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Making a shape like the JWST's mirror - Printable Version

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Making a shape like the JWST's mirror - micheus - 01-21-2026

At Discord, an user asked for a way to make a shape like the JWST mirrors.
Despite other simple approaches, I come with this one intending to show the use of Magnet with Move, as well as the use of Put On [RMB] to create the "array".



RE: Making a shape like the JWST's mirror - ivla - 01-23-2026

Wow, great!

Also it's possible to use Deform - Inflate(RMB) in vertex selection mode instead of Magnet Move - by using a reference object.
Reference center point marked by orange color, radius point is in center of deformed plane (I selected four vertices around it), inflate value - 100%.
[Image: inflate054cfa830caa8580.jpg]

RE: Making a shape like the JWST's mirror - sciroccorics - 01-28-2026

Hello guys,

Nice little model. I guess that the easiest way would be to use the 'GeoDome' primitive. Here is a 6-step making-of :
  • Step 1 : Create a 'GeoDome' primitive at resolution 6 / View along Z to get image in Figure 1
  • Step 2 : Select all vertices and apply a Bevel of 0.072 to create 350 hexagons and 12 pentagons
  • Step 3 : Select 1 hexagon that is equidistant from its 3 neighboring pentagons / Hit I (= select similar faces) then + and + (select 2 layers of neighbors) to get 20 patterns of 19 hexagons, arranged like the James Webb Space Telescope.
  • Step 4 : Apply Shell Extrude Normal 0.02 and delete initial GeoDome to get 20 telescope mirrors pointing towards the origin
  • Step 5 : Apply Explode Uniform -200% to make all the mirrors facing outer space, which is more useful for a telescope
  • Step 6 : Put the Earth at the origin, and you've got your 20 orbiting telescopes, much better than the NASA ;-)
[Image: 26012809202426879818713774.png]

RE: Making a shape like the JWST's mirror - micheus - 01-28-2026

Nice entries guys! Thanks for sharing.

I liked you approach sciroccorics. It will create a more accurate curvature.

RE: Making a shape like the JWST's mirror - sciroccorics - 01-29-2026

Thanks Micheus,

I liked the problem that you opened in your OP, so a spend some time to find my own solution. I didn't know that there is a Discord channel dedicated to Wings, I should subscribe.

The parameter 0.072 for the bevel is a bit empirical, theoretically it should be 50% of the edge length, but we don't have a proportional bevel operator in Wings. Note also that, as it is the case in the real mirror built for the JWST, there are only 6 true regular hexagons among the 18 (actually my model has 7 regular hexagons as it includes the central one) : if all 18 hexagons were regular, the whole mirror would be flat which is not very interesting for a telescope

RE: Making a shape like the JWST's mirror - ivla - 02-02-2026

(01-28-2026, 04:08 PM)micheus Wrote: It will create a more accurate curvature.
To be exact, JWST' main mirror is parabolic, not a spherical.
So your approach can give a more accurate result  Wink

BTW, many thanks for hint about "Put on(RMB)".

RE: Making a shape like the JWST's mirror - ivla - 02-11-2026

My version of JWST mirror modelling process (orange is a selection color here)

Make 3-sided cylinder
[Image: jwst01.jpg]

Split three upper edges to halves and connect new vertices
[Image: jwst02.jpg]

Select two side faces and mirror on it
[Image: jwst03.jpg]

Select this edge and dissolve it
[Image: jwst04.jpg]

Select face and mirror on it
[Image: jwst05.jpg]

Select central vertice and center the object ("move absolute" to x=0.0 z=0.0 with "move object" checked)
[Image: jwst06.jpg]

Duplicate object to get an appropriate form as shown above in this thread ("Put on[RMB]" or "duplicate radial")
[Image: jwst07.jpg]

Make another object to define the mirror curvature
[Image: jwst08.jpg]

Select one vertice in center of one of objects
[Image: jwst09.jpg]

Twice extend a selection (press "+") and select all similar vertices ("i")
[Image: jwst10.jpg]

Deform - Inflate[RMB]
[Image: jwst11.jpg]

[Image: jwst12.jpg]

Press "Tab" and input "100"
[Image: jwst13.jpg]

Select vertices on rear side, then Deform - Inflate[RMB]
[Image: jwst14.jpg]

Done.
[Image: jwst15.jpg]

Now you can weld objects as you need.