Your launcher

Discussion about Compressors, hose, pipes, fittings, launchers, release mechanisms, and launch tubes.
mitchy112
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Your launcher

Post by mitchy112 »

Post here your launcher with some specs.
And it would be nice if you had a tutorial for the newer people under us (like me)
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Mark Chen
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Re: Your launcher

Post by Mark Chen »

mitchy112 wrote:Post here your launcher with some specs.
And it would be nice if you had a tutorial for the newer people under us (like me)
It's coming, my friend! I wish I could spend more time on it tho!
Mark Chen
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mitchy112
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Post by mitchy112 »

i think it's great for starters to get some ideas but take your time :).
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Spaceman Spiff
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Re: Your launcher

Post by Spaceman Spiff »

Mark Chen wrote:
mitchy112 wrote:Post here your launcher with some specs.
And it would be nice if you had a tutorial for the newer people under us (like me)
It's coming, my friend! I wish I could spend more time on it tho!
If you need help writing the instructions, I can pitch in. We can make this a community project!
Spaceman Spiff
"What goes up, must come down"
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U.S. Water Rockets1
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Re: Your launcher

Post by U.S. Water Rockets1 »

Hey guys,

We've got a couple of sets of Clarke Cable Tie Launcher parts all made up here which are leftover from a scout event where we helped the kids build launchers. If you want, we can take some pictures of the assembly for your tutorial. How does that sound? Send a PM if you're interested. We should certainly try and do more of these "community" projects!
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chriswaterrockets
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Re: Your launcher

Post by chriswaterrockets »

Hi

Here's mine:
[youtube][/youtube]

Just ask, if you have any questions!

regards christian
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thampson
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Re: Your launcher

Post by thampson »

christian,

nice work with the launcher. Im working on installing some guide rails at the moment. I am interested in looking at your launcher, were the 3 poles moving apart or together at the top that caused you to install the ring ? Also how close are the rails to the rocket, does it actually touch the rocket or just miss ?

thanks
-todd-
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http://wrocket.hampson.net.au
chriswaterrockets
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Re: Your launcher

Post by chriswaterrockets »

thampson wrote:christian,

nice work with the launcher. Im working on installing some guide rails at the moment. I am interested in looking at your launcher, were the 3 poles moving apart or together at the top that caused you to install the ring ? Also how close are the rails to the rocket, does it actually touch the rocket or just miss ?

thanks
-todd-
Hi.
Thanks! I don't really understand your first question, sorry. But as to the second one, the rails just miss the rocket. But I'm sure that when I launch the rocket, it doesn't pass through without touching any of the rails. (They'ld be pretty unnecessary then)
regards christian
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Spaceman Spiff
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Re: Your launcher

Post by Spaceman Spiff »

Christian,

Have you tried to lubricate the rails to cut back on friction? My idea is to get a teflon tube and slice it open lengthwise and slide it over guides for friction resistance! I think that would be slick! (pun intended)
Spaceman Spiff
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chriswaterrockets
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Re: Your launcher

Post by chriswaterrockets »

Spaceman Spiff wrote:Christian,

Have you tried to lubricate the rails to cut back on friction? My idea is to get a teflon tube and slice it open lengthwise and slide it over guides for friction resistance! I think that would be slick! (pun intended)
Wow, that sounds interesting! Where do you get teflon tubes? Sounds pretty expensive to me, but that's just a guess.
christian
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thampson
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Re: Your launcher

Post by thampson »

christian,

I think I will rephrase the question :) .. I was wondering the reason for the ring at the top .. is it to keep the 3 poles steady during liftoff, or are the poles not perfectly vertical, so they lean in or out at the top. IM guessing its to keep them rigid during launch .. Im just interested. Ive seen a coupe of launchers with the poles use the rings ...

also thanks for the answer to the question about the poles touching the rocket.

-todd-
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Hornsby Heights Water Rocket Space Agency
http://wrocket.hampson.net.au
chriswaterrockets
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Re: Your launcher

Post by chriswaterrockets »

thampson wrote:christian,

I think I will rephrase the question :) .. I was wondering the reason for the ring at the top .. is it to keep the 3 poles steady during liftoff, or are the poles not perfectly vertical, so they lean in or out at the top. IM guessing its to keep them rigid during launch .. Im just interested. Ive seen a coupe of launchers with the poles use the rings ...

also thanks for the answer to the question about the poles touching the rocket.

-todd-
Hey Todd

Yeah, the ring is to keep the three poles stable during liftoff. When I launched without it, the rocket usually just bent one of them and so the whole guiderail was useless. That's why I installed the ring.
It's also not very easy to get the poles perfectly vertical, but I managed to get pretty close to vertical, at least they are vertical enough.
christian
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Spaceman Spiff
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Re: Your launcher

Post by Spaceman Spiff »

chriswaterrockets wrote:
thampson wrote:christian,

I think I will rephrase the question :) .. I was wondering the reason for the ring at the top .. is it to keep the 3 poles steady during liftoff, or are the poles not perfectly vertical, so they lean in or out at the top. IM guessing its to keep them rigid during launch .. Im just interested. Ive seen a coupe of launchers with the poles use the rings ...

also thanks for the answer to the question about the poles touching the rocket.

-todd-
Hey Todd

Yeah, the ring is to keep the three poles stable during liftoff. When I launched without it, the rocket usually just bent one of them and so the whole guiderail was useless. That's why I installed the ring.
It's also not very easy to get the poles perfectly vertical, but I managed to get pretty close to vertical, at least they are vertical enough.
christian
What do you guys think is the best guide rail material? I went to the hardware store and they want a fortune for aluminum channel or tube. I don't think I want to spend that much on it. PVC is too rubbery, so I was thinking of using steel wiring conduit. It's heavy but cheap.
Spaceman Spiff
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RaZias
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Re: Your launcher

Post by RaZias »

Why you don´t try wood ? Like those sticks from the broom
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Freqster
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Re: Your launcher

Post by Freqster »

Here are a few pics of the last launcher I built. All Aluminum. Easy to transport once its borken down.
Attachments
Picture 044.jpg
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Picture 038.jpg
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Picture 036.jpg
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Google SketchUp drawing
Google SketchUp drawing
launcher description.jpg (236.23 KiB) Viewed 370 times