--- /dev/null
+[[!tag tags/rockets]]
+[[!tag tags/hamradio]]
+First, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that
+[TeleMetrum](http://altusmetrum.org/TeleMetrum) is now the subject
+of a post on the [Make magazine](http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2010/04/telemetrum_an_open_hardware_telemet.html) site. Very cool!
+
+As reported last week, I've been waiting for better GPS antennas to arrive,
+but heavy snow here in Colorado last Friday delayed delivery. They finally
+arrived, and as I hoped, they appear to completely solve our signal strength
+problem!
+
+So... [drum roll, please!]... I am very happy to announce that the first
+production build of [TeleMetrum](http://altusmetrum.org/TeleMetrum) boards
+and starter kits are now "in stock" at the [Garbee and Garbee](http://gag.com)
+[web store](http://auric.gag.com), along with other products designed by the
+[Altus Metrum](http://altusmetrum.org) community!
+
+[Keith](http://keithp.com/keithp/) and I are still working on the new
+Java-based ground station software and user documentation for the
+system. Watch this space for updates. I hope we'll have both ready for
+download by the time customers actually receive hardware...
The build began on 21 March 2010, cutting all the phenolic and fin blanks for
4 "kits" of parts.
+The first step was to CNC machine all the rings and bulkheads, then clean them
+up and fit them by sanding carefully.
+
+Next, we cut out the fins using our radial arm saw, and beveled them by hand
+using sandpaper flat on a table surface, hand-holding the fins at the desired
+bevel angle. Bdale cheated a bit on his fins using his Dremel with sanding
+drum to quickly remove most of the material then finishing up with sandpaper
+on the table... but that requires a very steady hand with a Dremel! We
+beveled the leading and trailing edges for looks and to reduce drag, but
+since these rockets won't break mach on a G the exact profile isn't critical.
+
+Assembly started by sanding the outside of the 29mm phenolic motor mount,
+and using a piece of angle to mark a reference line along the entire length
+of the mount. We use this reference line to get the first fin aligned
+perfectly. Next, we put the two fin-locking rings on the MMT along with the
+HAMR retainer body, and used the fins to work out from the aft of the MMT
+exactly where the fin-forward ring needed to be, marking the aft edge of this
+ring's position on the MMT. The fin forward ring's position is the critical
+part of building a fin can the way we do, so we take extra time to get this
+right.
+
+We then smeared 5-minute hobby epoxy around the MMT at this mark, and
+pushed the fin-forward
+ring into place from the aft end of the MMT, pushing an epoxy fillet on the
+ring's leading edge, and leaving the aft side of the ring fairly dry. We
+align the ring so that one of the locking tabs is positioned with one edge
+on the line up the MMT, so that when we put the first fin in place we can use
+that line to ensure it's straight along the MMT. And we're very careful to
+make sure the ring is "square" to the MMT. While we have some spare epoxy,
+we also smear the front of the MMT and slide on the zipperless fin can ring
+from the front. Then we let the epoxy cure. Do *not* glue the aft ring to
+the MMT yet! That comes much later.
+
## Flights