Works In Progress
My current situation doesn't really allow me to build many launchers. I have school, work, and not much time or money for anything else. However, I do still manage from time to time.
On this page you will get sneak peeks of works in progress. Or, you might see nothing.
Tuesday, 20 December 2011
I currently have a few ideas I would like to implement, but have no clue as to when I will ever get around to doing so. Maybe a few weeks from now, maybe never, who knows?
- Large 10x hybrid utilizing a hydraulic tie-rod cylinder
- This is actually pretty easy to implement. 1-1/4" OD DOM tubing can be inserted through the front where the rod would normally exit, it's already sealed, and secured with machine screws. 1-1/4" SCH-80 can then be slipped over the other side, sealed with epoxy, and secured with machine screws as well for attaching a union.
- Mini hybrid using steel tubing and a torch-head + bike pump metering setup.
- Large-ish combustion utilizing an ignition circuit I'm working on.
Wednesday, 28 December 2011
Got my tie-rod cylinder appropriated and started construction on my fueling system (which will be a spool valve setup offering one-touch fueling provided a regulated air line is available).
I also changed my plans slightly. Instead of just going with a union/burst-disk setup, I'm building a valve nearly identical to the one employed on the Cobra Striker, with the exception that this one will be designed to pop at much higher pressures and be spring loaded to eliminate the manual return seen on the Striker.
Also reduced the size a bit to about 31 cubic inches.
The only snag I've run into is that there's not a lot of space in front of the rod seal on gland of the cylinder, and there's a large groove where the rod wiper was mounted. I don't believe this will be too much of a problem as this groove can be filled with an epoxy (very, very carefully) or simply ignored, and my spring plungers simply tapped into place as normal.
Another thing is I either need to source some 1-1/8" OD DOM tubing to make the actual valve, or get some 1-1/8" aluminum stock and progressively drill a blind hole to 1"... we'll have to see, but aluminum would be better as far as weight is concerned (don't want too much weight slamming into the back of the gland when firing).
Watch this space. :D
