring assembly. Once drawings for the design are complete and the assembly is manufactured, primary mirror actuators can then undergo load testing.