DIY Wave Generator and Test Tank

Simulation can be extremely useful for figuring out whether or not something will work, but at some point, it may be necessary to actually build and test a working prototype. If your prototype just happens to float, then you might check out this DIY test tank that Shubham Bhatt was able to create as a part of his major project for 81,000 Indian Rupees (around $1,200 USD).

The tank is constructed out of a 3mm cast iron sheet, along with angle iron stiffeners added to keep it from flexing. On one end of the long artificial waterway, a pair of stepper motors pushes a stainless steel paddle back and forth via lead screws, secured using v-slot extrusions.

The device is controlled with an Arduino Mega (though it would seem a lesser board could have also been used) and a single stepper driver. This setup not only simplifies the design, but means that there’s no possibility of lag between the two motors. User interface is provided by an Arduino serial monitor terminal, and it generates a text-based menu system to adjust wave heights and frequency.

You can see it in below, as it puts a tiny barge through its paces.