So here is my attempt at making sure I get this rocket prepped properly and safely, while I have 4 kids running around (plus friends and their kids) at the next launch.
Comments welcome.. In particular, the bit I a spent most of my time thinking through is:
- Safe loading of BP and eMatches
- Order of operations so that I am not doing something in step X that prevents me from performing a step >X
I plan on doing a complete dry run (sans BP and motor) at home, to ensure the steps all work as planned.
Checklist:
Home Preparation:
Consumables:
- 6 2/56 nylon shear pins
- 4x 4mm Black Nylon plastic rivets
- 2x JTEC ematches
- 2x 1gram (TBC) 4F black powder
- O-ring grease
- NEW 9V Duracell battery
- Blue Zip ties x 20
- Black zip ties x 20
- Bluetak for eBay ematch lead hole sealing
- 3x M4 captive washer gnurled hex bolts
Tools:
- Monkey grip wrench
- multitool with shifter
- flat head screwdriver
- multiset modular scredriver set
- Step ladder
- iPhone
- RRC3 LCD
Propulsion:
- Motor case
- 4G
- 6G
- 2x Spacers
- Reload and igniter (picked up from AusRocketry on the day)
eBay:
- 4x M6 wingnuts
- 8x M6 Washers
- 8x M6 Nuts
Recovery:
- 3x Quicklink
- 2x 6m x 6mm Kevlar
- 18" drogue
- 48" main
- 2x 30cm x 30cm Nomex Blankets
- RRC3
- JLA3 ***charged***
- EFMini
- EFMini LIPO x 2 ***charged***
Field Preparation:
- Confirm RRC3 set for
- Drogue at apogee
- Main at 700ft (213m)
Fwd Payload:
- NC attached to recovery harness FWD
- Main Chute attached to recovery harness 30cm from NC
- Ensure spinner is installed
- Nomex attached to FWD Recovery Harness, 30cm aft of Main Chute
- NO ELASTIC BAND AROUND CHUTE
- Chute furled with shrouds wrapped
- Chute wrapped in nomex Burrito style
- Burrito AFT of main shock cord bundle
Motor preparation:
- Prepare motor per reload instructions
- DO NOT INSTALL EJECTION BP CHARGE (or follow steps to remove it)
- lightly grease the HAMR retainer threads
FinCan Payload:
- Recovery Harness quick link attached to FinCan eyebolt
- Drogue Chute attached to recovery harness 30cm from AVBay quick link
- Ensure spinner is installed
- Nomex attached to AFT Recovery Harness, 30cm aft of Drogue Chute
- NO ELASTIC BAND AROUND CHUTE
- Chute furled with shrouds wrapped
- Chute wrapped in nomex Burrito style
- Burrito AFT of main shock cord bundle
- Tape igniter for rocket motor to fin
EBay preparation:
- Ensure no igniters are wired to RRC3
- Ensure no black power is in FWD charge well
- Ensure no black power is in AFT charge well
- Ensure RRC3 switch on eBay switch band is OFF
- Ensure AGAIN RRC3 switch on eBay switch band is OFF
- connect RRC3 switch to RRC3
- connect 9v Battery to RRC3
- Ensure no tones or lights present on RRc3
FWD ematch wiring:
- LEAVING eMatch red cap in place, Unwind FWD eMatch, keeping leeds crossed and shorted
- Insert FWD eMatch through front ebay bulkhead hole
- Bend ematch wire head and place in EMPTY charge well, ensuring contact to the bottom of the well
- Passing the eMatch wire through the FWD end of the ebay tube, wire FWD ematch to MAIN terminals on RRC3
- zip tie FWD MAIN ematch to AVBay sled FWD position
AFT ematch wiring:
- LEAVING eMatch red cap in place, Unwind AFT eMatch, keeping leeds crossed and shorted
- Insert AFT eMatch through AFT ebay bulkhead hole
- Bend ematch wire head and place in EMPTY charge well, ensuring contact to the bottom of the well
- Wire AFT ematch to DROGUE terminals on RRC3
- zip tie AFT DROGUE ematch to AVBay sled AFT positions
Install sled and seal up ebay:
- Place sled inside ebay tube
- insert sled rails into sled and insert AFT ebay bulkhead
- insert fwd bulkhead
- add M6 washers
- secure and fasten with 2x M6 wingnuts
- Give ebay a shake test to ensure no loose components
- Check FWD igniter will still reach bottom of the charge wells
- Check AFT igniter will still reach bottom of the charge wells
Black Powder Loading:
FWD Charge:
- Install measured BP to FWD charge well
- insert eMatch as deep as possible into charge well
- pack TIGHT with dogbarf
- Tape charge well closed
- Secure eMatch wire to side of well with small black Zip Tie around charge well
- Seal FWD eBay bulkhead wire hole with bluetak.
AFT Charge:
- Install measured BP to AFT charge well
- insert eMatch as deep as possible into charge well
- pack TIGHT with dogbarf
- Tape charge well closed
- Secure eMatch wire to side of well with small black Zip Tie around charge well
- Seal AFT eBay bulkhead wire hole with bluetak.
*** EBAY is now loaded with BP charges ***
eBay AFT connection:
- connect AFT recovery harness quicklink to AFT ebay eye bolt
- Insert AFT end of eBay to Fincan, using key alignment
- install 3x 2/56 nylon shear pins
eBay FWD connection:
- connect FWD recovery harness quicklink to FWD ebay eye bolt
- Insert FWD end of eBay to fWD payload, using key alignment
- install 4x 4mm Nylon Push Rivets
Nose Cone GPS and Altimeter Power:
- Power on Eggfinder Mini Receiver and ensure no signal capture
- If no signal received, connect EggFinder Mini LIPO and ensure orange light
- Wait for signal fix from receiver, then install EFMini on NC sled
- Power on JLA3 and connect from iPhone
- install JLA3 on NC sled
- Insert sled into NC bay
- Install NC Bay bulkhead with 3x M4 gnurled captive washer bolts
- Ensure NC alignment with FWD payload tube
- NC Kevlar loop is OPPOSITE side of airframe to rail buttons
- Insert 3x 2/56 nylon shear pins on NC / FWD payload tube
Install motor:
- Install motor and secure HAMR retainer finger tight.
RSO:
- Have flight card ready
- Head to the RSO table...
On the pad:
- With rail pointing away from flight line, load rocket onto 1010 Rail
- Raise rail
- connect to JLA3 via Bluetooth
- !!! PRESS RECORD on JLA3 iPhone App !!!
- Ensure flight is recording
- Install igniter into motor per motor instructions and retain on nozzle per instructions
- check ignition leads by striking together, ensure no sparks
- connect ignition leads to each other and press connectivity check on remote pad launch box
- connect ignition leads to igniter leads
- press connectivity check on remote pad launch box
- ensure everyone is at a safe distance (3m +)
- using a screwdriver and stepladder, arm the rocket from the rotary switch on RHS of ebay
- ensure power on tone is heard, and RRC3 settles into 3beep pattern
- Mark Pad and location on flight card
- Return flight card to LCO and advise GO for launch
Fly, watch, enjoy, video, report...