MAY 2024 sub-project of rocket

DIY-LOAD ​CELL

From scratch to ma2r3s

full tutorial

Step into history of ​this project.

(May 1- Sep. 17, ​2024)

The load cell has five generations. Over two months of ​continuous testing and improvement, it has met all the ​requirements for a rocket static test. It can accurately ​measure the weight of an object or the force applied to it. ​My focus was to design it to be as accessible as possible ​so that anyone can replicate it or even improve it by ​following the shared materials. I have put in as much effort ​as I can to cover all the small and basic details I have ​experienced, to save people’s time and ensure they don’t ​make the same obstacles I did.

The second generation (May 26,2024)

Body of work

MAY 7, 2024

First Generation (simple and loose)

This is the first generation 3D model I designed ​after measuring the dimensions on the weighing ​module. Although it is relatively simple, it can ​measure the weight of some simple items. ​However, the design has some flaws; the surface ​is not very flat, and it is not very stable.

May 13, 2024

Second Generation (<1.5g error)

This is my second-generation design. It has ​reinforced the base and the surface platform, ​making the overall structure smoother and more ​stable for measuring the weight of various items. ​However, its measurement frequency is only ten ​times per second

June 5, 2024

Third Generation

This is my third-generation design. It can not only ​measure the weight of objects vertically but also ​measure the thrust of rockets more accurately ​horizontally.

Fourth generation

I upgraded its chip from Arduino to Teensy 4.1.

The Teensy 4.1 is a powerful microcontroller with ​impressive processing capabilities. Here are some ​key details about its processing power:

• Processor: ARM Cortex-M7 at 600 MHz, which ​can be overclocked to 1 GHz with proper ​cooling12.
• Floating Point Unit: Supports both 64-bit and ​32-bit floating point math.
• Memory: 7936 KB of flash memory, 1024 KB ​of RAM (512 KB tightly coupled), and 4 KB of ​emulated EEPROM
  

Fifth generation

The fifth generation is specially designed for ease ​of manufacturing for everyone.It incorporates the ​stability and simplicity of previous designs, so ​everyone can follow my steps to complete their ​own independent load cell.

MATERIAL LIST

The HX711 I am using is a precision 24-​bit analog-to-digital converter (ADC) ​designed specifically for weighing scales ​and industrial control applications. It is ​commonly used with load cells to ​measure weight or force. The module ​amplifies the small electrical signal ​generated by the load cell and converts it ​into a digital signal that can be read by a ​microcontroller, such as an Arduino.

Step 1

Stripping wires for connecting pin ​headers

Procedures

Step 2

Solder and secure pin-headers

Step 3

Assemble the 3d model

Use a wire stripper to slightly expose the copper ​wire at the end of the lead, being careful not to ​cut the entire wire. Then, find a DuPont wire and ​cut one end of it. Strip a bit of the copper wire at ​the end.

First, slide the heat shrink tube onto the wire. ​Then, twist the exposed copper wires from the ​wire and the connector together and solder them. ​Next, move the heat shrink tube over the soldered ​joint and use a heat gun to heat the tube, causing ​it to shrink and secure the connection.

Use screws to secure the force sensor; it might be ​a bit tight, but as long as it’s firmly fixed, it’s fine.

Procedures

Program and 3d model

Click here

Go through README first!!!

Advance work!

Data logging in Excel