STEPPER CONTROLLER PCB

ESP32-S3 4-axis TMC2209 stepper controller for a precision alignment stage.

3D-PRINTED BLDC MOTOR

Proof that a brushless motor can be built with common tools.

RC PLANE

Foam block → framed fuselage.

ROCKET PLANE

3D printed rocket propelled plane

DESKTOP WIND TUNNEL

7-foot plywood wind tunnel for airfoil experiments.

ION THRUSTER

Testing wind speed in relation to electrode gap.

MODEL ROCKETS

Building and launching model rockets.

STEPPER CONTROLLER PCB

ESP32-S3 · 2x 2-axis · TMC2209

2026

Screenshots of the schematic sheets
Screenshots of the schematic sheets
Screenshot of the PCB layout
Screenshot of the PCB layout
3D model of the PCB
3D model of the PCB
Photo of the prototype with component clusters soldered and bypass wires visible
Photo of the prototype with component clusters soldered and bypass wires visible

3D-PRINTED BLDC MOTOR

BLDC · outrunner · 3-phase · unlaminated core · 3:4 coil-to-magnet ratio

2024–2025

Stator with hand-wound coils and Hall effect sensors
Stator with hand-wound coils and Hall effect sensors
Stator and rotor before the sensor base was attached
Stator and rotor before the sensor base was attached
Newest smaller iteration: magnetically denser stator, larger bearing, casing optimised for airflow
Newest smaller iteration: magnetically denser stator, larger bearing, casing optimised for airflow
Stator and rotor prototypes
Stator and rotor prototypes
BLDC connected to 3-phase half-bridge and Arduino Nano
BLDC connected to 3-phase half-bridge and Arduino Nano
Full setup
Full setup
Winding and half-bridge schematic
Winding and half-bridge schematic
Hall-effect sensor output during one full rotation
Hall-effect sensor output during one full rotation

RC PLANE

custom ESP32/nRF24L01 RC link · from foam to framed fuselage

2022–2025

Initial foam-block prototype
Initial foam-block prototype
Revised motor-mount iteration
Revised motor-mount iteration
Framed-fuselage RC airplane
Framed-fuselage RC airplane
Iteration 4
Iteration 4
Front view of framed fuselage and motor mount
Front view of framed fuselage and motor mount
Flight computer: ESP32 + nRF24L01 on perfboard
Flight computer: ESP32 + nRF24L01 on perfboard
Custom transmitter and receiver enclosures
Custom transmitter and receiver enclosures
Test flight sequence frames
Test flight sequence frames

ROCKET PLANE

model rocket motor propelled airplane

2026

Initial side view sketch
Initial side view sketch
First version
First version
Ground thrust test
Ground thrust test
Technical drawing of the 3rd and final version
Technical drawing of the 3rd and final version
Final version
Final version
Final version and what's left of the previous versions
Final version and what's left of the previous versions
Take off of version 2
Take off of version 2
Flight test of version 2
Flight test of version 2

DESKTOP WIND TUNNEL

Open-circuit · plywood construction · BLDC-driven · load-cell lift measurement

2024–2025

Assembled 7-ft plywood wind tunnel
Assembled 7-ft plywood wind tunnel
Diffuser section and fan housing
Diffuser section and fan housing
3-blade fan with custom hub
3-blade fan with custom hub
Test section with flow straighteners and airfoil mounted
Test section with flow straighteners and airfoil mounted
BLDC motor integrated into 3D-printed hub
BLDC motor integrated into 3D-printed hub
Airfoil cage setup
Airfoil cage setup
Load cell and servo linkage for angle-of-attack adjustment
Load cell and servo linkage for angle-of-attack adjustment
String flow visualization
String flow visualization

ION THRUSTER

Corona discharge · wire-grid electrodes · ionic wind measurement

2023–2024

Visible corona discharge between the electrodes during operation
Visible corona discharge between the electrodes during operation
Wire-grid electrode assembly with adjustable gap
Wire-grid electrode assembly with adjustable gap
Ionic wind speed measured downstream with a fixed-position anemometer
Ionic wind speed measured downstream with a fixed-position anemometer
Full bench setup
Full bench setup

MODEL ROCKETS

model rockets · custom launch pad

2023–2024

Cardboard/PVC model rockets with 3D-printed fins and nose cones
Cardboard/PVC model rockets with 3D-printed fins and nose cones
Flight models built by rocket club students
Flight models built by rocket club students
Custom 6-ft launch pad using threaded rods and a guide rail
Custom 6-ft launch pad using threaded rods and a guide rail
Stable powered flight
Stable powered flight