Will Buchta's Maker Portfolio
Will Buchta's Maker Portfolio
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The fun stuff:
The fun stuff:
Projects / Site Directory
Projects / Site Directory
As soon as the 7-series FPGAs were getting back in stock on Digikey, I decided it was time to take on a large project - this time at a "Harmless 5V". Started in December 2022, this board features a custom Analog Front-End with an AD9215* (105MSPS, 10bit ADC), 8 digital channels, Video DAC for VGA, Composite Video sink, STM32 as USB-Host, Function Generator, USB-JTAG, and 256MB of DDR3. The FPGA is the Artix-7 50t variant.
As soon as the 7-series FPGAs were getting back in stock on Digikey, I decided it was time to take on a large project - this time at a "Harmless 5V". Started in December 2022, this board features a custom Analog Front-End with an AD9215* (105MSPS, 10bit ADC), 8 digital channels, Video DAC for VGA, Composite Video sink, STM32 as USB-Host, Function Generator, USB-JTAG, and 256MB of DDR3. The FPGA is the Artix-7 50t variant.
*It's not blazing fast, but it is proof to myself that I can do complicated FPGA projects from concept to delivery.
During my first semester at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, I joined the IEEE club and mentioned that I had previously built a Tesla Coil. I offered to build a larger one for them if they provided funding. It was much easier to design and build the second time around, and it turned out better than I initially expected.
During my first semester at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, I joined the IEEE club and mentioned that I had previously built a Tesla Coil. I offered to build a larger one for them if they provided funding. It was much easier to design and build the second time around, and it turned out better than I initially expected.
In the beginning of 2020, I started working on a Dual Resonant Solid State (musical) Tesla Coil. I had made a small one from a kit previously, and I decided it was time to undertake a large project.
In the beginning of 2020, I started working on a Dual Resonant Solid State (musical) Tesla Coil. I had made a small one from a kit previously, and I decided it was time to undertake a large project.
This project is the wrapper and possible grand-finale to my Tesla Coil hobby. With an STM32 microcontroller and some low level coding, I will be able to control up to 5 Tesla coils - at the same time.
This project is the wrapper and possible grand-finale to my Tesla Coil hobby. With an STM32 microcontroller and some low level coding, I will be able to control up to 5 Tesla coils - at the same time.
Short summary: Using my own custom file format and an SD card, I can set the PWM frequency in Hz (corresponding to a note) and pulse-width in microseconds (corresponding to volume) on five separate timer channels, each attached to a 1-bit fiber optic transmitter.
Short summary: Using my own custom file format and an SD card, I can set the PWM frequency in Hz (corresponding to a note) and pulse-width in microseconds (corresponding to volume) on five separate timer channels, each attached to a 1-bit fiber optic transmitter.
A clock made entirely out of 74 series logic chips (ok ok, and maybe a 555 used for multiplexing), using 60Hz from the wall as a time base.
A clock made entirely out of 74 series logic chips (ok ok, and maybe a 555 used for multiplexing), using 60Hz from the wall as a time base.
In early 2021, I was looking for something to do, so I started designing an LED matrix. I got it done pretty quickly, as I already had experience with the LED cube. I can display text and do some animations. One cool improvement would be to add an SD card to have multiple frames, and play more complex animations.
In early 2021, I was looking for something to do, so I started designing an LED matrix. I got it done pretty quickly, as I already had experience with the LED cube. I can display text and do some animations. One cool improvement would be to add an SD card to have multiple frames, and play more complex animations.
Over Christmas break of my Freshman year of WPI, I became interested in FPGAs. It's like a sandbox for computer engineers, and I figured it was time to shift away from Tesla Coils to more harmless "5v" projects (or 3.3, 1.8, or 1.0 depending on where you look).
Over Christmas break of my Freshman year of WPI, I became interested in FPGAs. It's like a sandbox for computer engineers, and I figured it was time to shift away from Tesla Coils to more harmless "5v" projects (or 3.3, 1.8, or 1.0 depending on where you look).
Going into Junior year of high school, I was looking for a project to do. I found a video of an 8x8x8 LED cube on YouTube, and I knew I had to make one for myself.
Going into Junior year of high school, I was looking for a project to do. I found a video of an 8x8x8 LED cube on YouTube, and I knew I had to make one for myself.
I had been working on my DRSSTC 1 for a while, but I got a bit stuck and frustrated. I decided to make a Spark Gap Tesla Coil on the side to keep myself entertained. I don't think I've done this project justice and it's something that I've been meaning to get back to for a while.
I had been working on my DRSSTC 1 for a while, but I got a bit stuck and frustrated. I decided to make a Spark Gap Tesla Coil on the side to keep myself entertained. I don't think I've done this project justice and it's something that I've been meaning to get back to for a while.
Once I had finished applying to colleges my senior year of high school, I found myself asking this question: "Why don't I have a potato gun?" That was all the motivation I needed and I started working.
Once I had finished applying to colleges my senior year of high school, I found myself asking this question: "Why don't I have a potato gun?" That was all the motivation I needed and I started working.
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