vcp
Well-Known Member
I've got a full CAD model of the Nike Hercules, but now I'm going over the model bottom-to-top, reorganizing the elements, checking, and adding detail. So I guess you could call this a 'virtual build thread', though the result is not a flyable model.
Starting with the M5E1 Nike motor. Most of the data comes from the Biedron drawings, and some from the Meatball Rocketry site. I've also scraped a lot of photos from the net, plus some of the drawings in the maintenance manual.
I still have questions about the motor and all of the Nike Hercules in general. I'm hoping folks here might clear some of those up.
About this CAD model, there are selections to use several options that are seen on the motor:
Still TODO:
Questions remain:
And to pre-answer one of the questions that will come up: Yeah, this is done in OpenSCAD. It works for me. I'm hoping to model the launcher as a vehicle to learn SolidWorks later.
Starting with the M5E1 Nike motor. Most of the data comes from the Biedron drawings, and some from the Meatball Rocketry site. I've also scraped a lot of photos from the net, plus some of the drawings in the maintenance manual.
I still have questions about the motor and all of the Nike Hercules in general. I'm hoping folks here might clear some of those up.
About this CAD model, there are selections to use several options that are seen on the motor:
- Use either the conical, or curved forward flange.
- Presence of longitudinal motor weld line.
- Presence of nozzle shroud (not used on NH).
- Options for several forward flange lengths (per Meatball).
- Option to use the 'expanded' rear flange.
Still TODO:
- Add option for forward shipping closure instead of ignitor.
- Add wires from ignitor terminals to connector.
- Improve detail on nozzle plug.
- Add option for presence of nozzle plug.
- I'd like to add the internal bracing structure for the cluster that's mounted around the nozzles. It's not visible in the full NH assembly but it's the mounting for the fins and tail shroud, and having it there would make it easier to make sense of the fin mounts.
- Add options to 'turn off' levels of detail to make it easier to 3D print at various scales.
- Organize my photos so I can find a detail shot easier.
Questions remain:
- Radial position of the longitudinal motor weld on the NH assembly? Does it matter? The weld line seems to appear at random in various pictures.
- Is there a 'seamless' motor tube option? Many photos don't appear to have the longitudinal weld lines at all.
- I'd like real dimensions of the nozzle mounting rings and their holes.
- I'd like better data on the holes in the forward flange lip.
- In general, I'm trying to do this to represent the MIM-14C. Any notes on details that distinguish the models would be helpful.
And to pre-answer one of the questions that will come up: Yeah, this is done in OpenSCAD. It works for me. I'm hoping to model the launcher as a vehicle to learn SolidWorks later.