ELECTRONIC PROJECTS:

One of the things that I have long wanted is a good, comprehensive, and configurable instrument package.  So, in the proudest traditions of amateur rocketry, amateur radio, and amateur science, since I can't find one, I'll build one.  With a little help from my friends.  The various components are listed below:

Accelerometers (No information posted yet.)

Airspeed-o-meter:  Differential pressure based.

Altimeters:  How high do you want to go today?

Analog to Digital Converter for on-board electronics.

Apogee Detector:  Based on (What's his name's Magnetic Apogee Detector.  - I'll remember his name and post a link sooon.)

Audio-Video:

Flight computer:  The brains behind the beauty.

GPS locator beacon:  Let's your rocket tell you where to look.

SMT:  How to solder and work with surface mount components.

Telemetry Transciever:
 
 

All of the schematics shown on these pages have been created using AutoCAD LT 97 or Eagle 4.0 light.  All of the printed circuit boards shown were made with either Express PCB or Eagle 4.0 light.

AutoCAD LT is a good general purpose drafting program.  I have used various flavors of AutoCAD for over 15 years and I like it a lot.  Powerful, with many functions and utilities other packages should have for 5 or 6 times the money, ACAD is a great program.  I have no complaints about it.  Unfortunately it is expensive as software goes.  But then, in my opinion, there has never been a piece of software written that is worth more than $750.00, and most software that is out there isn't worth over $250.  If you are going to build rockets or rocket hardware, you need a good drafting package.  There are other, cheaper packages out there, but I have never used them.  I have AutoCAD and I like it so I use it.  I'm sure there are cheaper alternatives.

Eagle 4.0 light is a fully functioned electrical engineering CAD/CAM package that also comes in a freeware version.  The freeware version includes schematic capture, PCB layout, and autorouting capabilities for small circuit boards.  It also has an extensive library of parts available.  It is about as easy to learn as any good CAD program.  After printing out the tutorial and following it, you can learn to use the program in about 6 to 8 hours.  It's well documented and powerful.  It's a professional grade package that has been crippled only in the size of the PCB boards you can lay out, and the number of layers you can put on that board.  Plus it comes in an identically functioning and appearing release for Linux for those of you who loathe windows as much as I do.
Highly recommended.

If you have your own board layouts, and just want to get some good, inexpensive circuit boards made, it's hard to beat Express PCB.  The software will tell you exactly what your boards will cost, transmit all the necessary information to Express PCB and you get your boards back in a couple of days.  I like Express PCB for cheap rapid turns on custom made circuit boards.  For less than $60.00 (U.S.) you can get three custom made circuit boards from this place.
Recommended.

Last Updated:  24 September, 2002