AeroTech Offers Prize For Fastest RMS Assembly Video

[Garoq]

AeroTech/RCS will provide a $500 AeroTech gift certificate to the individual who produces a video that demonstrates the fastest assembly of an AeroTech, Dr. Rocket or Rouse-Tech RMS-29/180 motor hardware with an AeroTech RMS-29/180 reload of their choice.

The video must show unpacking the reload, complete motor assembly and igniter installation. Videos must be posted to YouTube for public viewing, and links to the videos must be sent to [email protected].

Deadline for entries is June 30, 2009, and the winner will be announced at LDRS-28 in Potter, NY during the dinner banquet on July 4th.

AeroTech employees and dealers are not eligible.

 

[mikec]

The video must show unpacking the reload, complete motor assembly and igniter installation.

Does the motor have to then be fired and not CATO? I think not greasing the O-rings would save a fair bit of time.

 

[shreadvector]

Does the motor have to then be fired and not CATO? I think not greasing the O-rings would save a fair bit of time.

tsk, tsk.....

https://www.geocities.com/fredeshecter/cato_origin.pdf

(I was going to post a nearly identical question but then the phone rang....) :neener:

 

[Garoq]

Does the motor have to then be fired and not CATO? I think not greasing the O-rings would save a fair bit of time.

No, but greasing the o-rings would be part of "complete motor assembly".

FYI, one of our employees was able to completely assemble a G64W motor today in 1 minute, 27 seconds.

 

[shreadvector]

Any extra points if this theme music is playing in the background?

https://www.televisiontunes.com/Benny_Hill_Show.html

 

[Garoq]

Any extra points if this theme music is playing in the background?

https://www.televisiontunes.com/Benny_Hill_Show.html

Yes! Yes! Be creative!

 

[Graham Orr]

the biggest problem i have with the 29/180 reloads is getting the spacer into the delay (cardboard) tube. this occupies 80% of the time when i do these loads.

(chamfering the edge helps...)

does my alma mater (hmc) get an award for the most RMS loads purchased/assembled/fired in one year? 300-400 F/G/H/I's. 40-something sets of hardware...

 

[n3tjm]

No, but greasing the o-rings would be part of "complete motor assembly".

For that motor assembly, the only o-ring that I grease is the delay o-ring that goes around the delay grain.

So... for the video to qualify, I need to grease all the o-rings?

Does the delay washer need greased too? That is a no no to grease because it only takes a small amount of grease to ruin the ejection charger?

How about the liner? I never grease liners for ease of removal?

 

[Garoq]

For that motor assembly, the only o-ring that I grease is the delay o-ring that goes around the delay grain.

So... for the video to qualify, I need to grease all the o-rings?

Does the delay washer need greased too? That is a no no to grease because it only takes a small amount of grease to ruin the ejection charger?

How about the liner? I never grease liners for ease of removal?

Assemble per instructions. You can grease the o-rings simultaneously. Forward delay spacer (rubber washer) does not need grease. If something is mentioned as a suggestion (like greasing the liner), it is not required.

 

[nh4clo4]

For that motor assembly, the only o-ring that I grease is the delay o-ring that goes around the delay grain.

So... for the video to qualify, I need to grease all the o-rings?

Does the delay washer need greased too? That is a no no to grease because it only takes a small amount of grease to ruin the ejection charger?

How about the liner? I never grease liners for ease of removal?

I would say it has to be done per the manufacturer's instructions, and the instructions tell you to grease all o-rings. I can't remember if it also says to grease the delay washer....

 

[Garoq]

the biggest problem i have with the 29/180 reloads is getting the spacer into the delay (cardboard) tube. this occupies 80% of the time when i do these loads.

(chamfering the edge helps...)

does my alma mater (hmc) get an award for the most RMS loads purchased/assembled/fired in one year? 300-400 F/G/H/I's. 40-something sets of hardware...

I think chamfering the delay insulator is mentioned in the instructions.

Maybe we need to start a new challenge for most motors fired!

 

[Graham Orr]

gary,
even better: 200-300 of those were fired on calibrated load cells with 10ksps at 16 bit resolution!

