We used potassium nitrate/sugar. We have since moved to sorbitol/potassium nitrate. We have been designing and working on a rocket for the last 6 months or so and hopefully we can get a good launch in the spring..
Just need to build a launch pad for a 5ft rocket that is 3" around :) Hopeing to hit 3000ft.
@elliotmotoX 3000ft is the goal we could easily make it go higher. Also I have no idea how you know a 2-3in rocket will go 1000ft unless you ran some calculations on the motor size compared to weight. There isn't enough room for electronics that would give that sort of info. The 5ft rocket will have $100+ worth of electronics in it. You can let a 2-3in rocket fall to earth cause it only weighs a few ounces. A 6lb rocket can't just fall to earth, it will do damage.
it is a bit more complicated than that. You need to make the engine, then design the rocket not just strap fins to it :).
You need to be aware of the weight of the rocket before and after the fuel is out. You need to calculate the center of gravity and the center of pressure and then make sure the center of pressure is never ahead of the center of gravity.
I suggest looking it up since I can't explain all the details here.
Unfortunately that would through off the aerodynamics a bit if it wasn't perfectly centered, which would be hard to do.
We launched one with a LED light on the side and a battery(I know the battery should have been inside but we were rushed) and it severely hampered the max height.
Also the rocket would have to be designed to have a flare on the nose, since the rocket has to be balanced it would be more work that it is worth.
We are using kno3 and sugar. Kno3 and sugar are added to pan and it is melted over medium heat. Then it is cast in to grains using PVC and folder paper. We spent most of our time on the actual motor though the fuel is the easy part.
Very nice job, brother. I make exactly the same rocket motors, you obviously use grain calculator. But I bet you are frustrated with the burn time, right? I know I was, cause that thing disappears within half a second and you can't see the trail. I think that the only way to increase that is use sorbitol and make the motor/rocket thicker. That's my only suggestion.
Yeah it is a bit frustrating because of the power it has and the height it can go, there is no way to track it. Its out of sight way to fast! Which is good and bad :P Thanks for the comment and suggestion.
Thats about how ours are too. There isn't a fancy ejection stage on them :P
We have a fin system that I think is going to work really well, they are removable but lock in the body. If I could get you a close up of the fins on this rocket I would. They were aweful, basically bolted on to the body using sheetmetal and metal screws.
Also the next rocket will be 3" in diameter and 12" longer. This will add weight and hopefully decrease altitude and increase visibility!
Thanks! We have a lot of plans ahead but we are trying to take it slow. Our fin design is very clunky and adds drag also we are trying to come up with a decent nose cone that can be reproduced.
what propellant did you use? nice rocket!
vadkeboem 2 years ago
We used potassium nitrate/sugar. We have since moved to sorbitol/potassium nitrate. We have been designing and working on a rocket for the last 6 months or so and hopefully we can get a good launch in the spring..
Just need to build a launch pad for a 5ft rocket that is 3" around :) Hopeing to hit 3000ft.
PyroTechnix 2 years ago
in what percent do u mix sorbitol and potassium? 60-40 as in KNO3 and sugar? Great vid btw.
bbbarbarian 2 years ago
I believe we used 65/35. The ratios are the same, just have to test what works best. For us it was 65/35.
PyroTechnix 2 years ago
@PyroTechnix 3000ft isn't that good. My 2-3in rockets hit 1000ft no problem.
elliotmotoX 2 years ago
@elliotmotoX 3000ft is the goal we could easily make it go higher. Also I have no idea how you know a 2-3in rocket will go 1000ft unless you ran some calculations on the motor size compared to weight. There isn't enough room for electronics that would give that sort of info. The 5ft rocket will have $100+ worth of electronics in it. You can let a 2-3in rocket fall to earth cause it only weighs a few ounces. A 6lb rocket can't just fall to earth, it will do damage.
PyroTechnix 1 year ago
Cool!!Could you make a motor with colored smoke ie:red or blue?
FoulOwl 2 years ago
What do you do?
just get the pvc and add the engine and the fins and your done or do u gotta add something else? reply to me because I want to make one
Bryan14xs 2 years ago
it is a bit more complicated than that. You need to make the engine, then design the rocket not just strap fins to it :).
You need to be aware of the weight of the rocket before and after the fuel is out. You need to calculate the center of gravity and the center of pressure and then make sure the center of pressure is never ahead of the center of gravity.
I suggest looking it up since I can't explain all the details here.
PyroTechnix 2 years ago
Hey dude to track the rocket just stick a flare to the end of it and you'll see the red smoke from it for longer than u can now.
11levendis11 2 years ago
Unfortunately that would through off the aerodynamics a bit if it wasn't perfectly centered, which would be hard to do.
We launched one with a LED light on the side and a battery(I know the battery should have been inside but we were rushed) and it severely hampered the max height.
Also the rocket would have to be designed to have a flare on the nose, since the rocket has to be balanced it would be more work that it is worth.
Thanks for the comment though!
PyroTechnix 2 years ago
so what fuel mix are you using
twojaythomo 3 years ago
We are using kno3 and sugar. Kno3 and sugar are added to pan and it is melted over medium heat. Then it is cast in to grains using PVC and folder paper. We spent most of our time on the actual motor though the fuel is the easy part.
PyroTechnix 3 years ago
do you mix any red iron oxide with your mix
twojaythomo 3 years ago
Wrong vid post? Not sure why you are asking about tear gas.
PyroTechnix 3 years ago
Very nice job, brother. I make exactly the same rocket motors, you obviously use grain calculator. But I bet you are frustrated with the burn time, right? I know I was, cause that thing disappears within half a second and you can't see the trail. I think that the only way to increase that is use sorbitol and make the motor/rocket thicker. That's my only suggestion.
dawson01912 3 years ago
Yeah it is a bit frustrating because of the power it has and the height it can go, there is no way to track it. Its out of sight way to fast! Which is good and bad :P Thanks for the comment and suggestion.
PyroTechnix 3 years ago
Comment removed
dawson01912 3 years ago
Thats about how ours are too. There isn't a fancy ejection stage on them :P
We have a fin system that I think is going to work really well, they are removable but lock in the body. If I could get you a close up of the fins on this rocket I would. They were aweful, basically bolted on to the body using sheetmetal and metal screws.
Also the next rocket will be 3" in diameter and 12" longer. This will add weight and hopefully decrease altitude and increase visibility!
PyroTechnix 3 years ago
Damn, that was a very nice rocket, and a very straight path. Good job
StJimmyPyro 3 years ago
Thanks! We have a lot of plans ahead but we are trying to take it slow. Our fin design is very clunky and adds drag also we are trying to come up with a decent nose cone that can be reproduced.
Thanks again for the positive comment!
PyroTechnix 3 years ago