Introduction: PROFESSIONAL AQUA MISSILE
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About: I am interested in reverse engineering a thing. Also interested in beekeeping, DIY, cycling, gardening, and farming.
Hello friends,I welcome everyone. In this instructable I am going to show you the way of building professional aqua rocket and sophisticated launcher.
We all might see massive rockets carrying huge payloads and heads toward space, the science behind the propulsion is very simple that is every force has an equivalent and opposite reaction (Newton's third law of motion).I will explain more about the science and forces related to the water rockets later in this instructable.Are you ready to go into the instructable.
Supplies
For Rocket
1. PET bottle (1 or 2 liters) - 2 Nos (Soda or cool drinks
bottle)
2. Milk or protein powder can - 2 Nos
3. Cardboard (optional)
4. Decorating tape (optional)
For LAUNCHER
1. Pipe - 20 mm dia
2. couplers
3. one side threaded coupler - 1
4. T coupler - 1
5. Tubeless Tyre valve
6. Cable Tie (long) - about 20
7. Air pump
8. Clamp ( for attaching launcher with wooden stand or ground)
9. Pipe clip
10. End cap
11. TEFLON tape
YOU CAN USE PVC( HIGH THICKNESS) OR GI
I used PVC pipe ( Solvent also needed to join 0
TOOLS & ACCESSORIES
1. Sharp Knife, Hacksaw blade
2. Soldering iron OR iron rod
3. Drilling machine (optional)
4. Epoxy compound ( general purpose) OR Glue able to stick with Plastic and metal.
5. Duct tape OR insulation tape
6. Screwdriver( for tightening pipe clip)
Step 1: NOSE OF THE ROCKET
Now, you have 2 similar bottles of same capacity and same brand. Take one of it and cut it at the lid side where it has parabolic OR conic shape. After that cut the thread region provided for the cap.
Now, the NOSE of the rocket is partially ready. Put a small ball which can cover the hole in the top of the NOSE in such a way the nose seems to be a full shape. you can also use paper for it by rolling and make it like a ball and glue it.
Thus the NOSE cone is now ready.
another bottle is used as pressure vessel.
Now, the NOSE of the rocket is partially ready. Put a small ball which can cover the hole in the top of the NOSE in such a way the nose seems to be a full shape. you can also use paper for it by rolling and make it like a ball and glue it.
Thus the NOSE cone is now ready.
another bottle is used as pressure vessel.
Step 2: FIN OF THE ROCKET
I used 3 fins for my rocket. It provided greater stability at minimum weight for the rocket .
Most probably the protein powder cans has the diameter of 2 litre bottles. So if you have 1 litre bottle simply make the fin with cardboard by cutting the cardboard in a shape like rectangle,parabola,ellipse,etc ( It is your choice so that you can know about the aerodynamics of various shapes and their effects in the flight )
If you have 2 litre bottle, use the protein powder can. Take one can and cut out the lid and bottom portion. then cut the remaining portion straight Now you have rectangular sheet metal. blow it with a wooden hammer or wood block to straight it . Draw the fin shape in the sheet and cut out the fins from it by heavy scissor or sheet metal scissor.
Now take the other can and remove the bottom and cut
the remaining portion for certain length so that it can cover from widest part of the bottle to the lid portion .If you see the image this will be easily understand.
NOTE : WHILE CUTTING THE METAL CANS ,BE CAREFUL .THOSE ARE VERY SHARP.
Now bend the bottom of the fins about 1 cm. attach the fins to the cylindrical sheet metal at 120 degree interval using glue OR epoxy compound.
YOU CAN MAKE YOUR OWN DESIGN AND SHAPE. IT'S UP TO YOUR CREATIVITY.THERE IS NO LIMIT,BY DOING SO YOU CAN ABLE TO KNOW THE AERODYNAMICS AND SCIENCE BEHIND THE ROCKETS AND OTHER FLYING OBJECTS.
Most probably the protein powder cans has the diameter of 2 litre bottles. So if you have 1 litre bottle simply make the fin with cardboard by cutting the cardboard in a shape like rectangle,parabola,ellipse,etc ( It is your choice so that you can know about the aerodynamics of various shapes and their effects in the flight )
If you have 2 litre bottle, use the protein powder can. Take one can and cut out the lid and bottom portion. then cut the remaining portion straight Now you have rectangular sheet metal. blow it with a wooden hammer or wood block to straight it . Draw the fin shape in the sheet and cut out the fins from it by heavy scissor or sheet metal scissor.
Now take the other can and remove the bottom and cut
the remaining portion for certain length so that it can cover from widest part of the bottle to the lid portion .If you see the image this will be easily understand.
NOTE : WHILE CUTTING THE METAL CANS ,BE CAREFUL .THOSE ARE VERY SHARP.
