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I know it may make no sense but I want it to look as much like an Estes model coming down as it does going up. If I could get a parachute the size I need printed and cut to look like one of those Estes plastic parachutes I would.
In that case single deploy using an altimeter in the upper bay to get the chute bundle out and a Jolly Logic Chute Release to keep it bundled until whatever altitude you want the chute to open.
 
Yes, as I stated earlier I’ve thought about doing that but it’s not like this is impossible, impractical, or dangerous. I’ve thought about an ARRD or a tender descender as well and may go with one of those, but it doesn’t hurt to try new ideas.
 
So I put a 54” parachute and 20 ft of 3/8” Kevlar into a 54mm tube. It packed fairly loosely in 10” of tube just fine. I was able to easily get it to come back out with just a little air pressure so I think it’ll work.
 
Got the fins cut from 1/8” ply. It’s non aircraft craft ply and I had a few blowouts. One of the forward fins was the worse and I’m debating if I should re-cut it or if it’ll be ok after I glass it?
 

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So I have the tubes all cut down to size and transition cut to accept the parachute cannon. I’m going to go with Kevlar strap or tubular Kevlar instead of an eye bolt on the transition to attach the shock cords to.

I’ve got a pretty good idea of how and where I’m going to mount all of the electronics. I’m either going to get w brb tracker or an Eggfinder mini for tracking and use two altimeters. Right now I have a Raven 2 (or 1) and a Hialt45k but I may update the last one to a stratologger.
 

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Well I’m putting a 54mm motor mount in it so I figure anything big and loud enough that’ll fit. :cool:

I haven’t simmed it out or anything yet so I’m not sure what motor exactly but it’s either gonna be a dark matter or a blackjack or something like that. I have a Rouse-Tech 54/1706 casing so that and the DMS motors are my limitations as of now.
Ya know...A K-456DM fits that case...Lotsa fire/smoke and sparks too...
 
And your plywood should be fine as long as you're glassing it. Just fill the chips first. Try a finer toothed blade and feed it slow. Plywood can be a pita..
 
Thanks. I’m cutting centering rings and bulkheads now but I’m using my drill press and a coping saw for that.
 
You can retty much do anything with hand tools that you could
Yes, as I stated earlier I’ve thought about doing that but it’s not like this is impossible, impractical, or dangerous. I’ve thought about an ARRD or a tender descender as well and may go with one of those, but it doesn’t hurt to try new ideas.
Check the Yard Sale section...
 
You can retty much do anything with hand tools that you could

Check the Yard Sale section...

I’m not understanding. Check for what? I’m not doing this because I can’t find or afford another method, I’m doing this because it’s fun to do and it’ll work. I don’t want to buy my success with this rocket, I want to create my own success.
 
I’m not understanding. Check for what? I’m not doing this because I can’t find or afford another method, I’m doing this because it’s fun to do and it’ll work. I don’t want to buy my success with this rocket, I want to create my own success.

I think he was just letting you know that there’s currently an ARRD in the Yard Sale Forum.
 
I’m not understanding. Check for what? I’m not doing this because I can’t find or afford another method, I’m doing this because it’s fun to do and it’ll work. I don’t want to buy my success with this rocket, I want to create my own success.
You mention possibly using an AARD. There's currently one for sale. Wouldn't consider that buying success. Unless you had the capability to make one and just didn't feel like it?
 
You mention possibly using an AARD. There's currently one for sale. Wouldn't consider that buying success. Unless you had the capability to make one and just didn't feel like it?

Thanks. I thought about using one but I’m kind of excited about making this work. A parachute cannon is not something new but it is something you don’t see every day and now that I have it in my mind I just have to build it.

I’ll take a look at that arrd. It wouldn’t hurt to have it in my inventory for a later project.
 
I cut some centering rings and bulkheads out today. I’m placing two bulkheads inside of the rear of the cannon. I will glue them in place and to another larger bulkhead on top of that.

I cut out centering rings so I could use them on the outside of the cannon to pinch the top innner bulkhead in place and another one just after the second inner bulkhead. I also placed one another 1/4” below that butting up against the top of the transition.

On top of the larger bulkhead is where I’ll build the sled for the electronics. I’ll cap that off with another bulkhead and use music wire around the perimeter to support the upper bulkhead. The wire will also go down through the centering rings to attach them all together so if the inner bulkheads in the cannon try to pop out from the ejection charge it’ll still be anchored by the three centering rings.

Confusing right? I’ll add pictures as I go.
 

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Parachute cannon is neat. It’s like a piston stager it’s just rare and that’s whats cool about it.
 
Parachute cannon is neat. It’s like a piston stager it’s just rare and that’s whats cool about it.

Yeah I’ve never done a piston stager before but I’ve read a lot about them. I may do that on a future rocket.
 
I’ve ordered all of the rest of what I need to finish the rocket. I ordered a Lab Rat pull pin switch for the AV bay and am looking at making it with a minimal amount of exposed wiring. I found these connectors I bough several years ago and think I can hard mount these to make the av sled to where I can just pug the whole sled into the rocket at once and go, kindof like a cartridge type thing maybe? I’m looking to make a super clean av bay.
 

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Maybe I should try to use a card edge connector instead? I’m not an electronics guy really so all of this is kinda foreign to me but I think if I make the sled out of two sheets of G10 with the wires sandwich between them and edge connector at the bottom then I can just snap it in and out.

I’m building it to where it’s set up for redundant controllers but want to make a couple av boards for it in different configurations so I ca run it with just one controller or switch out controllers if I want.

If anyone has suggestions or knows of a good source for the connectors let me know please.
 
Maybe I should try to use a card edge connector instead? I’m not an electronics guy really so all of this is kinda foreign to me but I think if I make the sled out of two sheets of G10 with the wires sandwich between them and edge connector at the bottom then I can just snap it in and out.

I’m building it to where it’s set up for redundant controllers but want to make a couple av boards for it in different configurations so I ca run it with just one controller or switch out controllers if I want.

If anyone has suggestions or knows of a good source for the connectors let me know please.
Keep it simple, every connector is a potential point of failure.
 
This is my usual sled setups.
 

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Reenforced the rings and bulkheads with metal pins and glued in place with wood glue then epoxy after that dried.
 

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More work on the AV bay. The very top, that’s where I’ll mount an Eggfinder mini when I get it. I’m setting it up for dual altimeters but I’m building removeable boards for single and dual altimeter setups.
 

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Support piece added to the back. Also divides the battery compartment.
 

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If you did happen to want the ARRD, feel free to make an offer.
 
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