PGerringer
Ruler of Heck
- Joined
- Jul 12, 2001
- Messages
- 1,778
- Reaction score
- 5
So, I'm in the home stretch of building the Aerotech Mirage (pictures are coming). The motor mount is in, the fins are in, etc. Now is the time to worry about one problem that I found along the way.
You know how you dry fit all the pieces before you assemble the rocket just to make sure everything is OK? Well, as I was dry fitting the Mirage stuff I noticed that the coupler that holds the body tubes together was very tight. Let me explain... The Mirage has three body tubes joined by two couplers. The top coupler is epoxied to both top and middle tubes. The bottom coupler is only epoxied to the upper tube. The rocket breaks apart at the bottom coupler. Anyway, as I was fitting the bottom tube to the middle tube, the coupler was extremely tight. I had to even wrestle it out of the bottom tube and it was only in about an inch. So, I switched couplers. Immediately I noticed that the top and middle tubes accepted the couplers readily. It appeared the bottom tube was having problems. The new coupler fit the bottom tube but was still very tight.
OK, that is the problem now here is the question. Just how tight is too tight? I'm wondering if the ejection charge is even going to be able to separate the rocket.
What are some techniques that one would use to "loosen" up a tight coupler? Any ideas? I'm thinking about sanding the first layer of "paper" from the coupler. Help...
You know how you dry fit all the pieces before you assemble the rocket just to make sure everything is OK? Well, as I was dry fitting the Mirage stuff I noticed that the coupler that holds the body tubes together was very tight. Let me explain... The Mirage has three body tubes joined by two couplers. The top coupler is epoxied to both top and middle tubes. The bottom coupler is only epoxied to the upper tube. The rocket breaks apart at the bottom coupler. Anyway, as I was fitting the bottom tube to the middle tube, the coupler was extremely tight. I had to even wrestle it out of the bottom tube and it was only in about an inch. So, I switched couplers. Immediately I noticed that the top and middle tubes accepted the couplers readily. It appeared the bottom tube was having problems. The new coupler fit the bottom tube but was still very tight.
OK, that is the problem now here is the question. Just how tight is too tight? I'm wondering if the ejection charge is even going to be able to separate the rocket.
What are some techniques that one would use to "loosen" up a tight coupler? Any ideas? I'm thinking about sanding the first layer of "paper" from the coupler. Help...