 

[stickershock23]

Any extra points if this theme music is playing in the background?

https://www.televisiontunes.com/Benny_Hill_Show.html

The song is called "Yackety sax"

 

[ben_ullman]

$500?! I might have to buy a case and reload

Ben

 

[AKPilot]

Why am I thinking "reloading bench"?

 

[patelldp]

So Gary wants you to set the delay for 10 seconds in order to win this prize. If I were CTI, I would have answered back "$500 CASH to the first person that can build an AT motor using the standard kit (contains 10s delay) with a 14 second delay."

They can also say "The motor can be built in as little as 10 seconds." That would shut everyone up.

Pure and simple, on a time basis, in order to be comparable in build times, you would have to start with an AT motor that has a long delay (which Gary has claimed is in effect "more rare than a medium kit), and then drill the delay. CTI wins.

AT may be feeling the heat from other motor manufacturers. In the past there were a few that sprouted up but never really sustained the pressure. Losing market share fast, there's no other choice but to try to knock down the competition.

EX is the place to be.

 

[jderimig]

EX is the place to be.

Not THAT takes a long time.

 

[Garoq]

AT may be feeling the heat from other motor manufacturers. In the past there were a few that sprouted up but never really sustained the pressure. Losing market share fast, there's no other choice but to try to knock down the competition.

EX is the place to be.

EX or not, AeroTech understandably lost some market share after the fires in 2001, but we're holding our own quite well now. The challenges are not "knocking down the competition", just an attempt to level the playing field by demonstrating that there's not that much difference in assembly time between the two systems. Of course the 29, 38 & 54mm CTI motors should assemble faster, just like a single-use motor is easier to use than any reload.

 

[patelldp]

EX or not, AeroTech understandably lost some market share after the fires in 2001, but we're holding our own quite well now. The challenges are not "knocking down the competition", just an attempt to level the playing field by demonstrating that there's not that much difference in assembly time between the two systems. Of course the 29, 38 & 54mm CTI motors should assemble faster, just like a single-use motor is easier to use than any reload.

And yes, I agree to that. If we're talking time (CTI is talking time...), I really don't care at all, the assembly times are all MUCH less than making my EX motors. But from a commercial offering standpoint, I really think that CTI does have the edge in time needed to put together their motor kit.

In all honesty, I have flown 2 CTI motors in my life I believe. Both were the 3-Grain standard I205's. One in a 4" Patriot, and one in my 38mm modified Fat Boy. The one in the Fat Boy blew up something fierce. This was right around the time of the J350 debacle, and we had one of those blow up on my dad's L2 attempt.

What I am trying to say is, each brand has its strengths. Aerotech has diversity of offering (although CTI is catching up...), you get a real feel for all of the parts of the motor and finding reloads isn't too difficult. CTI on the other hand, their strengths are decreased reload time, easier cleanup following the flight, and in my opinion a sexier design.

So all this is about is whether or not you have an extra 5 minutes in your life to throw together an AT load, or you need to go to the bathroom like crazy and all you can do is screw in a CTI load. To each their own, but I leave you with this bit of insight...

"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." - Ferris Bueller

So, slow down and learn your stuff, whether it's CTI or AT. Both are good products.

 

[Garoq]

And yes, I agree to that. If we're talking time (CTI is talking time...), I really don't care at all, the assembly times are all MUCH less than making my EX motors. But from a commercial offering standpoint, I really think that CTI does have the edge in time needed to put together their motor kit.

In all honesty, I have flown 2 CTI motors in my life I believe. Both were the 3-Grain standard I205's. One in a 4" Patriot, and one in my 38mm modified Fat Boy. The one in the Fat Boy blew up something fierce. This was right around the time of the J350 debacle, and we had one of those blow up on my dad's L2 attempt.

What I am trying to say is, each brand has its strengths. Aerotech has diversity of offering (although CTI is catching up...), you get a real feel for all of the parts of the motor and finding reloads isn't too difficult. CTI on the other hand, their strengths are decreased reload time, easier cleanup following the flight, and in my opinion a sexier design.

