Three Distinct Airfoils were tested showing if coefficient of lift or thickness to chord ratio were the driving characteristic of the airfoil for performance.
I used a manual mill to machine the acrylic from sheets, and a CNC to press the bearing.
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Vertical Axis Wind Turbine
The focus of this project is to explore the possibilities of harnessing the velocity eddies created by automobiles traveling on the highway, to produce useful electrical energy. Each airfoil was made by cutting profiles into hardwood with a laser cutter, which were then used as guides to cut the airfoils out of high-density foam with a hot wire cutter. These airfoils were then coated with fiberglass and epoxy in order to provide rigidity and resilience during testing. Each airfoil was then pinned into upper and lower arms, and a central threaded rod was secured through each airfoil to prevent bowing at high RPMs.