Badass Nose Bay System

[Ian A Dalton]

Hey everyone. Here is a new nose bay system out there for you all. Buy the sleeve for the coupler of your cone and the sled for your electronics. The sled will work with all couplers of all sizes and vice versa. The best thing about this? No 3D printed bulkheads or stress points on any 3D printed part. That means you won't have to keep buying replacements.

https://www.badassrocketry.com/product-page/badass-nose-bay

 

[AeroTech]

I love this design and I want to use it for my Hamster Dance entry next year.

 

[Buckeye]

I like this approach - the nose cone is the payload door. If you prefer sleds and screws, this is the system for you. However, I achieve the same thing with bubble wrap and pipe insulation to secure my GPS in the nose. I can fit the T3 in 38mm, whereas this system cannot. The sled and sleeve eat up too much real estate.

Aside: There used to be another vendor around these parts called BaddAzz. Any relation?

 

[FredA]

We use bubble wrap.
A few experiments (crude, non-scientific) led us to believe that GPS units do not like a hard mount.
They APPEAR to hold lock a bit longer if not subjected to direct coupling to the motor's vibrations.

This is our thinking on why we continue with just bubble wrap - plus it makes it super easy to move tracking from rocket to rocket.
YMMV

 

[Buckeye]

We use bubble wrap.
A few experiments (crude, non-scientific) led us to believe that GPS units do not like a hard mount.
They APPEAR to hold lock a bit longer if not subjected to direct coupling to the motor's vibrations.

This is our thinking on why we continue with just bubble wrap - plus it makes it super easy to move tracking from rocket to rocket.
YMMV

I agree on the hard mounting of GPS. When mounted on a sled, landing shock can be rough on the electronics. I had the XBee radio transmitter thingy pop loose from its socket once or twice.

 

[Ian A Dalton]

Interesting discussion. Do you have the same concerns with altimeters hard mounted in a traditional DD setup and having things pop off? I would assume they experience the same, if not more, stress than a nose bay.

 

[FredA]

We typically use hard mounts for altimeters.
But GPS trackers get the bubble-wrap treatment.

 

[Buckeye]

Interesting discussion. Do you have the same concerns with altimeters hard mounted in a traditional DD setup and having things pop off? I would assume they experience the same, if not more, stress than a nose bay.

No, because altimeter components are are pretty rock solid. The 20 or so pins on Xbee module can rock causing some pins lose contact. The rubber ducky antenna, if used, is a heavy moment acting on it, too. I take extra precautions to secure the Xbee on the GPS unit, but overall I still feel better with bubble wrap. Portability, too. GPS units are not yet inexpensive enough, like altimeters, where I can mount one in each rocket and leave it there.

 

[Ian A Dalton]

No, because altimeter components are are pretty rock solid. The 20 or so pins on Xbee module can rock causing some pins lose contact. The rubber ducky antenna, if used, is a heavy moment acting on it, too. I take extra precautions to secure the Xbee on the GPS unit, but overall I still feel better with bubble wrap. Portability, too. GPS units are not yet inexpensive enough, like altimeters, where I can mount one in each rocket and leave it there.

View attachment 432997

I see. Very interesting. I have gone Mach 2 with this setup with no issues, but have not tested the XBee with it. Thanks for this info and sharing your experience!

 

[tOD]

Ian:
I ain't the sharpest tool in the shed, do you have assembly instructions/ video for this? I've got one for a Mach1 Messier65/ Eggfinder Mini. I'm guessing the small set screws anchor the "sleeve" inside the coupler. Do you secure the coupler to the nosecone with removable rivets? I don't suppose machine screws would be good because of the metal near the antenna.

 

[Ian A Dalton]

Ian:
I ain't the sharpest tool in the shed, do you have assembly instructions/ video for this? I've got one for a Mach1 Messier65/ Eggfinder Mini. I'm guessing the small set screws anchor the "sleeve" inside the coupler. Do you secure the coupler to the nosecone with removable rivets? I don't suppose machine screws would be good because of the metal near the antenna.

Go here: https://www.badassrocketry.com/product-page/badass-nose-bay

There is a video with the other pictures that explains it. In short, you will CA or epoxy the sleeve into the coupler then use the set screws to keep the nose cone on the coupler. The brass inserts are there if you choose to use them for when you screw in the set screws. In reality, they are not required for the set screws if you drill your fiberglass holes just small enough that the supplied set screws thread the glass. The video explains it.

 

[tOD]

Go here: https://www.badassrocketry.com/product-page/badass-nose-bay

There is a video with the other pictures that explains it. In short, you will CA or epoxy the sleeve into the coupler then use the set screws to keep the nose cone on the coupler. The brass inserts are there if you choose to use them for when you screw in the set screws. In reality, they are not required for the set screws if you drill your fiberglass holes just small enough that the supplied set screws thread the glass. The video explains it.

Thanks I didn't swipe on the photos and missed the video. That makes it simple.

 

[FMarvinS]

Ian-I like your design ingenuity! Are you planning to offer similar products for larger diameter nose cones such as 2.6 to 6 inches? In addition, some use larger GPS units (based on arduino boards)-so in some cases a more adaptable sled component would be appreciated.

Fred,L2
ICBM,Camden, SC
KG4YGP

 

[Arsenal78]

I glued the sleeve in, drilled the two holes through the nose and coupler where it says to for screws but I then took the coupler out and widened the hole a bit in the printed sleeve so removable rivets fit. Works perfectly and looks cleaner.

 

[Zeke Johnson]

I glued the sleeve in, drilled the two holes through the nose and coupler where it says to for screws but I then took the coupler out and widened the hole a bit in the printed sleeve so removable rivets fit. Works perfectly and looks cleaner.

Can you post a picture of the removable rivet installation? I am installing one of Ian's Nose Bays today, and was considering the same versus using the hex screws. I would never be able to keep up with the Allen wrench. It will find a way to hide itself when I need it most.

Zeke

 

[solid_fuel]

does anyone know where i can find the video now?

 

[Ian A Dalton]

Here’s a direct link to that video. https://video.wixstatic.com/video/7...3ZCPKkfA9rVsCW9Odat_rMpTRNtxTUikTxgzdx0ENdHpk

I want to make a new one at some point when time allows.

 

[waltr]

That is the video. Thanks Ian for posting link.