Project
510 Flight - IE24F engine test

Results

• This flight was a big step in the right direction. All igniters lit at the same time with the new ignition system but only 3 out of 4 engines lit. Even with one less engine, the rocket still had an impressive flight. Having only 3 out of 4 engines working caused the rocket to be off balance causing the nosecone to fall off prematurely along with the parachute and parachute cord. The flight lasted 30 seconds from lift-off to impact. The total take-off weight was 35 lbs.

Construction

• The rocket body was made from 6" ABS constructed in two pieces, the engine section and the fin section. Two sections were needed to fit the rocket in the car. With a truck or van this would not have been necessary. The nosecone was made from plaster covered gauze. Engines were IE24 engines which are currently on revision F. Foam was used to hold the engines in the engine casing as well as one of the four end cap bolts.
• The recovery system was made from a 7" length of cannon fuse to provide a 20 second delay to the ejection device. Four 3" holes were drilled in the rocket body to allow the rocket exhaust to vent through the fin section without causing a vacuum.
• A new ignition system was made since five igniters needed to be lit at the same time. Four for the engines and one for the recovery device. Five ATV batteries were switched by two 4 pole single throw relays which were controlled by a 24VDC circuit with a pressure switch. A bottle of nitrogen and 150' of 1/4" tubing was used to close the firing circuit.

Pros

• Easy to construct design.
• Low cost. Entire rocket cost under $60.
• Ignition system worked well.
• Stable design.
• Easy to assemble at launch site.
• Three engines had plenty of power, four will be better.
• Nozzles held up very well with minimal throat erosion.

Cons

• A new igniter design is needed to ensure fuel ignition.
• A new way is needed to hang the engines in the rocket body without penetrating the engine casing.
• Tracer smoke is needed on future designs, possibly in between the fuel and the end cap in the IE24G engine design.
• Recovery system needs work.
• There was not enough silicone in the end cap and some of the engines showed small signs of leakage. The IE24G engine needs to be tested with all silicone in the end cap and no Pourstone.

Pictures

• 6" ABS.
• Engine casings.
• Nozzle view in engine casings.
• Forward bulkhead with recovery device.
• Close up of union used in recovery device.
• 6" ABS being cut.
• Vent holes on 6" ABS.
• Fin section cut from main rocket body.
• Forward bulkhead installed in rocket body.
• 10-24 aluminum rods used to hold fins on fin section.
• Balsa wood fins with poster board laminate.
• Fins attached to fin section.
• Caulk put on fin edges.
• Silicone added to top of fuel in engine.
• Painted fin section.
• Rough nosecone.
• Sanding nosecone.
• Ignition wires and end cap installed in one engine.
• Four engines in rocket body with foam.
• Finished nosecone.
• Nozzle side of rocket body.
• Cannon fuse used as a delay charge.
• Cannon fuse and recovery device.
• Ignition wires attached to 10-24 machine screws inside rocket body.
• 10-24 machine screws outside rocket body used as ignition terminals.
• Parachute cord attached to forward bulkhead.
• Parachute and cord.
• Finished rocket.
• Rocket on launch rail.
• Me next to rocket.
• Ignition system with 5 ATV batteries.
• Ignition terminals hooked up to rocket.
• Rocket and ignition system.
• Rocket ready to launch.
• Lift-off!
• Landing site.
• Hydraulic cylinder used in static test.
• Static engine and ignition system.
• Video camera recording hydraulic pressure from static test.

Video

• Flight.
• Static pressure test.

CAD Drawings

• 510 Rocket design.
• IE24F Engine design.

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