Devlog #2

I have completed the first draft of the pcb of Nova it still needs alot of work i want to make the routes alot cleaner and more orginized and theres a ton of errors i also want to add like one of those cool designs that are actully on the pcb like in the hack club example so i am gonna work on those things next

Devlog #1

Today i Started my Hackpad called Nova, it features:
-9 Keys
-1 OLED Display
-1 Rotary Encoder

Here’s what happened

So first i read through the entire guide to try to understand the project and do some brainstorming than i copy and pasted the whole thing into chat gpt to help me brainstorm some ideas. Then i Watched and followed Joe Scotto’s videos including, “How a mechanical keyboard work” and “How to design mechanical keyboard PCB’s with KiCAD” Both of these proved really useful as they gave me an understanding of how to make a pcb and got me familiar with the software. than i did some research on how to implement the OLED and Rotary Encoder as those are not shown in his video’s. Than i finally made the schematic for Nova

Note

This took me a lot longer than 15 minutes the actual design part just for Nova took me like an hour but the lookout thing failed and did not save

Devlog #1

This is my first devlog, I have brainstormed the idea and came up with a sketch. I am going to have and Arduino connected to a servo motor which is connected to a rod or shaft of some sort that pushes one of the blinds up and down, because all the blinds are connected this will close and open all of them

Devlog 1

2026-07-04

What I built today

• Built a GitHub project template repo
• Set up folders (docs, src, assets, .github)
• Added issue templates (bug + feature)
• Added pull request template
• Added CONTRIBUTING.md
• Set up CI workflow
• Fixed GitHub sync issues (empty folders, git tracking)

Problems I hit

• Git didn’t upload empty folders
• CI failed because structure wasn’t fully synced
• Git push confusion / local vs GitHub mismatch

What I learned

• Git does not track empty folders
• CI runs on GitHub, not locally
• Small missing details break automation

Next step

• Improve CI checks
• Polish README

I have decided that the second pipe is easier for me to buy from the store as there is already an existing one and the one i had made had failed. i also printed the second version of the pipe cover and it did not fit so i have restored the old four hole version and deleted those holes and created 3 mm holes instead to follow a similar design the failed one.

Devlog #3

V1.5 of Model Design

I created the first attachment for the wind tunnel, which was the fan intake setup. This attachment was designed specifically to fit my JisuLife Handheld Fan Life7 so it can be used as the airflow source for this project.

I designed a custom mount to hold the fan in position and used a chamfered transition to create a smoother airflow path from the smaller circular fan outlet into the 200mm × 200mm wind tunnel airflow channel.

This keeps the fan system modular and allows different airflow sources to be used in the future.

devlog #2

V1.3 - V1.4 of Model Design

I changed the original one large model into separate modules including:
-Fan module
-Flow straightener module
-Test module
-Exit module
-End module

I designed the modules so that they were all attachable to each other and would have a connection system, now they have the same lip with screw holes that attach together.

Note: I will be adding airflow openings and internal sections will be added in next version

Image of Test Module:

devlog #1

V1.0 - V1.2 of model design
today was the first day i started working on this project, i created the main tunnel structure (800mm 250 x 250 area. i added areas where i could put a clear piece of material along with screw holes for it to be mounted too. there is also a area to mount the different models inside the test area. i decided i wanted to make this modular so i could have different test area’s for different types of things i am testing. i did some planning on the parts i will use in the future.

i designed the first draft for the second pipe “cover” as there is two, with this pipe i decided too go for a different approach and have the “cover” go on the inside instead of covering it form the outside

I learned about custom features in onshape. and discovered the fill pattern feature. which basically fills a object within boundaries with what ever shape/ hole you want. this proved very useful. in insuring that the air can flow naturally. i also tested the first design for a fit and it was perfect. i am now printing V2

I built the first version of my design some of my worries are that there might not be enough holes and the pla i am 3d printing these out of might warp in the heat

dev log #1

I built LaunchOS using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript as part of the WebOS tutorial. It has a desktop-style background, a centered main window for the content, and a top bar with the system name and a live clock that updates every second using JavaScript.

dev log #2
Over the last couple of days i have decided i am going to create a rc boat version of pacemate to test out the actual hull of the boat as i can reuse the parts anyway (as long as it works that is) I also looked at some motors, esc’s and receivers, and have figured out what would work for my project. After i created motor mounts with prop shaft holes to attach the motors finishing V1.1

Today, I decided that i was going make PaceMate a tri hull boat because it offers stability and will ease the load of the gimbal for the camera, I took inspiration from the US navy LCS ships.

I also built the first version of the boats hulls as well as created Hatch Openings and a Mast Mount.

Overall a good first day.