This week I assisted with final topload testing, where we tried three additional sizes to find the best match for the secondary coil’s resonant frequency. The 1.5-inch diameter sphere ended up being optimal, though it still wasn’t enough on its own — adding a small spike to the top of the topload is what finally produced successful free-air arcing. I also helped with recalculating and installing the revised primary coil to match the updated resonant frequency. The system now arcs freely, though it produces stronger arcs when a conductive surface is nearby, and can produce basic tonal outputs. Audio modulation still needs improvement for clear musical reproduction. Next week I plan to help with the cooling system improvement targeting the MOSFET, and contribute to getting fuller audio modulation working ahead of the final demo.
Carnegie Mellon ECE Capstone, Spring 2026 – Caleb Doan, Jayson Ma, Jack Wang