Silicone nosecone mold - Northern Colorado Rocketry

This topic has 21 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 14 years, 5 months ago by Adrian.

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April 11, 2011 at 4:36 pm #54012
edward
Moderator
Adrian,

I think it would be as strong. You could put some epoxy in the nosecone, then add the sleeve and spin. The nice thing is that it keeps it all against the edges. You can go as thick as a mayo/peanut butter mixture and it will flatten when spinning. The other way to do it would be to put a little plain epoxy in the nosecone and spin to get all the surfaces coated. Then drop in a bunch of chopped fibers dry. Spin those, then add another layer of epoxy. You should look at the resins from Alumilite/their clones. Some of them are wicked strong.

Edward
April 11, 2011 at 5:03 pm #54013
BEAR
If you do not have a lathe, you could use a drill press. Keeps it all vertical unless you have to turn it on it’s side. I have used a drill press before for spinning things and if made strong enough, I have even carved nosecones on a drill press. Not as pretty or accurate as a lathe, but does seem to work in a pinch. My drill press has, if memory serve me, a #3 Jacobs chuck, so I can get up to and a bit over 1/2″ diameter in the chuck.

Remember, if the ladies don’t find you handsome, at least they will find you handy!
April 11, 2011 at 5:09 pm #54014
Adrian
Participant
Wow, and that resin has 90 second pot life, with 5-8 minute demold time. If you work out the spinning, you could crank out 10 cones in an afternoon with that stuff.
April 11, 2011 at 5:11 pm #54015
Adrian
Participant
If you do not have a lathe, you could use a drill press. Keeps it all vertical unless you have to turn it on it’s side. I have used a drill press before for spinning things and if made strong enough, I have even carved nosecones on a drill press. Not as pretty or accurate as a lathe, but does seem to work in a pinch. My drill press has, if memory serve me, a #3 Jacobs chuck, so I can get up to and a bit over 1/2″ diameter in the chuck.

Remember, if the ladies don’t find you handsome, at least they will find you handy!

I don’t have a drill press either, believe it or not. I just use a bench-mounted belt sander and a hand drill to make pretty much everything.
April 11, 2011 at 5:25 pm #54016
BEAR
That is amazing! I just hope I can get that good in the future.

Remember, if the women don’t find you handsome, at least they will find you handy!
April 11, 2011 at 6:43 pm #54017
edward
Moderator
Adrian,

I have some old resins, I’ll dig them out. Maybe at a launch we could do a transfer and I could spin one and see how it works.

Edward
April 11, 2011 at 7:03 pm #54018
Adrian
Participant
That is amazing! I just hope I can get that good in the future.

Remember, if the women don’t find you handsome, at least they will find you handy!

The nice Aluminum plug was made in a CNC lathe, by the guys at Larry’s shop.
April 11, 2011 at 7:10 pm #54019
Adrian
Participant
Adrian,

I have some old resins, I’ll dig them out. Maybe at a launch we could do a transfer and I could spin one and see how it works.

Edward

That would be cool. Can you use my eyeballed-center silicone/acrylic mold, or would you make a new mold from the Al plug?
April 11, 2011 at 9:09 pm #54020
edward
Moderator
I think it would be fine with the mass involved. I’ll just hold it between centers and spin slowly to start.

Edward
April 11, 2011 at 11:52 pm #54021
SCOTT EVANS
Very nice Adrian. You should try spincasting them. I’m sure a chopped carbon fiber layup would be as strong and smooth. Tungsten is used to weight golf club heads – you know, the new space ship flying saucer drivers.

Edward

SPACE SHIP FLYING SAUCER DRIVERS?!
So the golf guys use it for Rockerty too? 😀
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