mangulator
" Where did it go?"
This subject may have already been discussed and if so I apologize.
I have never built or flew anything passed a "D" class motor and have only built and flew Estes Rockets.
I ran across a video on high powered rocketry and it peeked my interest. So I watched a few more of the "Class 1 through 3" launches and found them fascinating. I did a google search and went through a few websites and started to learn a little more on high powered rocketry. Im into photography and shooting video with a drone and I really liked the rockets that had a video camera on board.
I am a bit curious about a few subjects and am wondering if someone could help me with a few questions.
My first question is about some of the materials used in building high powered rockets. I have noticed most of the higher powered rockets have a lot of heavy metal parts used in their construction, for example the electronic bays and where shock cords are attached to the droge chutes and parachutes. I have not run across any builds or kits that use alternative materials and I'm curious as to why so much added weight is incorporated when I'm sure there are alternatives to save weight in these areas.
I have seen some great examples of rockets with the fins and tubes built of lightweight carbon fiber or fiberglass, but then I see that they have heavy duty steel 1/4-20 eye bolts and thread rod in their construction.
I'm sure that some of these parts could be made out of a lighter carbon fiber or resin material. For example, Im sure that a avionics bay designed with shock cord attachments molded in made out of carbon fiber or a strong resin would be lighter and just as strong. With 3D printing and CAD technology so readly avilable nowadays I'm sure it would be possible to design and build a complete avionics bay to custom fit any size rocket. Im sure its possible to design and use a 3D printer to make a mold in order to cast the part out of lightweight but strong material. I wonder if anyone has tried to create a bay designed around a set of particular components with redundancy in mind with ease of mounting.
Like I said Im really new to the high powered rockets and there might be rules as to what you can and cannot use in construction.
I have seen a lot of videos on construction methods when it comes to using epoxy or JB Weld, and the importance of putting it on liberally.
I can understand the importance of having a good bond.
However I have not seen anyone who has added screws to between the motor mounts or the centering rings and body by counter sinking, drilling and tapping out these parts. I would think doing so would add additional strength at very little cost especially if you still adhere to the liberal use of epoxy or JB Weld.
I also know that it is imperative to have a balanced rocket especially at these higher power levels and that is why it is so confusing to me as to why I'm seeing the use of heavy steel bolts used in places that to me would make it much harder to balance. I have read about rocket kits that may have a need to add nose weight, it seems that you would want a rocket that was strong and ridgid but light weight.
I was reading through some build instructions of a high powered kit and was wondering why the kit had all these heavy metal and plywood parts but had a fiberglass body and fins and a plastic nose cone. I thought to myself if I had this kit I would try and find a way to improve upon and or replace some of the parts and improve on some of the construction methods without altering it in a way that would make it dangerous to fly.
I'm thinking of getting into building a rocket that would allow me to attach a video camera and I'm learning as I go along. I'm going to do a lot of research before I get in to deep and really do not plan on getting into high powered rockets until I check out on some local clubs.
I'm just wondering if anyone had any thoughts on this.
I have never built or flew anything passed a "D" class motor and have only built and flew Estes Rockets.
I ran across a video on high powered rocketry and it peeked my interest. So I watched a few more of the "Class 1 through 3" launches and found them fascinating. I did a google search and went through a few websites and started to learn a little more on high powered rocketry. Im into photography and shooting video with a drone and I really liked the rockets that had a video camera on board.
I am a bit curious about a few subjects and am wondering if someone could help me with a few questions.
My first question is about some of the materials used in building high powered rockets. I have noticed most of the higher powered rockets have a lot of heavy metal parts used in their construction, for example the electronic bays and where shock cords are attached to the droge chutes and parachutes. I have not run across any builds or kits that use alternative materials and I'm curious as to why so much added weight is incorporated when I'm sure there are alternatives to save weight in these areas.
I have seen some great examples of rockets with the fins and tubes built of lightweight carbon fiber or fiberglass, but then I see that they have heavy duty steel 1/4-20 eye bolts and thread rod in their construction.
I'm sure that some of these parts could be made out of a lighter carbon fiber or resin material. For example, Im sure that a avionics bay designed with shock cord attachments molded in made out of carbon fiber or a strong resin would be lighter and just as strong. With 3D printing and CAD technology so readly avilable nowadays I'm sure it would be possible to design and build a complete avionics bay to custom fit any size rocket. Im sure its possible to design and use a 3D printer to make a mold in order to cast the part out of lightweight but strong material. I wonder if anyone has tried to create a bay designed around a set of particular components with redundancy in mind with ease of mounting.
Like I said Im really new to the high powered rockets and there might be rules as to what you can and cannot use in construction.
I have seen a lot of videos on construction methods when it comes to using epoxy or JB Weld, and the importance of putting it on liberally.
I can understand the importance of having a good bond.
However I have not seen anyone who has added screws to between the motor mounts or the centering rings and body by counter sinking, drilling and tapping out these parts. I would think doing so would add additional strength at very little cost especially if you still adhere to the liberal use of epoxy or JB Weld.
I also know that it is imperative to have a balanced rocket especially at these higher power levels and that is why it is so confusing to me as to why I'm seeing the use of heavy steel bolts used in places that to me would make it much harder to balance. I have read about rocket kits that may have a need to add nose weight, it seems that you would want a rocket that was strong and ridgid but light weight.
I was reading through some build instructions of a high powered kit and was wondering why the kit had all these heavy metal and plywood parts but had a fiberglass body and fins and a plastic nose cone. I thought to myself if I had this kit I would try and find a way to improve upon and or replace some of the parts and improve on some of the construction methods without altering it in a way that would make it dangerous to fly.
I'm thinking of getting into building a rocket that would allow me to attach a video camera and I'm learning as I go along. I'm going to do a lot of research before I get in to deep and really do not plan on getting into high powered rockets until I check out on some local clubs.
I'm just wondering if anyone had any thoughts on this.