I will create and 3D print rockets that will be fired from a stand that will measure and record thrust. I will also create a control box that will be able to fire the rocket remotely
3D printing model rockets is no new thing and has been done by many people before me. Some projects that have been done before that have inspired me is an Arduino controlled rocket launcher which can be found here. As well as another stand that collects data on thrust and other values that can be found here. One of my physics proffesors, Prof. Goodman, also had a project similar to what I'm doing. His github can be found here.
There are four main locations that I want to design. I will design the rockets, control panel, vinyl stickers to go on the rocket and control, and a stand for the rocket to launch off of.
I'm planning to 3D print things with PLA. The launch control will have a button, a switch, a piezo buzzer, a keylock switch, and a 4 digit 7 segment display. The rocket will need a variety of materials that I will buy from Estes including, wadding, parachutes, and engines. I will use two RMF69 chips to send data from an accelerometer to my computer.
Equation for spindal speed
Some materials we have here at the lab, I'm buying some material from Estes or a local hobby shop. Some parts are going to be from Sparkfun and Digi-Key. Im purchasing my accelerometer from Sparkfun.
The spreadsheet of what needs to be ordered can be found here. In total it seems like I will be spending around $86.03
The rocket and control panel will be 3D printed with PLA. I will use the Prusa 3D printers in our lab. Part of the base of the launcher will be part wood and maybe PVC piping and metal. Hopefully those parts will use some 3-axis machining. Will make a blast shield with acrylic that will be cut with the laser cutter. Boards to control everything will be milled out using the desktop mill. I will create three boards in total. One that uses an RFM69 chip in the rocket, one that uses the RFM69 chip on the ground (connected to my computer), and a board inside the launcher control that will control the 4 digit 7 segment display, piezo buzzer, and the ignition.
Equation for spindal speed
I kind of stated this in the previous question, but I wil use the 3D printer to print some model rockets and the launcher control, the vinyl cutter to create decals to go on the rocket and control panel, I will use pcb milling to create the three different boards that I am building, and I want to use the 3 axis CNC Axiom to create parts of the stand the rocket will be launched off of.
Right now I'm not sure what accelerometer I will nedd and if it needs any aditional sensors combined with it. Most of the accelerometers I've looked at also have gyrometers and barometers. Also I should quickly test to see if I can get the RFM69 chips we have to work or if I should switch to something like a load cell to get some measurements. Also I need to plan out my time as of right now I want to build my own stand, but I'm not sure if I have enough time.
The goal of the project is to calculate the thrust of a rocket when it has been launched into the sky. my design will be evaluted on the functionality of my final prject as well as the design steps that I took to get it working.
Equation for spindal speed