Bottle Rocket & Launcher

I've been trying to make a bottle rocket that works reliably for a little while now but I haven't been able to get it. So with this project, I have a couple of goals in mind that I want to achieve.

• Semi-mobile so it is easy to carry around
• Cheap to build
• Easy to build
• Safe

One more thing I used Tinkercad for all the 3D designing in this in instructable.

Supplies

Materials

• Packing foam
• Smooth plastic bottle (1 liter)
• Wine bottle cork
• Ball pump
• Ziploc bag
• Grocery bag (non-reusable)
• Kirkland nuts container
• String
• Cardboard

Tools

• X-acto knife
• Sharpie
• Scissors
• 3D printer (I use an Ender 3 Pro)
• Computer
• Drill
• Hot-glue gun
• Sandpaper
• Duct tape
• Wire cutters

Step 1: Cut Out Fins

Cut a fin shape out of the packing foam you have. Make sure they are all the same shape and size, this is very important so that when the rocket is launched it doesn't careen off to the side!

Step 2: Make Fins Aerodynamic

Cut each of the fins on a 45-degree angle so they slice through the air better I like to use scissors for this part makes it a lot easier. Makes them look a lot cooler too!

Step 3: Glue to the Body of the Rocket

Hot-glue each at 90-degree angles from each other as shown in the video above. Boom, now you're done with the fins!

Step 4: Making Capsule Frame

First, cut out a circle of cardboard that is the diameter of the bottle you're using, then cut four pieces of foam strips and hot glue them together like in the picture above. This is one of the coolest parts because when you end up launching your rocket it will be able to launch payload and then proceed to touch down safely under a parachute. The reason I used foam as the structure is that if the parachute doesn't work it will fall to the ground but the foam will absorb the shock and dissipate the energy.

Step 5: Cover Capsule

In this step, I took a ziploc bag and cut it up so I just had a sheet of durable plastic. Then I hot-glued the plastic to the frame of the rocket so that it had a skin. While still light and waterproof which you definitely want from a rocket that's fuel is water. The capsule also acts as a nice and aerodynamic nose cone for the rocket. (if you do it right that is)

Step 6: 3D Print the Capsule Separater

These are the settings I used for the "Capsule Separator.stl" below

• 100% infill
• 0.28 layer height (or low-quality on Cura)
• PLA
• No raft

Also, I wrapped duct tape around the sides to make it more durable.

Step 7: Making the Parachute

While waiting for our parts to print let's make the parachute. All you have to do is cut a circle out of plastic from the garbage bag then cut a little hole in the center. I put duct on every quarter and put holes in them so the strings don't tear through. Finally, I tied the strings onto then hot glued them to the capsule making sure not to cross over the strings because it then just turned into a tangled mess.

Tip: Make sure all the strings are the exact same length

Step 8: Add Capsule Separator

All you need to do is hot glue the flat side of the print to the bottom of your capsule like in the picture.

Step 9: 3D Print Some More Pieces

These are the settings I used for the "pull and cap pieces.stl" below

• 100% infill
• 0.28 layer height (or low-quality on Cura)
• PLA
• No rafts

I used the same settings for "stand piece.stl" but I used 30% infill

Step 10: Prep the Cork

I drilled a hole all the way through the cork then I cut off the end of the cork so I could see the needle from the ball pump sticking out

Step 11: Make a Hole in the Cap

In this step, all you need to do is make a hole in the cap of your bottle that is the diameter of your cork.

Step 12: Sand the Parts

Sand these parts so that in the next step the hot glue will stick to them better. I also scratched up the surface a bit with my X-acto knife so they stick even better

Step 13: Assembling 3D Printed Parts

This step is pretty easy, just hot glue the pieces together as shown in the pictures.

Step 14: Container Stand

I basically drilled a hole in the cap that was at least the diameter of the needle of the ball pump. I also drilled a starter hole in the side and then I took wire cutters and ripped a bunch of plastic out of that hole so I could insert the air tube from the ball pump.

Step 15: Install Launch Mechanism

All you need to do is hot glue the stand piece onto the cap. Make sure to line the hole in the cork with the hole in the cap before gluing it down.

Step 16: Launch It!

40 psi worked great for me the only thing is that it couldn't be windy at all because it would blow off the capsule on the launch pad or should I say launch container. But otherwise, I had a blast launching it. See what did there with blast and rockets, eh you get it. I also put up some pictures on how to assemble it.

Step 17: Conclusion

Overall I'm quite happy with this project. I've learned lots of new things, especially because it's my first instructable. I hope whoever is reading this has fun making this project. Thank you to my brother also for filming the videos for this project.

Bye, thanks for reading my instructable!