Recent TVC Gimbal Static Fire

[Yukon@K-9 Rocket Tech]

Hi everyone! I just wanted to share the recent static fire of my TVC Gimbal. I am curious about other rocketeer's experience on static fires. Also what are your general thoughts about TVC in the field of model rocketry? What type of test stands have you built too?

It seems like static Firing is not a very common thing for model roketry, because there really is no real reason too. For sure as things like TVC are coming in, it becomes a vital step in the development stage to get necessary data.




The Test was done with a Estes E12-6 without the ejection charge. The Test stand is a bit over kill LOL


The files are here if you want to print it yourself.
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3657663

 

[BBowmaster]

• Nice flair for the dramatic on the video.
• The test stand is awesome. Over-engineering at its finest.
• The gimbal seemed to hold up well to the thrust. I didn’t see any hesitation in its motion.
• Even E engines are pretty impressive up close. The amount of fire coming out the “flame trench” of your setup was startling.

I can’t wait to see a flight test.

 

[Nytrunner]

I'll assume you were testing the servo and gimbal durability under the firing stresses? (since it was just actuating constantly)

Do you plan to stay with blackpowder motors, or eventually try it with composites as well?

 

[Yukon@K-9 Rocket Tech]

• Nice flair for the dramatic on the video.
• The test stand is awesome. Over-engineering at its finest.
• The gimbal seemed to hold up well to the thrust. I didn’t see any hesitation in its motion.
• Even E engines are pretty impressive up close. The amount of fire coming out the “flame trench” of your setup was startling.

Thanks so much! Yes I am known for Over Engineering. The water deluge system was for safety, but a bit of a over kill!


I can’t wait to see a flight test.

I'll assume you were testing the servo and gimbal durability under the firing stresses? (since it was just actuating constantly)

Do you plan to stay with blackpowder motors, or eventually try it with composites as well?

Yes I am just testing how the entire system reacts to the mechanical stresses applied from the impulse of the motor. No damage to parts and no change in speed of the gimbal sweeping indicated a successful test. I just used black powder motors just cause I bough a whole bunch of them while they were on clearance at a local store, but eventually yes, I want to try composites.

 

[Nytrunner]

but eventually yes, I want to try composites.

Thrustcurve.org will be your friend. Some of those motors have some serious thrust spikes that'll need to be accounted for by your structure.

Very cool project, hope to see more as it develops

 

[Yukon@K-9 Rocket Tech]

Thrustcurve.org will be your friend. Some of those motors have some serious thrust spikes that'll need to be accounted for by your structure.

Very cool project, hope to see more as it develops

Thanks! Yes I love that site and have been using it quite often. I will add a Load cell eventually to record my own data. I don't excpect to go higher than a F class motor on this particular setup, for the impulse would probably just rip the gimbal apart.

 

[georgegassaway]

Best to use long burn low thrust composites for TVC controlled rockets. Like F10, G12 which burn about 8 seconds, and the "I18" or whatever it is (a 17 second burn). Using a motor like say a G80, or even G40, would not be good.

 

[Yukon@K-9 Rocket Tech]

Hi everyone! I just wanted to share the recent static fire of my TVC Gimbal. I am curious about other rocketeer's experience on static fires. Also what are your general thoughts about TVC in the field of model rocketry? What type of test stands have you built too?

It seems like static Firing is not a very common thing for model roketry, because there really is no real reason too. For sure as things like TVC are coming in, it becomes a vital step in the development stage to get necessary data.




The Test was done with a Estes E12-6 without the ejection charge. The Test stand is a bit over kill LOL


The files are here if you want to print it yourself.
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3657663

Correction, Estes E-12-4. Have a whole bunch of both the E-12-6 and the E-12-4 so got a bit confused

 

[Yukon@K-9 Rocket Tech]

Best to use long burn low thrust composites for TVC controlled rockets. Like F10, G12 which burn about 8 seconds, and the "I18" or whatever it is (a 17 second burn). Using a motor like say a G80, or even G40, would not be good.

Thank You! Yes I am going to go with a long burn motor. Yes sudden thrust spikes are bad for TVC, unless you want to test it's limits