Rail Question

[Bowhunter]

On an average how long should a 1X1 80/20 1010 rail should be and how large of rockets can we fire off of them?

I also have a stick of 1.5X1.5 8ft long is this long enough or should I add 4 more foot?

 

[Rocketmaniac]

I can't give you exact sizes and weights, but our club has a few rails. The smaller one is about 1.5X1.5 and is no longer than 8 ft. We fly a lot of rockets from it, there are sometimes a line waiting on the rail......

(I'll make a note to myself to measure them and see exactly what we fly off the rails)

 

[bobkrech]

The 1" rails are quite stiff, and I've seen 50 pound rockets go off an 8 ft rail without any problem.

The more important item is the stability of the launch pad. If the launch pad can't handle the torque load of the rocket ascending the rail, then the rod will tip because the stand is tilting.

Tie a rope at the top of the rail, and try to pull the stand over. If the stand lifts before the rail bends, then for the big stuff, you might want to spike the stand to the ground.

Check out my post at https://www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12535 for the minimum rod length.

Bob Krech

 

[Johnnie]

I have launched 18 pounders off of my 6 foot 1010 rail. I also have an extension made to bring it'slength to 10'ft.

 

[Bowhunter]

Here it is I just got it together and I also have a 15/15 that will go on it too I worked on it during my lunch hour it also hinges and locks soild in place

 

[Johnnie]

bow,

Looks good, question: Are the legs made from rail parts as well? In your pic, the legs look like 1010 rail parts.

 

[Bowhunter]

no its stainless steel vented channel iron the yellow part is all steel the hinge is a 5/8" shoulder bolt and a 5/8 locking pin. I stood on it and I weigh 190-200 lbs and it never even moved

 

[kgholloway]

The Erie Rocketry Group (ERG) is heavily into rails. Our standard 1010 rail length is 6' and our standard 1515 rail length is 10'. We have one 1010 rail that is 10' long that we "piggy back' on a 10' 1515 rail for our HyperTek launch pad, otherwise it would be too flexable. We also have a "MegaPad" that has a 12' 1515 rail which we use for our larger projects.

Our experience with rails has been uniformly good. We highly encourage the use of rails and buttons on any rocket weighing more than one pound or flying on "F" or larger motors.

Ken Holloway
President, Erie Rocketry Group, NAR Section #543