Greetings to everyone!
I started working on water rockets this past summer. Having seen so many great videos but not having seen it in person made me realize that I just had to make some myself. So far I've only used single bottles, the 2L size for making rockets, and a few 1L size for experimenting.
http://rebelrockets.wordpress.com so far has details of my launcher, my version of a secondary reduced nozzle that acts like a T-nozzle, and a parachute deployment system using a magnetic device that works when the rocket is horizontal or nosediving and forces nose cone separation. Right now it also works early when deceleration begins but that can probably be delayed with a little modification.
These hopefully original ideas are being offered to help beginners like myself and since I am working solo, I would appreciate it if those with lots of experience would take a look too and offer criticism or advice.
Glad to be able to join you,
Dennis
Hello from Missouri, USA, (St. Louis area)
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Re: Hello from Missouri, USA, (St. Louis area)
RebelRockets wrote:Greetings to everyone!
I started working on water rockets this past summer. Having seen so many great videos but not having seen it in person made me realize that I just had to make some myself. So far I've only used single bottles, the 2L size for making rockets, and a few 1L size for experimenting.
http://rebelrockets.wordpress.com so far has details of my launcher, my version of a secondary reduced nozzle that acts like a T-nozzle, and a parachute deployment system using a magnetic device that works when the rocket is horizontal or nosediving and forces nose cone separation. Right now it also works early when deceleration begins but that can probably be delayed with a little modification.
These hopefully original ideas are being offered to help beginners like myself and since I am working solo, I would appreciate it if those with lots of experience would take a look too and offer criticism or advice.
Glad to be able to join you,
Dennis
Hi Dennis, welcome to the forum. Thanks for the link to your site. You've evidently been busy for the last few months, and you seem to have made some novel contributions to the hobby.
I note your magnet-trigger deployment device; there have been some parallel developments, discussed on The Other WR Forum, where the same problem of early deployment was encountered. One suggestion was to exploit the behaviour of a magnet moving inside a non-ferrous metal tube: eddy currents are set up that retard the motion of the magnet, slowing it down and thus deferring deployment. Adjusting the length or thickness of the tube or selecting a different material provides a number of variables for tuning the delay.
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Re: Hello from Missouri, USA, (St. Louis area)
Hi Steve,
Thanks for your welcome and for looking over my work.
Yes I did find the other work involving magnets to deploy and his design no doubt would deploy early like mine. Your suggestion of using metal tubes to slow the magnet was appreciated. I really don't know anything about the physics of it. For my design I think it will be a matter of when the magnet can move rather than how fast it can move. It needs to be able to move fast to make the release work.
There has been a revision of the device that controls when the magnet can move. Now it is a matter of using simple timing or maybe an air flap for detecting the apogee.
New photos and more details have been added to my blog if you or anyone else are interested.
Dennis
Thanks for your welcome and for looking over my work.
Yes I did find the other work involving magnets to deploy and his design no doubt would deploy early like mine. Your suggestion of using metal tubes to slow the magnet was appreciated. I really don't know anything about the physics of it. For my design I think it will be a matter of when the magnet can move rather than how fast it can move. It needs to be able to move fast to make the release work.
There has been a revision of the device that controls when the magnet can move. Now it is a matter of using simple timing or maybe an air flap for detecting the apogee.
New photos and more details have been added to my blog if you or anyone else are interested.
Dennis
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Re: Hello from Missouri, USA, (St. Louis area)

hope you get the info you need here!!!
check out my page on fins in general rocket discution and describe the ones you use and give us tips

Anto'
always wear a raincoat
always wear a raincoat