another batch of EasyMini

[web/altusmetrum] / EasyMotor / index.mdwn

diff --git a/EasyMotor/index.mdwn b/EasyMotor/index.mdwn
index a6a2eaa62e08730ae4657bce8ceb5f9d34e665e9..aedcfa3f29ab97cf78ea8cdcd41463174df46f81 100644 (file)
--- a/EasyMotor/index.mdwn
+++ b/EasyMotor/index.mdwn
@@ -19,15 +19,45 @@ memory chip, the contents of which can be downloaded after flight over USB.
 
 ## Example Installations ##
 
-These photos are from snap-ring case forward closures machined by Bdale for
+There are lots of ways to mount an EasyMotor board, but since we've been
+asked, here are a few photos from snap-ring case forward closures 
+machined by Bdale for
 test flights of EasyMotor.  The sensor bodies are 316 stainless with a 1/8 NPT
 male boss, so the approach chosen is to drill a 1/8 inch touch hole all the
 way through the closure, then drill and tap 1/8 NPT female threads part way
 through the closure thickness.  The hole gets filled with grease and the 
-sensor screwed in.
+sensor screwed in.  
+
+The first example is a 98mm snap-ring closure, with the 
+sensor and electronics mounted off-center so a 3/8" all-thread could be used
+in the center for motor retention in a minimum-diameter-ish airframe.  This
+motor had a small gap between the last propellant grain and the forward
+closure, so having the pressure sampling port off-center wasn't a 
+problem.  The mounting bracket for the electronics was bent from a bit of
+1/16" aluminum sheet and screwed to the forward closure with two short 4-40 
+screws into tapped and drilled mounting holes.  Note the use of an A23 12v
+alkaline battery in a holder on the bracket with the 
+EasyMotor prototype.  These batteries are fine for a flight or two, and both
+they and the little holders for them are cheap on Amazon and make installations
+like this fairly easy to put together:
 
 <a href="photos/IMG_20200905_112722.jpg"> <img src="photos/IMG_20200905_112722-thumb.jpg"></a>
+
+This second example is on a 75mm snap-ring closure, and was Bdale's first attempt 
+using 16-gauge steel to bend a mounting bracket that could also be used for recovery
+harness attachment.  Another A23 and holder are taped on the other side of the 
+sensor not visible in this photo:
+
 <a href="photos/IMG_20200907_101910.jpg"> <img src="photos/IMG_20200907_101910-thumb.jpg"></a>
+
+This example is a refinement of the 16-gauge steel strap used to form a mounting 
+bracket and harness retention point, this time for a 54mm snap-ring closure.  
+Bdale has flown this setup several times now, and the only down-side is that
+it obvious takes up a few extra inches of airframe length.  Note also the quik-link
+wrapped in electrical tape to make sure it doesn't flop down and short against
+any of the electronics in flight.  Note also a long piece of shooter wire that
+gets fed through a vent hole in the airframe as a twist-n-tape power switch.
+
 <a href="photos/IMG_20201010_142952.jpg"> <img src="photos/IMG_20201010_142952-thumb.jpg"></a>
 
 ## Artifacts ##
@@ -42,6 +72,6 @@ The hardware design files are available from
 
 ## Availability ##
 
-Prototypes of v2 were built and successfully flown.  An initial production 
-batch is now underway, and we hope these will be for sale around the end of
-calendar year 2020.
+Prototypes of v2 were built and successfully flown.  The initial production
+run is back from our surface-mount assembler, and testing is underway.  We
+hope to have these available for sale by February 2021.