L1 Certification, Technical

The Motor Mount

The rocket motor doesn’t get attached directly to the Callisto’s Quantum Tube. The motor is inserted into the motor mount tube. This ‘motor mount’ (a cardboard tube) is secured inside the Quantum Tubing with some circular rings that are glued. These rings themselves are also glued to the motor mount tube and we have the Piston strap (A strong thick black cord) securely glued to the motor mount. Some pictures of the construction of this component are shown below:-

 

Using 5 minute Areldite to glue the forward motor mount ring
Using 5 minute Areldite to glue the forward motor mount ring

 

We created fillets around the motor mount ring to ensure it will not budge during flight or ejection.

 

Notice the ~1 inch slot. This is for the Piston Strap.
Notice the ~1 inch slot. This is for the Piston Strap.

 

We took care here to ensure we did not clog up the slot. We insert the piston strap into this slot later on and Areldite it in place.

 

Put Celopane around the Aft Motor mount Ring
Put Celopane around the Aft Motor mount Ring

 

All rings put on to Motor Mount
All rings put on to Motor Mount

 

 

Securely attaching the Piston Strap to the Motor Mount.
Securely attaching the Piston Strap to the Motor Mount.

 

After the Piston Strap glue had tried, we packed it inside the motor mount to keep it out of the way in the next lot of steps.

 

Next step was to start gluing the Motor Mount to the rocket tube. We put some Areldite ~7inches into the back of the rocket (in a ring) using some long doweling. We then pushed the Motor Mount all the way in, till the appropriate amount was sticking out. (We are using HAMR motor mount, so we need to leave sufficient amount of space to attach Retainer on to the motor mount). We had to leave the rocket in a vertical position to allow the glue to flow down and remain against the motor mount top ring.