3D Printing Simple drill jig for motor retainer

[kramer714]

The simple flat plate motor retainers ware cheep and easy to use, the down side is the threaded inserts are really close to the edges. To simplify drilling I made a 3d printed drill jig for the 38 mm retainers. Drop it into the centering ring, drill a 7/32 hole using the jig (with a piece of wood behind the centering ring!), then run a 15/32 though the hole without the jig to get a clean good diameter hole. you can always jut go to the large diamter from the start, just 'drill' the drill jig with the larger drill bit before using it.

Mike K

 

[cwbullet]

Great idea - thanks for sharing

 

[kramer714]

Pretty straight forward but installation instructions,

Mike K

 

[kramer714]

version for drilling after the motor tube is installed.

Was working with a group build, a few participants were not there for the first build where we drilled the aft centering ring. Made a jig to drill after the motor tube is installed. Slides over motor tube, drill a 7/32 hole using the jig (carefully so you dont split the backside / sharp drill low pressure), then run a 15/32 though the hole without the jig to get a clean good diameter hole. you can always jut go to the large diameter from the start, just 'drill' the drill jig with the larger drill bit before using it.

 

[manixFan]

I have been using 3D printed drill guides for a variety of rocketry related uses, and they have really helped me get standardized hole placement across multiple rockets. This is a great example of that – while not technically challenging to drill the retainer holes, this jig makes it a lot easier to get consistent results, especially on a built rocket.

I've taken to saying: "when you have a 3D printer, every problem looks like a 3D printed part"


Tony