So all this is about is whether or not you have an extra 5 minutes in your life to throw together an AT load, or you need to go to the bathroom like crazy and all you can do is screw in a CTI load. To each their own, but I leave you with this bit of insight...

"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." - Ferris Bueller

So, slow down and learn your stuff, whether it's CTI or AT. Both are good products.

I think CTI makes a good product...I've never called their products "crap" or anything like that. Not necessarily better, but different. Sort of in between a true reloadable and single-use. Someone said that they never had missing parts in a CTI reload...I hope not, just like I hope none of our customers find missing parts in a single-use motor.

As "he who shall not be named" said on another forum, manufacturers are "married" to their designs. CTI had the benefit of looking back 9 years on the AeroTech system and fashioned their product according to what they believed was an improvement on the design. Likewise, AeroTech has the ability to look back nearly 20 years on its own product and 9 years on the CTI designs and will use that knowledge in future releases.

As far as diversity of product goes, we're certainly not standing still in that department.

 

[n3tjm]

just like I hope none of our customers find missing parts in a single-use motor.

I can recall three times where the motor was missing the ejection charge. First time was in the 90's with a E30 in and it totaled my IQSY Tomahawk (which you guys promptly replaced ). After that I made it a habit of checking motors for ejection charges, and only had to add bp to two. Dont remember what they were cause other then that, the motor operation was normal But three times, the number of motors I fired since the 90's, I guess those are good numbers.

 

[bob jablonski]

I can recall three times where the motor was missing the ejection charge. First time was in the 90's with a E30 in and it totaled my IQSY Tomahawk (which you guys promptly replaced ). After that I made it a habit of checking motors for ejection charges, and only had to add bp to two. Dont remember what they were cause other then that, the motor operation was normal But three times, the number of motors I fired since the 90's, I guess those are good numbers.

Ah the old paper caps. I lost a $100.00 rocket (now value at $250+-) By not checking the paper ejection cap on a Vulcan I motor After that I check every paper cap Vulcan old AT and Elis. The new ejection cap system dosn't leak BP.
Less worrys
Mr. Bob
Starlight dude

 

[rocketgirlinca]

Seems no one is taking him up seriously on his challenge. so here is my entry.

1:38

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHeDv4xm4jg

I also e-mailed aerotech with this entry, I'd love to hear back confirming that it was received.

 

[Garoq]

Seems no one is taking him up seriously on his challenge. so here is my entry.

1:38

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHeDv4xm4jg

I also e-mailed aerotech with this entry, I'd love to hear back confirming that it was received.

No email received yet. We do have another entry that was submitted via email and not posted to the forum.

 

[TD Sky]

As far as diversity of product goes, we're certainly not standing still in that department.

Great, now how about getting some reloads to your dealers before August. The measure of a manufacture's success just isn't who made what when, is also who can get product to my door so I can go fly.

 

[rocketgirlinca]

No email received yet. We do have another entry that was submitted via email and not posted to the forum.

It was sent to you at the address in your first post.

Let me try again.

If not the link is here in my post..

 

[rocketgirlinca]

well it has been e-mailed again..

Please tell me that you got it.

I also sent the link in a private message.

I am posing it again here. consider this my official entry. for everyone to see..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHeDv4xm4jg

Please note this entry was made on june 30th before close of the day. so it should be a good entry... even if Aerotech says they never got it

 

[Garoq]

well it has been e-mailed again..

Please tell me that you got it.

I also sent the link in a private message.

I am posing it again here. consider this my official entry. for everyone to see..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHeDv4xm4jg

Please note this entry was made on june 30th before close of the day. so it should be a good entry... even if Aerotech says they never got it

It has been received.

 

[rocketgirlinca]

It has been received.

Sweet,

thank you.

 

[Garoq]

Great, now how about getting some reloads to your dealers before August. The measure of a manufacture's success just isn't who made what when, is also who can get product to my door so I can go fly.

Lots of dealer orders have been or are being shipped. Who is your dealer? When did he place his order?