vcp
Well-Known Member
I'm going to use this thread to post the component generator software that I've developed in the past few years, starting with what I've just posted to Thingiverse:
CONFIGURABLE FIN CAN
This Thing is an OpenSCAD file that can be used to create a user-defined custom Fin Can that may be printed for use in building a model rocket. I haven't had a lot of time to fiddle with this myself, so there are probably a lot of possible improvements - I'm counting on you guys to provide suggestions and feedback, especially for any problems you encounter.
This file requires that the user download and install the OpenSCAD program (free, see www.OpenSCAD.org), and configure it to use the OpenSCAD customizer. Instructions for this are contained in the sections below.
With OpenSCAD installed and configured, the user may open the "Configurable Fin Can.scad" file and use the controls found there to adjust the dimensions of the Fin Can as desired. The many detailed dimensions available allow a wide variety of possible fin designs.
My other model rocket component generators:
Model Rocket Transition Section Generator
Model Rocket Fin Can - Trapezoidal Fins - Configurable
Installing and Configuring OpenSCAD for use with the OpenSCAD Customizer
This "Configurable Fin Can.scad" file has been created with the intention to use the OpenSCAD 'Customizer', which allows the use of Windows-style selection tools to set parameters of the component. The use of this feature requires the following steps:
Configuring a Fin Can
The following dimensions are available for adjustment by opening the appropriate tab in the customizer window, and then adjusting the slider control, clicking the spinbox, or clicking the box and entering a value by keyboard.
I recommend that you adjust the controls gently at first, until you become familiar with their effect - it's easy to wildly come up with an 'impossible' figure that may be difficult to back out.
Saving your work:
Additional Notes:
Creating an .stl File from OpenSCAD
When you are satisfied with your Fin Can design, you can create an .stl file from OpenSCAD with the following steps:
Rename the attached file "Configurable Fin Can.txt" to be "Configurable Fin Can.scad" to open it with OpenSCAD. (I thought .scad extensions were allowed now, but it doesn't seem to go at the moment.) Or get it from Thingiverse.
CONFIGURABLE FIN CAN
This Thing is an OpenSCAD file that can be used to create a user-defined custom Fin Can that may be printed for use in building a model rocket. I haven't had a lot of time to fiddle with this myself, so there are probably a lot of possible improvements - I'm counting on you guys to provide suggestions and feedback, especially for any problems you encounter.
This file requires that the user download and install the OpenSCAD program (free, see www.OpenSCAD.org), and configure it to use the OpenSCAD customizer. Instructions for this are contained in the sections below.
With OpenSCAD installed and configured, the user may open the "Configurable Fin Can.scad" file and use the controls found there to adjust the dimensions of the Fin Can as desired. The many detailed dimensions available allow a wide variety of possible fin designs.
My other model rocket component generators:
Model Rocket Transition Section Generator
Model Rocket Fin Can - Trapezoidal Fins - Configurable
Installing and Configuring OpenSCAD for use with the OpenSCAD Customizer
This "Configurable Fin Can.scad" file has been created with the intention to use the OpenSCAD 'Customizer', which allows the use of Windows-style selection tools to set parameters of the component. The use of this feature requires the following steps:
- You must be using the OpenScad 'Development Snapshot' version, available at: https://www.openscad.org/downloads.html Scroll down to Development Snapshots, download and install version OperSCAD 2018.09.05 or later.
- Download and open this file, "Configurable Fin Can.scad" with OpenSCAD.
- In the OpenSCAD [Edit] menu, select [Preferences] then open tab [Features], check [Customizer], then close the window when the check is shown.
- In the OpenSCAD [View] menu, uncheck the option [Hide Customizer]. The Customizer window should open at the right side of the screen.
- At the top of the Customizer window, check 'Automatic Preview' and select 'Show Details' in the dropdown box.
Configuring a Fin Can
The following dimensions are available for adjustment by opening the appropriate tab in the customizer window, and then adjusting the slider control, clicking the spinbox, or clicking the box and entering a value by keyboard.
I recommend that you adjust the controls gently at first, until you become familiar with their effect - it's easy to wildly come up with an 'impossible' figure that may be difficult to back out.
