My name is Jacob Chisum. I am a mechanical engineering student at Eastern Washington University, and I am a full-time builder. I create, break and make again nearly everything in my life. While I have learned a lot from school, I have learned more from my own personal projects. This site is a collection of some of those projects, what went into them, and what I learned along the way.
Designed and built a thrust-vector-controlled model rocket supported by a custom Python flight simulation and onboard flight computer. The system was developed through four flight tests, culminating in a successful closed-loop stabilized flight and undamaged recovery.
Worked on metallography and corrosion testing while designing and building AQUA, a custom automated water-quality control system for Kaiser Aluminum. AQUA monitors pH and salinity in corrosion-test water and automatically adjusts conditions by adding water or dosing chemicals as needed. The system was built for regular lab use and remains in service today.
Team work on an Intercollegiate Rocket Engineering Competition vehicle, with contributions across the design, integration, documentation, and testing process.
Designed and programmed several custom flight computers using RP2040-based microcontrollers and sensor breakout boards for flight data logging, recovery functions, and active control. More recent work has focused on a smaller, more integrated design with custom SMD hardware for the EWU Aerospace Club.
Built a custom Level 1 high-power rocket with 3D-printed fins and motor hardware, simulated in OpenRocket before flight. The rocket flew successfully on an H283 motor and earned my NAR/TRA Level 1 certification.
Rebuilt the transmission in my daily driver entirely on my own in my parents’ garage, despite having no prior transmission-rebuild experience. The project included a complete teardown, installation and shimming of a limited-slip differential, replacement of the synchronizers with carbon synchros, and correction of a bearing-fit issue to bring the assembly back within tolerance. The transmission remains in daily use.
Not everything I’ve been working on is finished yet. This section is a running log of what I’m currently building, testing, redesigning, and occasionally breaking along the way.
I work across mechanical design, electronics, software, fabrication, and materials, with most projects pulling from more than one (or all) of those areas.
SolidWorks, Fusion 360, and Onshape for rockets, mechanisms, assemblies, 3D printing, machining, and custom hardware.
RP2040, Teensy, Arduino/C++, sensor integration, custom PCBs, power and signal isolation, and flight-computer development.
3D printing, composites, casting, soldering, mechanical assembly, metallography, sample preparation, and iterative testing.
Python, MATLAB, OpenRocket, custom flight simulation software, closed-loop control, data analysis, and basic CFD.
I am just getting into my junior year as a mechanical engineering student at Eastern Washington University. Most of my learning happens through a mix of coursework, personal projects, club work, and time spent testing, troubleshooting, and improving the things I make. I usually have a few different projects going at once, and I tend to learn best by taking on problems that are just beyond what I already know and working through them firsthand.
My recent work includes thrust-vector control, high-power rocketry, custom flight computers, embedded systems, mechanical rebuilds, and engineering work within Kaiser Aluminum’s Advanced Engineering department.
I’m always interested in internships, research opportunities, and projects worth getting my hands dirty on. Feel very free to reach out.