Avionics Bay/Electronics Bay (Ebay) Construction

[Conway StevensParticipant]

I dont happen to have any photos to show but Ive done it the way JW was talking about with the coupler portion epoxied into the body section. But Ive also done it in the top of the booster. I measure out the longest motor I can fit and I use retention into the motor itself via all thread screwed into the motor forward closure. Then the first bulk plate slides down over the all thread (there is a stopper nut in between the motor and the Bulk plate. The coupler then slides down in the booster section and the electronics board and so on until you cap it off with the other bulk plate and on that end I use a forged eye nut that is lock nutted in place. There is where I can tie my harness to and its now zipperless design as well. I also retain the motor in lower as well. I can use longer or shorter pieces of all thread to accommodate for specific motor lengths. One could even add a space to make the ebay the retainer for the motor. Its one of 3 basic designs I use. I am working on some other stuff but they are a bit more complex and require fasteners that are flush and opening bay doors. If you ever want to see some real serious ebay sections look at Gene Nowaczyk (pronounced Nova-check) rocket he flew to 93K on a Q.

[Bruce R. Schaefer]

With the last rocket I built–the one you carried back for me, I actually had two bays I could use, depending on the flying configuration. Only used the upper one, and that was close to what JW and you are talking about. The lower one was sealed at the bottom and you could take off the top (that held the canisters, with the electronics below). I really like your variation on the booster. The more I think about it, the more I REALLY like it. I’m going to give that serious thought. Man, it’s all about trade-offs, isn’t it? There’s that other one with a section of air frame centered on the coupler. I’m probably going with what got me here and use one like my top bay… and maybe if I can line things up, just use a plastic screwdriver (don’t want to short anything out) from the outside, or just put two key switches on the outside. I was wisely warned not to put anything on the outside critical to flight that can get smashed. Haven’t decided yet. On the lower one I had the nutserts positioned where they held the electronics board firmly in place. I got lucky… no, no, I mean I planned it that way. Isn’t the winter fun? 🙄

Hey, checked out “Nova-check’s” rocket: http://www.aeroconsystems.com/Gene_Nowaczyk_Balls2006/balls2006.html Man, THAT’S a rocket!

[SCOTT EVANS]

Scott, here are some good sources for Ebay info.

http://www.vatsaas.org/rtv/construction/avbay/avbay.aspx

http://www.giantleaprocketry.com/hpdefault.asp

http://www.info-central.org/recovery_dualdeploy.shtml

This last one uses a slide switch. Never do that. Even mounted horizontally, the forces at work on a rocket can make the slide turn off.

http://www.info-central.org/construction_antizipper.shtml

This last one is Info-Central, a pretty good information site. I put you on the anti-zipper section. The index is on the left, browse through and see what they have to offer. Besides all the knowledge in this club, I also recommend Mark Canepa’s 2nd book on HPR. Looks at it from the certification point of view.

Maybe im missing something. How do you anchor it to both tubes (or do you) so you just blow the ends off and eject the parchutes (instead of the entire tube with the parachute still inside) ??

sorry Bruce if its there and I cant see it.

[SCOTT EVANS]

I mean, I know you could use screws. But now there hangen out in the wind. And after a while it seems like the shock would start to destry the body tubes where the screws are. Is there another way?

Scotte

[SCOTT EVANS]

Sorry I guess I should clarify me thinking. Im not sure screws will work all that well in quantum tubing.

[SCOTT EVANS]

IMHO there is a “best of both worlds” solution that is way hard to explain via forums or email… Next time on the range I can show you what I do, anyway. The short version is this – I epoxy the coupler into the upper section, leaving enough hanging out to act as the coupler… I then drop the top bulkhead in from the fore end and the backplate from the aft end, holding it all captive with eye nuts http://www.bosunsupplies.com/products2.cfm?product=S0322 and a piece of allthread.

By doing this, there are no screws to lose, you have 100% access, there is no drag from exterior screws, etc. It is also very, very strong. Of course I’m interested in as little drag as possible, and this design gives me that. I also have total access to everything. Works for me, anyway…

I know I keep Blabbing to nobody lol
I get a picture here but unless you anchore it to the bottom tube where the droug is it will not be a zipperless design. Which isnt good on qauntum tube either.

maybe quantum tube isnt any good for a lot of this stuff !!!

scotte

[Anonymous]

Sorry I guess I should clarify me thinking. Im not sure screws will work all that well in quantum tubing.

PML rivets. They work great. I’ve used them on very large rockets, too. They do work quite well in QT. That said, I think QT is not a very good airframe choice – but if you are going to use it, you can’t do any better than PML rivets.

[SCOTT EVANS]

I will look those up

thanks

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