Tools

I will try to use freely/readily available tools (both software and hardware) where possible.

For the mechanical design work, I have decided to go with Alibre 3D CAD modeling software. Alibre has a free demonstration package available at Alibre Xpress. This free software has a few limitations, notably that it only allows 25 parts per assembly, but within this constraint, it can be used to view and modify files in the project. If you find Xpress useful, please let Alibre know, as feedback like that is invaluable.

Probably because I haven't looked hard enough, I have not yet found any thermochemical modeling package for this device, although perhaps one does not exist, as things get pretty complicated pretty quick. I am open to suggestions, but will proceed empirically nonetheless.

One can however, do energy balances, and scope out the thermodynamics of the device, which I have tried to do. Please feel free to review my calculations and make them better. For these calculations I will oftentimes turn to programming things myself, if I understand things well enough to develop an algorithm. My programs will (almost) always be done in Python (Python) I highly recommend this programming language.

There will need to be a control system for this device, and active component that can respond to conditions and alter flow and feed rates and temperatures. I am going to base this control system on a small, low-cost device from Atmel, The Butterfly (Butterfly) This powerful little device can be had from DigiKey (DigiKey) for $20, and can be used standalone as an indicator/control. Programming the Butterfly can be through Atmel's tools, or the wonderful WinAVR (WinAVR) suite of tools. Much help can come from the AVRFreaks Website/forum (AVRFreaks). In addition, basic temperature and flow sensors will need to be devised and incorporated.

As far as compilation of these HTML pages goes, I have used OpenOffice, Mozilla, and GIMP, as well as a text editor.

Revision : 22 Date: 2006/04/25 23:03:41