[SS2S-Main] Sugar Shot Weekly Activity Report - Dec.16-20, 2013

  • From: Richard Nakka <richard.rocketry@xxxxxxxxx>
  • To: sugarshot@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Mon, 23 Dec 2013 22:25:28 -0600

Highlights of recent developments on the DoubleSShot project
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-As planned, Rick Maschek test fired the 89mm (3.5”) 2-grain rocket
motor with DD-slot grains on Saturday Dec.21st. The test firing was
conducted at the FAR site, with the motor mounted nozzle down on one
of the vertical test stands. The base of the stand was fitted with a
blast deflector to help prevent smoke from obscuring the pressure
gauge used to record chamber pressure. This worked well, and good
pressure readings were recorded over the full duration of the burn,
which was nominal. Maximum chamber pressure was about 260 psi
(1.9Mpa), which compares well with the predicted pressure of 248 psi.
Due to problems with the igniter, the planned firings of the 4-grain
and 6-grain motor had to be postponed. Rick will be modifying the
forward bulkhead with an igniter fitting to prevent a similar igniter
issue from re-occurring.
   Rick and Richard Dierking setting up the motor:
http://sugarshot.org/downloads/setup.jpg
   Richard Dierking connecting the pressure gauge:
http://sugarshot.org/downloads/setup1.jpg
   Motor at full thrust:
http://sugarshot.org/downloads/thrusting.jpg
   Gauge reading at full thrust:
http://sugarshot.org/downloads/gaugereading.jpg
   DD-slot grain details:
http://sugarshot.org/downloads/dd_grain.pdf
   Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1mYHtsD7a8&feature=youtu.be
(video courtesy Rick Maschek)

-Richard has made further progress on fabricating the carbon composite
nozzle exhaust cone for the VIC-2 motor. All 10 plies of carbon
prepreg were wrapped around the mandrel. After each ply was laid,
heat-shrink tape was wrapped around the prepreg, then shrunk using a
heat gun to consolidate the layers. The product was then vacuum bagged
in preparation for curing. Curing will be done in an autoclave at
elevated temperature (300F/150C) and pressure (4 bar).
--------------------------
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http://tinyurl.com/2exr92k

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