My capstone project was to design and simulate a model rocket that used a dual-deploy parachute system. I decided to do this project because of my interest in model rockets and aerospace engineering. The rocket is 39 inches long and has about a 2-inch diameter. Dual deployment means that once it reaches its apogee, the highest point, a small parachute gets released, then a larger parachute gets released once it gets much closer to the ground. A normal parachute system just releases one large parachute at apogee. I researched different components of model rockets and model rocket kits. Then I designed a rocket in Fusion 360, a CAD software. I then took that design and created it in a simulation tool called Open Rocket. I adjusted the design to get the apogee over a thousand feet. Then I went to the CAD and added the changes I made in the simulation. The other data I’m collecting from the simulation are the drag coefficient and the horizontal distance traveled. The horizontal distance is important because the point of a dual-deploy parachute system is to decrease the distance a rocket travels after its parachute is deployed. Throughout this project, I have learned so much about how model rockets work, how to use Fusion 360, and how to use Open Rocket. All of these are skills that I plan on using in the future as an aerospace engineer.

Bibliography: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZBTOZC78DLeTPDKGGQUDDRYAeXIkPatUDR6PWbz7qaM/edit?usp=sharing

Abstract

My capstone project is called The Dustless Chop Saw Table, which is almost exactly what it sounds like. If you don’t know what a chop saw is, it is a vertical cutting stationary saw used to cut individual sections of lumber and other commodities to length. In my opinion it is one of the most important tools in the shop, probably second to the drill press. Many of our projects require sections of wood, or foam which many times Kamal has us use the chop saw to cut our material. The table is around 10 feet long and 4 feet deep, very large, so I designed it in a way to have it slide in between a pillar and an air exchanger. It has 3 main parts, the left and right cutoffs and the dust hood. The dust hood is essential to keeping the dustless part in the name because it keeps all saw dust, foam particles and anything else from getting into the air exchangers and around the shop. The reason I am doing this is because Kamal needed a new setup for the chop saw, the stand for the saw was not helpful, it was loose and weird shaped. Kamal wanted something new, so I stepped forward. The process was extremely long, with many times I found myself not wanting to continue because it was so tedious or time consuming, but I powered through. With tons of material cut, and tons of hours it was complete.

Annotated Bibliography

https://docs.google.com/document/d/13yAAWzVDY_JidpvqJZOUH8EgwVvjlkZV_5cSpwOffkI/edit?usp=sharing