Permanently Installed AV Bay?

[ClarkusAurelius]

I have a LOC Semper Fi that I plan to use only as motor deploy. I have an 8-inch electronics bay for it, and I'm wondering if there are any future problems with epoxying this in like I would a standard coupler? I would epoxy the forward plate permanently and attach the all-thread permanently to it. I would leave the aft plate removable so I can remove the sled and electronics as needed. My goal is to get some basic electronics experience with an Eggtimer altimeter and GPS before I need to use it for real sometime in the future. I'm a go-slow kind of guy, and if I want to DD I would rather start with another rocket that I build with the intention of DD. Thanks all!

 

[Art Upton]

I screw my couplers in this situation, so I can remove it from both ends if I want to. I put a LOC Stuffy tube inside them then put in two self tapping screws on opposite sides of the body tube I pre-drill for them to start them off. Others hold it in with plastic removeable rivets.

But if you want to glue it in, yes what you have written is fine.

 

[Scott_650]

It’s your rocket so if you’re ok with that go ahead. But I don’t see what advantage it would give you - using screws or removable rivets gives you flexibility and access. But would it be “wrong” to bond it all together? Nope, just not, IMO, optimal.

 

[Voyager1]

It’s your choice, but I think you’ll regret permanently fitting the avbay. It doesn’t make much sense when you can securely fit it with screws or plastic rivets.

 

[ClarkusAurelius]

Thanks all! I think I have an irrational fear that the screws will tear out the cardboard airframe. I'm quite sure I would prefer the flexibility so I'm going with screws. I've tried the rivets and they're not my favorite.

 

[Art Upton]

Thanks all! I think I have an irrational fear that the screws will tear out the cardboard airframe. I'm quite sure I would prefer the flexibility so I'm going with screws. I've tried the rivets and they're not my favorite.

Make sure the coupler on the inside has a LOC Stiffy Tube inside it and it will be solid. Most of their E-Bays come with the Stiffy tube.

I don't worry about that Stiffy in like 2" or 2.65 inch unless your running say an I motor over 220 Avg Thrust.

I flew an I205 in an Estes 2.5" with couplers only fit to tight with masking tape to keep the 3 piece airframe together as It was a break down ship out and ship back rocket. I flew it twice at Jean Dry Lake.

Edit: the Kevlar cord was from the fincan to the nose so even if the tubes came apart they were all tethered together for a safe recovery if something happened to a tube getting loose which did not happen.

 

[tjsnakez]

I like to glue the coupler in and have a stepped bulkplate on each side that is removable. So on the main side, you can just pull on the shock cord and the bulkplate comes with the all-thread attached. You can make your charges and drop it back down.

 

[ClarkusAurelius]

Make sure the coupler on the inside has a LOC Stiffy Tube inside it and it will be solid. Most of their E-Bays come with the Stiffy tube.

I don't worry about that Stiffy in like 2" or 2.65 inch unless your running say an I motor over 220 Avg Thrust.

I flew an I205 in an Estes 2.5" with couplers only fit to tight with masking tape to keep the 3 piece airframe together as It was a break down ship out and ship back rocket. I flew it twice at Jean Dry Lake.

Edit: the Kevlar cord was from the fincan to the nose so even if the tubes came apart they were all tethered together for a safe recovery if something happened to a tube getting loose which did not happen.

Thankfully, I did get the standard electronics bay with the stiffy tube and not the light version, so I'll go ahead and use that. I plan on attempting my L1 with this rocket at the end of March. The added weight won't matter because I can size up my motor based on the final build weight. That way this rocket will be fine for some more powerful motors when I get there. You never know when you'll start getting those "send it" vibes. Or, let's be real here, I get new rockets because I want to fly more powerful motors.

I've seen that idea about friction fitting and tethering the nose cone before (maybe from you). I had already planned on doing that with this rocket. Glad to hear you had no issues.

I like to glue the coupler in and have a stepped bulkplate on each side that is removable. So on the main side, you can just pull on the shock cord and the bulkplate comes with the all-thread attached. You can make your charges and drop it back down.

That's a cool idea, thanks for sharing!

 

[Rocketjunkie]

All my rockets 2.6" and above have an av-bay in the base of the payload section with a 1/2" rod through them. Wood in smaller rockets, aluminum in mid size rockets, and 1/2" threaded rod in larger rockets. All my altimeters have a 1/2" lug on the back so I can put any altimeter in any rocket. All my sleds are 5-1/2" long.They were originally designed for the Adept OBC2. The motor tube goes through so I can use motor ejection if necessary. Altimeters are so much more reliable that I rarely use motor ejection, almost never in HPR rockets.

 

[cwbullet]

It’s your choice, but I think you’ll regret permanently fitting the avbay. It doesn’t make much sense when you can securely fit it with screws or plastic rivets.

Same here. All of the times I glued in the coupler and planned dual deployment were followed by regret also. So much easier to repair and adjust an AV bay if you pull it out.

 

[DragonRocketry]

Take a look at this. I have used this method for 20+ years.

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0611/5983/3766/files/Attaching_ebay_to_body_tube.pdf?v=1673108668

 

[ClarkusAurelius]

I decided to go with T-nuts for the two rockets I'm working on right now. I already glued the coupler in on one rocket about a year ago before dual deploy or electronics were on my mind. Already regretting that, but it's minor. I'm going to get another payload bay tube which is inexpensive and I already have the unbuilt electronics bay. Thanks all!

 

[conneryc]

You could also just use these to lock the coupler in place so that you can easily remove it in the future should you desire.

https://www.csrocketry.com/building-supplies/small-parts/rivets-12-pack.html