JCRL
Well-Known Member
Where were you when I showed up with a rocket built out of junk? All I got were insults in reference to being to cheap to buy parts
I was not around then but if you drop a link, I'll check out your rocket.
Build Thread: Office Supply Rocket
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I was not around then but if you drop a link, I'll check out your rocket.
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Once I build 'em they're all a little junkier
Glad to see I'm not the only one recycling office scrap.
Glad to see I'm not the only one recycling office scrap.
Yeah, I think that the idea of an office rocket is a neat idea.
I've raided our recycling bin and our pantry for materials. The other day I used some cereal boxes from cereals that weren't empty yet, I think my wife was slightly annoyed to find multiple bags of cereal just sitting in the pantry.
I've also thought about a "Leftovers" rocket. Something you can only build with scraps and left over nose cones from the parts pile.
I've raided our recycling bin and our pantry for materials. The other day I used some cereal boxes from cereals that weren't empty yet, I think my wife was slightly annoyed to find multiple bags of cereal just sitting in the pantry.
I've also thought about a "Leftovers" rocket. Something you can only build with scraps and left over nose cones from the parts pile.
A
Post wasn't about the construction/rocket itself, was a test bed concept for the canards. Just happened to have used junk I had on hand to build it. Actually worked better than I expected. https://www.rocketryforum.com/threa...eely-pivoting-forward-mounted-canards.153424/
Glued the tube coupler into one tube I need to look for my aluminum angle to ensure, when I glue the other onto it, that they're aligned.
Added color to the drawing for the folded nose cone. Once folded and glued it'll be purple on one side and yellow on the other. The printer here at the office reports that it can print color, but it came out greyscale. Grrr. I'm sure there's a color one around here somewhere.
Added color to the drawing for the folded nose cone. Once folded and glued it'll be purple on one side and yellow on the other. The printer here at the office reports that it can print color, but it came out greyscale. Grrr. I'm sure there's a color one around here somewhere.
That's a fun idea, save it for the first launch, and after that, it is a decoration.
The design is basically fixed. The idea is to make a 4FNC, the only gimmick being what it's made from. It'll be mostly unfinished so the materials are visible, but "Office" is not a decorating theme. I've got some designs to print on the office color printer and glue on, more like stickers than decals, because decals are not office materials. School glue is the only adhesive. Paper clips will have two different uses; I should get to those parts soon.
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Ballpoint pen tube for launch lug?
Guys, again, the design is set. The pen tube might have been a good idea, though I'm not so sure white glue would hold it. And I've got a plan, which I will show when I get to it.
OK, last night I had my first adventure in doing my own laser cutting. I took my plycardboard to the library in Elmira ("My heart's on fiya for Elmira") and entered their "Tinker Lab". Since I've never done this on my own I was happy to find someone working there who gave me the help I needed. I came with the shapes I wanted to cut in a PDF file, which is a vector format and therefore usable. I took his advice on the cutter settings and it turns out he got them a little wrong. He used the settings that the cheat sheet indicated for "thick cardboard" but it didn't cut all the way through.
With the cuts most of the way through as a guide, even I should be able to finish with a knife. I finished cutting the fins when we got home.
As expected, of course, the corrugation is exposed on the edges.
So when I got to work just now I sealed the leading, tip, and trailing edges with tape. Scotch (type) tape doesn't see much use in rocketry because it's glue is too permanent, but that's exactly why I want it here.
I gotta say, these fins feel really light for their size. One may just want ot use this technique even for rockets without the office materials restriction. Of course, one would use a better edge filler/sealer. Which would add more weight.
The rings will take some more time and care to cut free than the straight line fins. I'll have those out soon. I won't need to, and shouldn't, tape their edges.
With the cuts most of the way through as a guide, even I should be able to finish with a knife. I finished cutting the fins when we got home.
As expected, of course, the corrugation is exposed on the edges.
So when I got to work just now I sealed the leading, tip, and trailing edges with tape. Scotch (type) tape doesn't see much use in rocketry because it's glue is too permanent, but that's exactly why I want it here.
I gotta say, these fins feel really light for their size. One may just want ot use this technique even for rockets without the office materials restriction. Of course, one would use a better edge filler/sealer. Which would add more weight.
The rings will take some more time and care to cut free than the straight line fins. I'll have those out soon. I won't need to, and shouldn't, tape their edges.
Very clean looking cuts, having access to a laser cutter opens up lots of possibilities. I imagine you'll probably find more uses for it in the future. I'm curious, does the plycardboard have the plys at 90 degrees to each other? Or did you choose to align one side along a fin edge?
They're at 90º. That was the driving reason to use 2 ply; these fins are really nice and stiff.
