Monthly Archives: April 2017

Design/Thought Processes, L2 Certification, Planning

Katana 4 – Material Weights

I’ve weighed all the components of the rocket. I’ve tabulated them below.

To identify which parts I’m referring to, I’ve included a picture of the components on the installation instructions.

 

front-page-components

 

Booster Airframe: 1494 grams

Motor Mount: 443 grams

Payload Airframe: 721 grams

Nose Cone: 349 grams

Nose Cone Coupler Tube: 222 grams

One Top Fin: 151 grams

One Bottom Fin: 113 grams

Bridle Strap: ~40 grams

Avionics Bay Fibre-Glass (52mm length): 60 grams

Avionics Bay (Wood + Bulkheads + threaded rod + nuts + washers + eye-ring bolts : 395 grams

Nose Cone Bulk plate + Eye Bolt + Nut: 90 grams

Avionics Bay Coupler (275 mm): 322 grams

Centering Rings (2 of these): 15 grams

We need to know these weights so that we can create a simulation file in Openrocket to simulate the flight of the rocket.

 

NOTE: I’ve opted to use a different sled arrangement in the Avionics Payload. Wasn’t happy with the one provided. The weights are almost the same, just a few grams lighter.

L2 Certification

L2 Rocket – Looking at components

I have finally purchased and received my L2 rocket parts; a kit called Katana 4 from AusRocketry. It is a fibreglass kit, 4″ suitable for J, K and possibly L motors. I’m going to take my time making this one, making sure I get all the joins really well done, the holes in the right place, the paint just perfect!

The first step has been to identify all the pieces.

Main components of Katana 4 laid out. Measurements included.
Main components of Katana 4 laid out. Measurements included.

Well, not quite all the pieces, but some of the main ones. I will get myself a weigher (previous one stopped working) so I can get the individual weights. Then i’ll be able to create myself a simulation file in OpenRocket and work out how it will perform.

The second step has been to clean them up, vaccuming off dust and wiping any residual dirt. . See some pictures below.

Cleanliness is very important. We want to reduce chance of dust getting in the places we don't want it, e.g. Gluing, painting
Cleanliness is very important. We want to reduce chance of dust getting in the places we don’t want it, e.g. Gluing, painting

 

Here are some other pictures to put the rocket into perspective.

The rocket stands approximately 2.4 metres and has a diameter of just over 100mm.
The rocket stands approximately 2.4 metres and has a diameter of just over 100mm.
Jeremy and myself holding parts of the rocket.
Jeremy and myself holding parts of the rocket.