Now bend the bottom of the fins about 1 cm. attach the fins to the cylindrical sheet metal at 120 degree interval using glue OR epoxy compound.
YOU CAN MAKE YOUR OWN DESIGN AND SHAPE. IT'S UP TO YOUR CREATIVITY.THERE IS NO LIMIT,BY DOING SO YOU CAN ABLE TO KNOW THE AERODYNAMICS AND SCIENCE BEHIND THE ROCKETS AND OTHER FLYING OBJECTS.
Step 3: ASSEMBLE THE ROCKET
Take the pressure vessel bottle .On the lid side place the fin system and glue it or tape it. before adding fin the center of gravity lies in the middle of the bottle after that it comes towards the fin portion due to added weight of fins.but we might make the center of gravity(CG) to lie on the other half of the bottle but not near to the bottom of the bottle. To achieve it we might add some weight in the NOSE side.
( the aerodynamic forces act through a point called centre of pressure(CP) If it lies above center of gravity then the rocket is unstabilized and tumble while flying. so we kept the CP point below the CG point.)
Now put the NOSE firmly in the bottle and use one wrap of tape to hold it with bottle.
NOW take a long string and tie it over the bottle where the CG lies and rotate the rocket by holding the string in your hand. IF the rocket make a smooth rotation then your rocket is stable otherwise make small adjustments to the weight you added on the nose side of the rocket.
ALWAYS try to make less weight rocket this will improve the flight distance at optimum conditions. IF you think and rigid plastic sheet you can make the fin system with that,so the rocket will weigh less.
NOW THE ROCKET IS MADE AND IT IS READY TO LAUNCH IF YOU HAVE A LAUNCHER.
( the aerodynamic forces act through a point called centre of pressure(CP) If it lies above center of gravity then the rocket is unstabilized and tumble while flying. so we kept the CP point below the CG point.)
Now put the NOSE firmly in the bottle and use one wrap of tape to hold it with bottle.
NOW take a long string and tie it over the bottle where the CG lies and rotate the rocket by holding the string in your hand. IF the rocket make a smooth rotation then your rocket is stable otherwise make small adjustments to the weight you added on the nose side of the rocket.
ALWAYS try to make less weight rocket this will improve the flight distance at optimum conditions. IF you think and rigid plastic sheet you can make the fin system with that,so the rocket will weigh less.
NOW THE ROCKET IS MADE AND IT IS READY TO LAUNCH IF YOU HAVE A LAUNCHER.
Step 4: LAUNCHER MAKING
(see the images for reference)
If you use GI pipe and caps ,then you might drill a hole in the end cap as per the size of the tubeless tire valve.
If you are using PVC ,take the end cap. using soldering iron or hot iron rod make a hole at the center of the cap and remove the PVC ejected out in the process by using KNIFE or HACKSAW BLADE.
Then slowly increase the diameter of the hole ,If you are not make the hole properly there is a chance of leaking while operating the launcher because the valve is push fit type so be careful while making the hole,after making the hole push the valve from inside of the cap,be sure to finish the hole if there is any roughness it is difficult to push the valve.
then joint the pipes if you are not going to make a separate stand or pad for the launcher ,join the pipes like a square or other shapes ,but you must set the angle of launching tube ,once set it is not able to change the angle .
In my design the launch setup is fixed with a wooden stand by clamps bolted with stand so you can cable to adjust the pipe by loosening the bolts and thus the launching angle can be varied easily.
join the pipes in a similar way in the images or your own way. in the vertical section of the pipe i put one side threaded coupler to attach the launch tube so that i can use various length of launch tubes in a single system by putting another one threaded pipe after removing the old one..
now put the bottle in the launch tube and place cable tie in such a way that the head of the cable ties will be placed in the lid section of the bottle and it will hold the bottle in the same manner while preparing the launch.after placing the cable ties tape it about 5 cm below the heads of the cable tie and then tight them with pipe clips
take a sheet metal piece having reasonable width and length (or plastic sheet). place and wrap it around the cable tie head such that the cable ties will hold the bottle tightly.
Wrap it tightly by using tape .Make small holes at the bottom on opposite sides and tie a string with so when you pull the string,the sheet metal structure comes down and loosens the cable tie so the rocket is free to fly
Now wrap some tape around the launch tube where the bottle opening will come ( i.e. at the bottom of the launch tube) and put some TEFLON over it to prevent leaking.
before launching pour some water into the bottle and put in the launch tube and lock it.then slowly pump the air into it Check for leaks in the launcher mainly in the bottle lid side if it leaks wrap it again with TEFLON.( IF YOU HAVE SMALL O RING CORD AND SPLICING KIT YOU CAN MAKE AN O RING AND PLACE IT IN A SMALL GROOVE CUT IN THE LAUNCH TUBE.)
