A5tr0 An0n
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Sep 29, 2012
- Messages
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Greetings TRF,
I would like to show how I modified the DC30 dog collar for rocket tracking. Now a lot of rocketeers have done this but not many of them take it completely apart so it will be a rocket dedicated system. I modified this GPS system to fit inside any 54mm airframe. It just took a little bit of thinking and viola! The problem is that the DC30's GPS unit is separate from the rest of the board so that presents a slight challenge when trying to put it inside a minimum diameter rocket since there are multiple parts to account for.
Anyways I will be posting pictures soon of how I did it and the work in progress. It is almost done.
Tools/Etc I Used:
- Dremel
- Dry Erase Marker
- Pencil Tip Soldering Iron
- Solder
- Clear Acrylic Sheet (for sled)
- Drill
- Various screws, nuts, & nylon spacers (most where 2-56)
- Small Phillips & Flat Heads Screw Drivers
STEP 1:
Now to initially take apart the tracking system from the dog collar you can watch this simple How-to video. (I did not make this video)
[video=youtube;5lqWtmLvYWE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lqWtmLvYWE[/video]
STEP2:
You will then need to remove the cover and then separate the circuit board from the plastic housing case. You will need to use the "Pencil Tip Soldering Iron" for this. You must heat up the solder connecting the board to where the antenna screws in. The result of this will allow you to pull the board out and away from the housing unit. YOU MUST BE VERY CAREFUL NOT TO DAMAGE THE BOARD WITH THE SOLDER GUN AND EVEN FROM THE HEAT!
STEP 3:
Next I then removed the antenna screw that is in the black plastic housing unit. I used the Dremel to cut it out and sand it down. This will be used to later reconnect and mount the antenna to the board.
STEP 4:
Go ahead and grab your pencil tip soldering iron and your solder and you will need to re solder where your antenna screws into back onto the board. Be very careful also in this step!
STEP 5:
Next I wanted to make a sled that would replace the destroyed black plastic housing and act as a new permanent home for the Astro DC30. I chose to go with clear plastic acrylic sheet from Home Depot. Its about $5 for a decent sized sheet. I chose clear because I wanted to see all the electronic boards and components.
I used the Dremel and the cut wheel, to cut it to spec. Take the dry erase marker and draw lines with a ruler to get nice straight measures. Next take tape and roll it into a circle so you have double sided tape and stick it to the ruler and put this along the drawn line to act as a guide for cutting. Then just go ahead and cut to spec.
STEP 6:
I used 2-56 (I think by 3/8ths) to mount the board to the sled. It will have to be a little higher than normal due to the antenna mount underneath the board. I also used nylon rubber type washer to cushion the board from the screws. So you will need to go to your local electronics store and grab all your necessary equipment. If you are in Houston, Texas I recommend going to Ace Electronics! I got all above mentioned stuff for $1.75.
STEP 7:
Now all you have to do is mount up everything to your liking and secure it into place. To make the holes on this clear plastic i decided to use the pencil tip soldering iron to first make a small melted hole and then drill it bigger to size. I did it this way because otherwise it is hard to drill it and will end up scratching the sheet.
I am still in this phase and will UPDATE it with my chosen method later(antenna mounting). I can tell you for the GPS wire I decided to just tape it into place, as seen in photos.
Also I chose to just put a layer of mattress foam in the nose cone to cushion the sled carrying the dog tracker.
Now this sled is designed to be the permanent mount for the system and can then in turn be bolted onto your normal sled for a bigger diameter rocket to go onto the all threads.
20121226_201759 by AstroAnon, on Flickr
20121226_201819 by AstroAnon, on Flickr
20121227_183959 by AstroAnon, on Flickr
20121227_184032 by AstroAnon, on Flickr
20121227_211726 by AstroAnon, on Flickr
20121228_150403 by AstroAnon, on Flickr
Please feel free to comment and ask any questions you may have!
