https://wiki.cusf.co.uk/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=SkunkSkunk - Revision history2026-05-31T23:30:48ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.36.1https://wiki.cusf.co.uk/index.php?title=Skunk&diff=175&oldid=prevEllieClifford: "Add old wiki"2021-04-19T18:58:25Z<p>"Add old wiki"</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>= Skunk =<br />
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Skunk is the project of building a box around the helium flowmeter for precisely filling balloons. It will:<br />
<br />
* Have a menu allowing the user to set a volume of helium to pump or a mass of balloon to lift (Integrating the balloon burst spreadsheet from http://cuspaceflight.soc.srcf.net/calc/)<br />
* Have a screen (2x16 LCD with LED backlight) displaying helium pumped so far, target amount of helium and current flowrate<br />
* Have a knob for adjusting helium flowrate<br />
* Have a sexy box with wheels including the (massive) batteries<br />
<br />
'''Current status''': Cillian has bought a significant proportion of the electronics parts and is playing with them.<br />
<br />
* Gas connections are all hooked up and (basically) sorted! Need testing though<br />
* Box is bought and gas stuff is largely fitted. Gas connections need panel mounting<br />
* Electronics needs boxing and proper cables/connectors adding<br />
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'''Things what need doing''':<br />
<br />
* Hardware<br />
** Put everything in the sexy box<br />
* Electronics<br />
** Give everything proper cables/connectors<br />
* Software. ALL the software<br />
<br />
'''Random plans and pondering''':<br />
<br />
* Arduino apparently has an upper limit of supply voltage of 20V, the battery supply is nominally 24V and the buzzer takes 12V - I figure take a lead off between the batteries and give that 12V supply to the arduino/buzzer and the full 24V just to the flowmeter with a common ground. I figure the power to the arduino and piezo is small enough compared to the 350mA flowmeter that the difference in drain between the batteries should be negligible.<br />
* Cheap keypads with numbers 0-9, * and # - I figure that's sufficient for a menu system with # as yes/enter/ok/start pumping, * as cancel/back/pause<br />
* Keypad comes pre-matrixed, arduino mega should certainly have enough pins for LCD, keypad, serial and other gubbins. An uno would probably need something more fancy and/or the serial display.<br />
* Arduino box needs to be at least: 110 x 60 x 40. Cillian will go to maplin and poke some boxes.</div>EllieClifford