That would be nice. I think a few of us would use them.
The Avionics Bay Thread...Post your Photos!
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Following on from post #208, I finally sorted out the main AV bay.
Marsa 54 & 33HLD both with Marsanet.
Double Eagle CO2 Ejection pushing out the main chute via piston.
1600mA hardcase LiPo's. Twin pull pin micro's.
You may query no aft ejection. That is being taken care of by the interstage AV bay in post #208.
Cheers,
Mark
Marsa 54 & 33HLD both with Marsanet.
Double Eagle CO2 Ejection pushing out the main chute via piston.
1600mA hardcase LiPo's. Twin pull pin micro's.
You may query no aft ejection. That is being taken care of by the interstage AV bay in post #208.
Cheers,
Mark
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McMaster Carr. I get all of my bulk hardware needs from them.
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I do this too, so I tell you my reasons.
WiFi uses quite a bit of battery power. With the micro-switch there is no power draw, and I can use smaller batteries (or get longer life). Then the WiFi of the Quantum or MiniSwich allow me to turn it on remotely, after it is vertical on the rail, without climbing on anything.
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So are you using the WiFi in series with the pull pins? I assume you pull the pins just before raising the rocket on the pad, and then use the WiFi to actually activate the altimeters. That about right?
Yep. Pull pins are a "master disconnect" To save battery.
Pulled at the pad while everything is easy to reach. Then after raising and other checks, armed and verified thru WiFi; just before, connecting starter leads, and leaving the area.
Sounds like a good way to do it. I don't have anything I launch that really needs the WiFi distance, but I have a similar setup in my av-bays. I have a screw switch in series with the pull pins. Lets me turn everything off while prepping without the pull pins and flags getting in the way. Last assembly step is put in the pull pins and turn on the screw switches. Pull the pins once it's upright on the pad.
I'm working on a taller 2 stage and might have to use your method on the sustainer. Might include the screw switches for the prep area, pull pins for at the pad and the WiFi for final power up.
Thanks...
Fred,
Those switches came from Mike at https://macperformancerocketry.com/
He could answer your questions much better than me. david
Those switches came from Mike at https://macperformancerocketry.com/
He could answer your questions much better than me. david
FMarvinS
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Thanks!
Kframe
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The first bay I built was not for deployment electronics nor tracking, but for a GoPro for my Super Big Bertha.
This was my first mid-power rocket and I wanted to see video from it.
As far as cameras go there are many lighter and better options for rocketry but that's what I had on hand, and it ended up working out pretty well.
First cut an additional section of BT-80 to use for the camera module.
Then I made a cradle to securely hold the camera.
That then slides down into the tube section and is stopped by a wooden ring that is glued within the tube below the window cutout. Then a wing nut from the bottom holds the cradle within the module.
Camera power is turned on by removing the nosecone and using a bit of dowel to press the power button through a hole cut into the top end of the camera cradle. Recording is started via smartphone app connection.
Not pictured is the windshield I made from a bit of very thin polycarbonate.
Here is the SBB with the camera module next to the smaller Berthas.
And a couple screen grabs from the video:
And here is liftoff on an F42:
This was my first mid-power rocket and I wanted to see video from it.
As far as cameras go there are many lighter and better options for rocketry but that's what I had on hand, and it ended up working out pretty well.
First cut an additional section of BT-80 to use for the camera module.
Then I made a cradle to securely hold the camera.
That then slides down into the tube section and is stopped by a wooden ring that is glued within the tube below the window cutout. Then a wing nut from the bottom holds the cradle within the module.
Camera power is turned on by removing the nosecone and using a bit of dowel to press the power button through a hole cut into the top end of the camera cradle. Recording is started via smartphone app connection.
Not pictured is the windshield I made from a bit of very thin polycarbonate.
Here is the SBB with the camera module next to the smaller Berthas.
And a couple screen grabs from the video:
And here is liftoff on an F42:
This avbay transition fits in my Estes Argent. Built in November 2013, It has forty documented flights on it.
Stratologger SLCF, Featherweight magnetic switch, external speaker on aft avbay lid.