Here are closeups of the tip and leading edges of one of them.
Here are closeups of the tip and leading edges of one of them.
JCRL
Well-Known Member
You have a nearby library with laser cutting facilities and a laboratory!! *frantically googles nearby libraries*
They call it the "Tinker Lab" which is actually a maker space. A laser cutter, three 3D printers, a CNC carver, a vinyl cutter, and some Arduino and R-pi stuff.
Maker spaces in libraries are not terribly uncommon. That's one of ways libraries are staying relevant in the digital age.
Maker spaces in libraries are not terribly uncommon. That's one of ways libraries are staying relevant in the digital age.
JCRL
Well-Known Member
None of the libraries near me have these offerings but I did find a makerspace within 5 minutes of my house!! Definitely going to inquire about joining. I didn't know these places existed!
Then this thread has been worthwhile.
During work breaks I got two more fims sealed with tape; one to go. I also drew fin jig boards. I'll go back to Elmira and cut those from regular corrugated cardboard, but I can't do that until next week.
My friend who is better than I at freehand operations got the partially cut centering rings, engine block, and nosecone bulkhead freed from the sheet.
Tomorrow I'll get the last fin taped. By the end of the weekend I hope to have the nose cone put together, the launch lugs and engine hook made, the MMT made, and perhaps the whole motor mount assebmled. If I'm lucky the motor mount installed, lugs installed and the two body tubes glued together. We shall see how much I actually get done. In amy case, barirng mishaps, it should be done by the end of next week.
My friend who is better than I at freehand operations got the partially cut centering rings, engine block, and nosecone bulkhead freed from the sheet.
Tomorrow I'll get the last fin taped. By the end of the weekend I hope to have the nose cone put together, the launch lugs and engine hook made, the MMT made, and perhaps the whole motor mount assebmled. If I'm lucky the motor mount installed, lugs installed and the two body tubes glued together. We shall see how much I actually get done. In amy case, barirng mishaps, it should be done by the end of next week.
JCRL
Well-Known Member
You may have already addressed this, but are you going to friction fit the motor?
Nope, I'll be fabricating an engine hook. I might get to that tomorrow (Friday) after work, and then I may not be able to post it until Monday.
Fabricated my engine hook and launch lugs. Joined the two pieces of the body tube. Made the nose cone. Rolled the MMT and assembled the motor mount.
Pictures later.
Pictures later.
Alright, I'll be curious to see how you did your launch lugs.
White glue won't hold the wire, and that's why the lug is installed right at the tube junction; it's captured between the tube and the coupler. The other one will go in when the motor mount does, captured by the forward centering ring.
It's when I figured out this method for launch lugs that doing this project suddenly felt mandatory.
I should've taken more pictures while making the nose cone. Here's what I remembered to snap.
I applied glue to most of the backside then sqeegeed most of it off on the backside, protecting what would be the middle third of the half circle once I folded it over. Then, with the same put on squeegee off technique, folded the sides so that the color panels are showing, opened it up like filter paper, and then added the shoulder.
This did not come out well. It's probably the pow point of the build (no pun intended) but I can honestly say it's the best nose cone I've ever made out of printer paper.
I also prepared a shock cord attachment with the bulkhead that will eventually close the shoulder off, but I'm not installing the bulkhead until I've got the nose weight glued into the tip.
I applied glue to most of the backside then sqeegeed most of it off on the backside, protecting what would be the middle third of the half circle once I folded it over. Then, with the same put on squeegee off technique, folded the sides so that the color panels are showing, opened it up like filter paper, and then added the shoulder.
This did not come out well. It's probably the pow point of the build (no pun intended) but I can honestly say it's the best nose cone I've ever made out of printer paper.
I also prepared a shock cord attachment with the bulkhead that will eventually close the shoulder off, but I'm not installing the bulkhead until I've got the nose weight glued into the tip.
And, finally, putting the two body tube halves together. I usually like to attach the halves to a piece of angle to ensure they are aligned. I messed up and forgot that until the glue was on. The only straight thing I could find in a hurry was a piece of copper pipe, which is not as good as angle, but I got things good enough.
The pipe is five feet long, so the whole thing looks like a giant bottle rocket.
The pipe is five feet long, so the whole thing looks like a giant bottle rocket.
That is indeed nifty. [emoji1360]
I like it so much that I might just keep using it even with "regular" builds. I'd do a better job of making them due both to lessons learned this time and not having to use paper clips.
That looks like a robust launch lug, especially the way it is sandwiched between the tube and coupler. I wonder if there are drag advantages as well, I bet it would be a useful method for regular rockets.
