Creating The World's First Plasma Sword ( Halo Inspired )

Quick Overview

The creator successfully built a functional, energy-sword-inspired plasma blade prototype using a custom high-voltage flyback circuit capable of generating plasma arcs up to three inches long, powered by a 4S LiPo battery and contained within 3D-printed housing.

Key Points: The final plasma sword prototype uses a custom 1kW high-voltage flyback circuit, powered by a 4S LiPo battery, to generate plasma arcs up to three inches long (15:15, 12:14). The plasma blade shape is inspired by the Covenant Energy Sword from the Halo video game franchise (16:41). The AC-DC rectifier component of the sword, 3D-printed and cast in resin, successfully converts AC input to a maximum of 40kV DC output (09:55). The creator collaborated with Brad from Impact Props (@ImpactProps) for design consultation, noting that the initial handle prototypes did not fit the electronics enclosure (15:33, 15:44). The high-voltage flyback circuit driver was built on perfboard using 16kHz AC signal, achieving 380 watts of power without needing heatsinks (09:55, 11:22). The metal blades were laser cut from 0.075-inch thick aluminum, with permanent magnets embedded to help shape the plasma (10:03, 03:45). The final design incorporates multiple 3D-printed parts and the custom electronics, resulting in a functional, albeit heavy, prototype (07:06, 13:33).

Context: The video documents the ambitious project of building a functional plasma sword inspired by the Covenant Energy Sword from the Halo video game series. The creator focuses heavily on the physics required, specifically using the Lorentz force to shape the plasma arc between two conductive blades. The project involves custom CAD design using Onshape, 3D printing for housing components, and constructing a custom high-voltage AC-DC rectifier circuit to power the plasma effect.

Detailed Analysis

The creator builds a functional plasma sword inspired by the Covenant Energy Sword from Halo, detailing the design, electronics, and testing phases. The design process begins with CAD modeling in Onshape (05:03), where the twin aluminum blades are designed with embedded permanent magnets to help shape the plasma arc using the Lorentz force (02:47). The metal blades were laser cut from 0.075-inch aluminum (07:29). The power electronics required a custom 1kW high-voltage flyback circuit capable of producing 30kV AC at 380 watts (09:55) and a 40kV DC rectifier encased in a 3D-printed, resin-poured block (09:52). The custom flyback driver circuit, built on perfboard, achieved 350 watts output without requiring heatsinks (12:23). Testing the plasma arc with the custom setup proved successful, generating arcs up to three inches long (15:15). The final assembly integrates the electronics and 3D-printed handle components with the metal blades, resulting in a complete, functional prototype (13:20). The creator notes that the final design was an iteration after initial handle prints proved too small for the electronics (15:44).