Devlog 1

Well the time logged states what happened in this devlog and it’s not much. Mainly because my project is more or less towards the software side, building it will be a whole nother story though.

My project is a Schlieren Imaging Device. It can visualize airflow, heat and soundwaves by sending a pinpoint intensity light through a Plano-Convex lens and a NPBS (Non-Polar Beam Splitter) and out the device. That same light beam will reflect off a First Surface mirror then proceed to bounce back the same path it came from. Pretty confusing right?? I will still need to get this all alligned 😭 That light beam then will get sent through ANOTHER lens and a knife edge to make sure the contrast is good. THEN that light beam will finally HIT the camera!!

Here’s how my project works from the inside:

The ESP32 P4 handles all the important stuff and driving the LED through that AML driver. The pin sockets let me swap things in and out without desoldering, which is critical when you are still figuring out what works.
The USB C port is for charging ONLY, the TPS charging IC manages the battery so we do not overcharge or drain too low. The 5V boost bumps the single cell lithium up to a stable 5V for the ESP32 and the LED, which can pull some real current when cranked up.
The four 1x2 sockets break down simple: one for the battery, one for the LED, one for the power switch, and 1 for the fan, although I am planning on adding some more sockets for the LED fan. Those can get prettyyyy hot.
The rest of the day was spreadsheets and stuff. BOM, part numbers, stock checks, the usual.

Well that’s it for my project. Ill seee y’all when this is funded!