It started out with a RRC2+:
Back when it was new:
Forward end:
Forward end loaded and taped:
Aft avbay lid:
aft end loaded and taped:
Stratologger SLCF, Featherweight magnetic switch, external speaker on aft avbay lid.
It started out with a RRC2+:
Back when it was new:
Forward end:
Forward end loaded and taped:
Aft avbay lid:
aft end loaded and taped:
Thats awesome, thanks for sharing this. I'm here to learn and doing just that. Thank you, very cool!
I have two bays with SLCF and external speakers and they work great! Too bad they're no longer available.
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Here is a link to nose cone GPS bay in my MPR 2-stage build thread. 3" plastic BMS nose cone. My goal was minimum destruction of the nose and to preserve the molded shock cord loop.
https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/first-electronic-staging-mpr-build.182599/post-2529862
https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/first-electronic-staging-mpr-build.182599/post-2529862
54mm AV-bay, 4.5" long. BlueRaven +FW GPS. Using as a test bed for the new BR and software. MAC Zodiac launch vehicle. Test flights this Sat at Snow Ranch if the rain holds off
Wow, that's a nice compact av bay.
My first AV-bay! I took alot of inspiration from this forum but clearly have a lot to learn.
Eggtimer Quantum, Telemetry module, double pull-pin switch from Labrat Rocketry and a Runcam Split 3 camera in a 2.6" Aerotech coupler. Bulkheads, charge wells and sled printed in PET-CF.
Eggtimer Quantum, Telemetry module, double pull-pin switch from Labrat Rocketry and a Runcam Split 3 camera in a 2.6" Aerotech coupler. Bulkheads, charge wells and sled printed in PET-CF.
All the best for the test flight. However, I hope the BlueRaven has a high level of immunity from the tracker’s RF signal. That antenna is very close to that altimeter.
Bice AV Bays all. Keep em coming.
William --
Nice AV-Bay !
I love the Additive Aerospace Simple Circuit.
I see that you've wired a switch into it.
What are you using for a switch in your AV-Bay ?
Does a single switch control power to the Blue Raven as well as the GPS ?
Thanks !
-- kjh
Bob Yanecek
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Avionics bay for the sustainer of a two-stage project I'm working on.
Eggtimer Proton for primary deployments, sep charge, and air start. Eggtimer Quantum for redundant deployment charges.
Eggtimer Telemetry Module connected to the Proton.
Pull-pin switch completely disconnects power from the Proton channels.
Labrat bulkhead terminals for deployment charge connections. Sep charge and air start connections use ring terminals and 4-40 screws (connection to the e-matches will be a modified JSTs - the ring terminals are just to ensure that the bulkhead wire leads don't get pulled off during separation).
Great job! I really like the connectors on the bulkhead, it must make removing that bulkhead and getting the sled out of the coupler very straightforward.
I have a ton of questions about this (if you don't mind...)
What diameter did you fit this all into? It looks narrow (relative to the 30.8mm Proton) and you made terrific use of the space.
What material is the sled printed in?
What material are the bulkheads?
Have you had any issues or concerns with supporting the ETM antenna? I've seen a number of other designs that make efforts to do this and was curious if it was really an issue.
Thanks,
Jay
I have a ton of questions about this (if you don't mind...)
What diameter did you fit this all into? It looks narrow (relative to the 30.8mm Proton) and you made terrific use of the space.
What material is the sled printed in?
What material are the bulkheads?
Have you had any issues or concerns with supporting the ETM antenna? I've seen a number of other designs that make efforts to do this and was curious if it was really an issue.
Thanks,
Jay
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Thanks!
I like the connectors too. Only caveat is that they are SMALL. Wear your reading glasses when fitting the e-match leads into them!
This is all inside a 65mm airframe.
The sled is PETG. Probably does not need to be for an AV sled, but it's pretty much what I print all my rocketry parts with.
The bulkheads are G10 fiberglass.
I have had at least 12 flights in various rockets with the ETM. I have a "clip" that I can attach to support the ETM antennae, but I've found it to be unnecessary. there's just not enough mass in that antennae to result in any significant dynamic forces. The only reason a support may be necessary is for regular handling (charging batteries, connecting deployment leads, connecting power cables, etc).
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