There is no limit for your creativity try to make different sealing methods and bottle locking mechanisms.)
NOW YOUR LAUNCHER AS WELL AS THE ROCKET IS MADE. LAUNCH IT.
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS:
THE FINS ARE SHARP SO HANDLE WITH CARE WHILE FITTING THE ROCKET IN THE LAUNCHER.
LAUNCH THE ROCKET IN A SAFE PLACE WHERE LARGE PLAIN GROUND IS AVAILABLE AND ALSO ASK YOUR FRIENDS TO SEE THE LAUNCHING FROM A SAFE PLACE.
SOMETIMES, THE ROCKET WILL NOT FLY IMMEDIATELY AFTER REMOVING LOCK THIS WILL DUE TO THE FRICTION BETWEEN BOTTLE AND SEAL.DON'T TRY TO LAUNCH IT WITH YOUR HANDS THAT WILL CAUSE INJURY TO YOU BECAUSE OF THE SHARP FINS.
ALWAYS CONCERN ABOUT THE SAFETY OF YOU AS WELL AS OTHER'S.
If you use GI pipe and caps ,then you might drill a hole in the end cap as per the size of the tubeless tire valve.
If you are using PVC ,take the end cap. using soldering iron or hot iron rod make a hole at the center of the cap and remove the PVC ejected out in the process by using KNIFE or HACKSAW BLADE.
Then slowly increase the diameter of the hole ,If you are not make the hole properly there is a chance of leaking while operating the launcher because the valve is push fit type so be careful while making the hole,after making the hole push the valve from inside of the cap,be sure to finish the hole if there is any roughness it is difficult to push the valve.
then joint the pipes if you are not going to make a separate stand or pad for the launcher ,join the pipes like a square or other shapes ,but you must set the angle of launching tube ,once set it is not able to change the angle .
In my design the launch setup is fixed with a wooden stand by clamps bolted with stand so you can cable to adjust the pipe by loosening the bolts and thus the launching angle can be varied easily.
join the pipes in a similar way in the images or your own way. in the vertical section of the pipe i put one side threaded coupler to attach the launch tube so that i can use various length of launch tubes in a single system by putting another one threaded pipe after removing the old one..
now put the bottle in the launch tube and place cable tie in such a way that the head of the cable ties will be placed in the lid section of the bottle and it will hold the bottle in the same manner while preparing the launch.after placing the cable ties tape it about 5 cm below the heads of the cable tie and then tight them with pipe clips
take a sheet metal piece having reasonable width and length (or plastic sheet). place and wrap it around the cable tie head such that the cable ties will hold the bottle tightly.
Wrap it tightly by using tape .Make small holes at the bottom on opposite sides and tie a string with so when you pull the string,the sheet metal structure comes down and loosens the cable tie so the rocket is free to fly
Now wrap some tape around the launch tube where the bottle opening will come ( i.e. at the bottom of the launch tube) and put some TEFLON over it to prevent leaking.
before launching pour some water into the bottle and put in the launch tube and lock it.then slowly pump the air into it Check for leaks in the launcher mainly in the bottle lid side if it leaks wrap it again with TEFLON.( IF YOU HAVE SMALL O RING CORD AND SPLICING KIT YOU CAN MAKE AN O RING AND PLACE IT IN A SMALL GROOVE CUT IN THE LAUNCH TUBE.)
There is no limit for your creativity try to make different sealing methods and bottle locking mechanisms.)
NOW YOUR LAUNCHER AS WELL AS THE ROCKET IS MADE. LAUNCH IT.
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS:
THE FINS ARE SHARP SO HANDLE WITH CARE WHILE FITTING THE ROCKET IN THE LAUNCHER.
LAUNCH THE ROCKET IN A SAFE PLACE WHERE LARGE PLAIN GROUND IS AVAILABLE AND ALSO ASK YOUR FRIENDS TO SEE THE LAUNCHING FROM A SAFE PLACE.
SOMETIMES, THE ROCKET WILL NOT FLY IMMEDIATELY AFTER REMOVING LOCK THIS WILL DUE TO THE FRICTION BETWEEN BOTTLE AND SEAL.DON'T TRY TO LAUNCH IT WITH YOUR HANDS THAT WILL CAUSE INJURY TO YOU BECAUSE OF THE SHARP FINS.
ALWAYS CONCERN ABOUT THE SAFETY OF YOU AS WELL AS OTHER'S.
Step 5: LAUNCHING
Fill the bottle with 700 - 900 ml of water. Insert the rocket into the launcher and check for water leakage. Lock the rocket by cable tie system. Connect the air pump adapter with the valve. Now pump reasonable amount of air into it. Check the pressure using pressure gauge. Pull the string from some distance. Now the Rocket will go into the air at very high velocity.
Participated in the
Make It Fly Challenge