- The Fin Can body is defined by:
- The diameter of the tube it fits over, and the wall thickness of the fin can. The body diameter is selected by standard body tube sizes, and a fine tube diameter adjustment is provided to permit achieving a close slip fit over the selected tube.
- The overall length, including forward and aft tube bevels, if any.
- The length of the forward and aft bevels, if any.
- In addition to the number of fins and the fin span, the fins are defined by three parts.
- The center panel.
- The leading edge, including the forward strake, if any.
- The trailing edge, including the aft strake, if any.
- The center panel is defined by:
- The root chord and thickness of the center panel, and the height above the base of the tube. This sets the vertical placement of all fin elements on the tube.
- The tip chord and thickness of the tip panel, the span, and the sweep distance of this tip relative to the root element. The thickness of the root and tip defines the root-to-tip taper of the fin. The span is measured from the inner diameter of the can tube.
- The tip rake. The rake will trim the leading and trailing edges as well.
- The leading edge is defined by:
- The leading edge root chord; this is the distance that the leading edge extends forward of the center panel at the root.
- The leading edge tip chord; this is the distance that the leading edge extends forward of the center panel at the tip.
- The leading edge radius.
- The forward strake chord and span. The chord is the distance that the strake extends forward of the center panel at the root. The edge of the strake shares the same radius as the leading edge.
- The trailing edge is defined by:
- The trailing edge root chord; this is the distance that the trailing edge extends aft from the center panel at the root.
- The trailing edge tip chord; this is the distance that the trailing edge extends aft from the center panel at the tip.
- The trailing edge radius.
- The aft strake chord and span. The chord is the distance that the strake extends aft of the center panel at the root. The edge of the strake shares the same radius as the trailing edge.
Saving your work:
- At the top of the customizer window, pressing '+' will open a dialog box to name a new parameter set. This set name will be displayed to the left of the '+', and will contain all of the current parameters.
- To update the set with new parameters, press 'save preset'.
- Multiple sets may be saved by adding a new set name; sets are selected with the dropdown box.
- The parameter sets have been saved in a file with the same name as the source file, "Configurable Fin Can" and with the extension ".json". This file is loaded when the "Configurable Fin Can.scad" file is opened.
- Using the [File/Save] menu operation, the source file could be saved with a completely new .scad filename, e.g., "BT50 FinCans.scad". An associated .json file would then be saved with the name "BT50 FinCans.json".
- Clicking the 'reset' button at the top of the customizer window will reset the parameters to those of a common fin can contained within the source code. This is a good place to start if you get lost when fiddling with parameters.
Additional Notes:
- It's certain that I haven't anticipated all fin configurations that may be desired. Please let me know about any configurations that don't work. You may contact me by leaving a comment or message on Thingiverse; by a post or message to vcp on TRF or YORF, or by email to [email protected]
- No fillets are available in this version. That's something I'll be working on.
- Note that there is no guarantee that what you configure will be printable, or suitable for any model rocket application. Use proper design rules and caution when designing a model rocket.
- Also note, that each 'panel' of the fin is effectively defined by four points, and four points might not lie in a single plane. When this is the case, you will notice a diagonal 'break' line in the panel. If you don't want this line, you will need to adjust the panel root/tip chords until this break line disappears.
- These instructions are also in the text of the OpenSCAD file, which appears in the Editor window. If you are comfortable with these instructions, then in the [View] menu, you can check the option [Hide editor], which will allow the full screen to view the model.
- The bottom 'Console' window will display some of the primary dimensions of the displayed Fin Can. If you'd rather have more room to display the model, in the [View] menu, you can also check to [Hide Console].
Creating an .stl File from OpenSCAD
When you are satisfied with your Fin Can design, you can create an .stl file from OpenSCAD with the following steps:
- Render the file by selecting the menu item [Design/Render], or pressing the F6 key. Note that it may take some time to render, depending upon your computer.
- Save the .stl by selecting the menu item [File/Export/Export as STL...].
Rename the attached file "Configurable Fin Can.txt" to be "Configurable Fin Can.scad" to open it with OpenSCAD. (I thought .scad extensions were allowed now, but it doesn't seem to go at the moment.) Or get it from Thingiverse.