If you have been following my recent developments on Twitter, I have recently made another large propulsion system announcement. Last Friday, April 5, 2019, I announced a new conceptual CAD model render of the second pulsed plasma thruster in the … Continued
One of the major and primary goals of Applied Ion Systems is to explore and develop low-cost, reliable, open-source electric propulsion for CubeSat and small satellite applications, and show how such engine design and testing could be approached at a … Continued
In the previous blog post, I covered the preliminary assembly and rough vacuum testing of the new high vacuum pumping assembly. The roughing pump still checked out at its calibration baseline of 13 millitorr, with the assembly reaching an ultimate … Continued
In the previous blog post, I covered some of the modifications needed for the newly manufactured vacuum adapter plates, which primarily consisted of using Loctite to secure alloy steel set screw studs into the blind tapped holes on the plates … Continued
After a year’s worth of redesign, waiting, and planning out the system, the adapter plates for the Integrated High Vacuum Test Stand were finally machined and ready to go. These were the last major parts needed for the high vacuum … Continued
INTRODUCTION As part of the design and build of the Integrated High Vacuum Test Stand, several custom adapter plates needed to be designed and manufactured to mate the high vacuum diffusion pump and baffle to the chamber. Unfortunately, all of … Continued
INTRODUCTION Calculating the parameters of a high vacuum system can be a tedious and daunting task, involving a significant amount of factors, as well as good estimates and approximations for a variety of parameters. Because a vacuum system involves highly … Continued
Introduction In the previous blog post, an in-depth overview was provided to exemplify the differences between the V1 and V2 versions of the closed-loop peltier chilled cooling system. Over the past week, I have had an opportunity to finally run … Continued
I. INTRODUCTION Physics and experimental science equipment are exceptionally complex, and often require a diverse range of engineering disciplines. Whether it is semiconductor fabrication, sputtering, fusion research, ion beam systems, space propulsion, or some other complex process, the system will … Continued
After a long hiatus from physical system construction, having spent the past couple of months working on project planning and documentation, CAD modeling, thermal simulations, and plasma simulations, progress was made in the beginning main assembly of the Small Scale … Continued