Hey! This thing is still a Work in Progress.
Files, instructions, and other stuff might change!
Exploding Compressed Air Rocket
Description
A 3D printable rocket designed to work with the Make: Compressed Air Rocket kit. makeprojects.com/Project/Compressed-Air-Rocket/585/1#.UAxRPzGe5sE
Printed in two pieces from PLA on an Ultimaker, these rocket look great, and might work great... OR MIGHT EXPLODE. One lasted for three successful launches before breaking into two pieces on landing. The other two shattered on launch. Oh, the Humanity!
Photo & Videos: flickr.com/photos/cbonsig/sets/72157630700622384/
Printed in two pieces from PLA on an Ultimaker, these rocket look great, and might work great... OR MIGHT EXPLODE. One lasted for three successful launches before breaking into two pieces on landing. The other two shattered on launch. Oh, the Humanity!
Photo & Videos: flickr.com/photos/cbonsig/sets/72157630700622384/
Instructions
0. Make a compressed air rocket launcher!! See description for a link.
1. Improve the design! Native Solidworks 2012 files attached, along with a PDF drawing.
2. Slice and print. I used Cura 12.07 with default settings. 0.2mm slice height. 190 degrees. The base uses the full height of the Ultimaker, so it might have to be adjusted for a different printer. Printed in a vertical orientation, though the thumbnails here show it horizontal.
3. Clean up print if necessary. These were pretty clean for me, but I used a dremel to clean up any little overhanging materials at the top and bottom that would create interference on assembly or on the launcher.
4. Assemble the top and bottom. I heated up the bottom of the top piece to soften it a bit, and applied some cyanoacrylate glue to the top of the bottom piece, then slid them together.
5. Prepare for launch! I pumped up the chamber to 80 psi.
6. Stand back!
7. Fire!
8. Admire flight, and/or collect shattered pieces for forensic study!
Possible improvements:
a. I would be interested to know if ABS is any more durable than PLA. Calling all Makerbotters and Reprappers!
b. Solidify the nosecone a bit. On my one successful rocket, the tip busted open to a ~4mm hole after the first flight.
c. Open up the inner diameter a bit? Its a bit tight on the 1/2" Schedule 40 launch pipe. Maybe if it was opened up a bit, more energy would go in the vertical direction rather than toward explosive destruction.
Photo & Videos: flickr.com/photos/cbonsig/sets/72157630700622384/
1. Improve the design! Native Solidworks 2012 files attached, along with a PDF drawing.
2. Slice and print. I used Cura 12.07 with default settings. 0.2mm slice height. 190 degrees. The base uses the full height of the Ultimaker, so it might have to be adjusted for a different printer. Printed in a vertical orientation, though the thumbnails here show it horizontal.
3. Clean up print if necessary. These were pretty clean for me, but I used a dremel to clean up any little overhanging materials at the top and bottom that would create interference on assembly or on the launcher.
4. Assemble the top and bottom. I heated up the bottom of the top piece to soften it a bit, and applied some cyanoacrylate glue to the top of the bottom piece, then slid them together.
5. Prepare for launch! I pumped up the chamber to 80 psi.
6. Stand back!
7. Fire!
8. Admire flight, and/or collect shattered pieces for forensic study!
Possible improvements:
a. I would be interested to know if ABS is any more durable than PLA. Calling all Makerbotters and Reprappers!
b. Solidify the nosecone a bit. On my one successful rocket, the tip busted open to a ~4mm hole after the first flight.
c. Open up the inner diameter a bit? Its a bit tight on the 1/2" Schedule 40 launch pipe. Maybe if it was opened up a bit, more energy would go in the vertical direction rather than toward explosive destruction.
Photo & Videos: flickr.com/photos/cbonsig/sets/72157630700622384/
Collections
spacecraft/rockets
by NicoWillden
Games/Sports/Hobbies/Outdoors
by gharbeia
Things to Make
by evamvid
License
Exploding Compressed Air Rocket by Cbonsig is licensed under the Attribution - Creative Commons license.

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