From: Bdale Garbee Date: Tue, 27 Apr 2010 08:59:06 +0000 (-0600) Subject: big day! X-Git-Url: https://git.gag.com/?p=web%2Fgag.com;a=commitdiff_plain;h=9c94d1d8ec07f20d995b6d06638236a46b82fdec big day! --- diff --git a/bdale/blog/posts/TeleMetrum_in_Stock.mdwn b/bdale/blog/posts/TeleMetrum_in_Stock.mdwn new file mode 100644 index 0000000..015e25d --- /dev/null +++ b/bdale/blog/posts/TeleMetrum_in_Stock.mdwn @@ -0,0 +1,21 @@ +[[!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... diff --git a/rockets/airframes/RG-2/index.mdwn b/rockets/airframes/RG-2/index.mdwn index 9281a90..7290bd6 100644 --- a/rockets/airframes/RG-2/index.mdwn +++ b/rockets/airframes/RG-2/index.mdwn @@ -32,5 +32,38 @@ at [NCR](http://ncrocketry.org) Mile High Mayhem 2010. 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