Objective: Design and manufacture a fin can for the upper stage of the Karman rocket.

Skills Used:

• Material selection - merging functionality, ease of manufacturing, and weight

• Design for manufacturability, especially regarding symmetrical requirement

• High tolerance manufacturing, particularly for tight fit of rocket body

• Laser cutting - for welding fixture

Design Constraints:

• Must be lightweight

• Able to withstand mach 5 speeds

• Symmetrical to avoid unbalancing rocket

Design Process:

• Researched existing fin designs

• Machined using lathe and 3D CNC mill

• Iteration through physical prototype and testing

Final Solution:

• 6061 Aluminum tube; 1/8" sheet for fins

• Fins were welded into slots on tube using laser-cutted fixture to ensure perpendicularity