[Space] Interested Rocket Man

[James Mulroy]

Also, not all PVC motors are hybrid.  Some people use PVC as the case and
put sugar propellant in it.  There are different alternatives.

On Mon, Jul 11, 2011 at 12:00 PM, James Mulroy <james.d.mulroy at gmail.com>wrote:

> @Christopher--Sounds like a plan.  I'm pretty sure that I can make it out
> that weekend.  Where are you guys flying out of and what time?
>
> @Jonathan--PVC motors are somewhat popular because they are cheap and easy
> to make.  Unfortunately when they blow up they make a mess and make a lot of
> damage.  I was testing a non-PVC motor (it was aluminum) with a PVC test
> stand, and I did it near a garage (big mistake).  When it blew up, the PVC
> shrapnelled right into garage causing $300 in damage and completely
> decimating the siding.  It was a grenade.  PVC motors are bad.  While I'll
> never test a motor again unless I'm in the middle of a field, the point it
> that they can hurt someone and they can cost you $$ in damage when something
> goes wrong, and something WILL go wrong at some point.
>
> Composites and aluminum are far superior materials because they do not
> shrapnel.  You can get hundreds of dollars in high pressure composite pipe
> for free if you bring a case of beer to construction workers building a gas
> station.  Use that instead.  It's free, and withstand higher pressures which
> means a bigger range of propellant types, and most of all--it won't kill
> someone.  That's my suggestion.
>
> Oh, and also, burning PVC is totally disgusting.  It's make cyanide and who
> knows what other nasty crap that you don't want to inhale.
>
> I suggest that if you want an "easy" motor then you make a "nozzleless
> rocket motor."  This is something that I want to pursue.  They have a lot of
> benefits, they're cheap, and they're awesome!  Look up Ray Goodson's
> nozzleless rocket motors on Youtube.  There is a 5" and 3" version you'll
> see.
>
> -James
>
>   On Mon, Jul 11, 2011 at 10:28 AM, Jonathan Moore <moore at eds.org> wrote:
>
>> On Sun, Jun 12, 2011 at 2:40 PM, James Mulroy <james.d.mulroy at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>> > I don't doubt it.  There is definitely more electronics (gas control) in
>> a
>> > hybrid.  More machining too!  I think it would be a fun project.
>>
>> The all PVC engines seem real simple to make and use. The biggest pain
>> is just hauling out the NOX to the launch sight from what I can tell:
>>
>>
>>    http://www.google.com/search?q=pvc+hybrid+rocket+engine
>>
>>
>> -Jonathan
>>
>
>
>
> --
> James Mulroy
> Student Researcher
> Freelance Writer <http://www.pcworld.com/author/James-Mulroy>
>  james.d.mulroy at gmail.com
> (920) 470-3473
>
>


-- 
James Mulroy
Student Researcher
Freelance Writer <http://www.pcworld.com/author/James-Mulroy>
james.d.mulroy at gmail.com
(920) 470-3473
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