Cheers.
TO BE FINISHED.................
I would like to show how I modified the DC30 dog collar for rocket tracking. Now a lot of rocketeers have done this but not many of them take it completely apart so it will be a rocket dedicated system. I modified this GPS system to fit inside any 54mm airframe. It just took a little bit of thinking and viola! The problem is that the DC30's GPS unit is separate from the rest of the board so that presents a slight challenge when trying to put it inside a minimum diameter rocket since there are multiple parts to account for.
Anyways I will be posting pictures soon of how I did it and the work in progress. It is almost done.
Tools/Etc I Used:
- Dremel
- Dry Erase Marker
- Pencil Tip Soldering Iron
- Solder
- Clear Acrylic Sheet (for sled)
- Drill
- Various screws, nuts, & nylon spacers (most where 2-56)
- Small Phillips & Flat Heads Screw Drivers
STEP 1:
Now to initially take apart the tracking system from the dog collar you can watch this simple How-to video. (I did not make this video)
[video=youtube;5lqWtmLvYWE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lqWtmLvYWE[/video]
STEP2:
You will then need to remove the cover and then separate the circuit board from the plastic housing case. You will need to use the "Pencil Tip Soldering Iron" for this. You must heat up the solder connecting the board to where the antenna screws in. The result of this will allow you to pull the board out and away from the housing unit. YOU MUST BE VERY CAREFUL NOT TO DAMAGE THE BOARD WITH THE SOLDER GUN AND EVEN FROM THE HEAT!
STEP 3:
Next I then removed the antenna screw that is in the black plastic housing unit. I used the Dremel to cut it out and sand it down. This will be used to later reconnect and mount the antenna to the board.
STEP 4:
Go ahead and grab your pencil tip soldering iron and your solder and you will need to re solder where your antenna screws into back onto the board. Be very careful also in this step!
STEP 5:
Next I wanted to make a sled that would replace the destroyed black plastic housing and act as a new permanent home for the Astro DC30. I chose to go with clear plastic acrylic sheet from Home Depot. Its about $5 for a decent sized sheet. I chose clear because I wanted to see all the electronic boards and components.
I used the Dremel and the cut wheel, to cut it to spec. Take the dry erase marker and draw lines with a ruler to get nice straight measures. Next take tape and roll it into a circle so you have double sided tape and stick it to the ruler and put this along the drawn line to act as a guide for cutting. Then just go ahead and cut to spec.
STEP 6:
I used 2-56 (I think by 3/8ths) to mount the board to the sled. It will have to be a little higher than normal due to the antenna mount underneath the board. I also used nylon rubber type washer to cushion the board from the screws. So you will need to go to your local electronics store and grab all your necessary equipment. If you are in Houston, Texas I recommend going to Ace Electronics! I got all above mentioned stuff for $1.75.
STEP 7:
Now all you have to do is mount up everything to your liking and secure it into place. To make the holes on this clear plastic i decided to use the pencil tip soldering iron to first make a small melted hole and then drill it bigger to size. I did it this way because otherwise it is hard to drill it and will end up scratching the sheet.
I am still in this phase and will UPDATE it with my chosen method later(antenna mounting). I can tell you for the GPS wire I decided to just tape it into place, as seen in photos.
Also I chose to just put a layer of mattress foam in the nose cone to cushion the sled carrying the dog tracker.
Now this sled is designed to be the permanent mount for the system and can then in turn be bolted onto your normal sled for a bigger diameter rocket to go onto the all threads.
20121226_201759 by AstroAnon, on Flickr
20121226_201819 by AstroAnon, on Flickr
20121227_183959 by AstroAnon, on Flickr
20121227_184032 by AstroAnon, on Flickr
20121227_211726 by AstroAnon, on Flickr
20121228_150403 by AstroAnon, on Flickr
Please feel free to comment and ask any questions you may have!
Cheers.
TO BE FINISHED.................
Last edited: