Adding Weight - Northern Colorado Rocketry

This topic has 4 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 11 years, 2 months ago by Jack Matthews.

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July 16, 2014 at 4:30 am #41742
MikeS
Moderator
I have added weight to the nose cone in a couple different ways.

BBs and epoxy.

I have added a bulkhead, enabling me to add weight, change
weight in the nose. On a 3″ cone

I have had the BBs come loose and had to re-epoxy. I do not trust
the bulkhead, afraid with a strong main ejection is will pull out. It has
not done so yet.

I run a budget launch program and use the nose cones I have in
many air frames.

I am looking at a five inch nose cone. Have plenty of room. Planning on
taking an E-Bay set up and Aeropoxy the hell out of it. Leave the lower
removable. Foam around the space between the EB and inside of the cone. Can add weight on the threaded rods and or electronics sled.

What are some of Your methods?

Thanks Mike
July 17, 2014 at 8:17 pm #56832
BEAR
I have used tungsten fishing weights from Walmart in the past. They are heavier and more dense than lead, the same as gold, and less than depleted uranium. They are also much less expensive and and easier to acquire,also. After determining how much I need in weight, I will put them in something like a piece of tubing; plastic, aluminum, brass, or steel, dependent on the amount of weight needed. Inside a container, they do not come loose, and the whole container can be secured. I hope this helps.
July 30, 2014 at 4:27 pm #56833
edward
Moderator
I had weight added to a 5.5″ LOC Nosecone – it eventually came out during a hard landing. I used PL Premium and scuffed the plastic. After that I decided to plastic weld a plastic 1/2″ thick bulkhead in that I could seal off and be more permanent.

Edward
August 2, 2014 at 3:49 am #56834
MikeS
Moderator
My solution up till now. “still under construction”

Made EB added a Styrofoam tip, (to fill void) glued in place with gorilla
glue. Added PL construction adhesive and two, side dowels. The side
filled with PL is about eight inches. 1/4″ dowels thru the wall of the cone
into the EB.

Washers can be added or removed on the center all-thread.

This is a five inch cone.

https://plus.google.com/photos/116238223328381227602/albums/6042807993602503105?banner=pwa
August 4, 2014 at 3:10 pm #56835
Jack Matthews
Moderator
Hey, Bear….

…and less than depleted uranium.

Depleted by how much? Think I’ll give your nose cones a wide berth from now on…
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