Index to Jacobs' Experimental Rocketry

Experimental Rocketry

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	This is the index to my experimental rocketry pages. Experimental Rocketry is now referred to as Research Rocketry by Tripoli. It is also referred to as Amateur Experimental Rocketry. Currently these pages explain homemade model rocket motors homemade high power rocket motors (or engines if you prefer). This web site currently focuses on sugar propellant using potassium nitrate (KNO₃) and sugar -- sucrose, dextrose, sorbitol, xlyitol, erythritol, etc. -- often called caramel candy propellant or fuel, sugar propellant, rcandy, rocket candy, and others. I have specialized in smaller rocket motors using PVC for the motor casing and quickset concrete such as Rockite or Durham's Water Putty nozzles and using a recrystallized method of making propellant. Recrystallization is nothing more than dissolving the components in water to mix the ingredients and then driving off the water by heating. I work on these web pages frequently and add additional pages frequently so check back often. The latest additions (March 2008) are the pages on the law, wirewound igniters, and my projects, plans, and direction.
	Overview, Discussion and Details Rocketry Overview Types of Rocketry Model Rocketry High Power Rocketry Experimental Rocketry Rocket Motor Basics Motor vs. Engine Rocket Propellant How a Motor Works The de Laval Nozzle Propellant Configuration Inhibited Surfaces Ejection Charge Propellants Types of Propellants Compressed propellant Zinc-Sulfur Black Powder Sugar-KNO₃ Composite Propellant Propellant Preparation Methods Grinding Blender Mortar and Pestle Coffee Mill Ball Mill Dry Compressed Black Powder Sugar & KN Zinc-Sulfur Dry & Wet Heating Cold Mixing Caramel Candy Propellant Components Basic Formula Alternate Formulas Corn Syrup Glycerin Iron Oxide Methods of preparation Dry Heated Dissolved & Heated Heating Methods Directly on a Burner Double Boiler on a stove Kitchen Oven Toaster Oven Electric Skillet or Wok Deep Fryer Double Boiler in a deep fryer Casings, Nozzles, & Headers Casing Types Metal PVC Paper Nozzles & Headers Metal Compressed Bentonite Clay Quick-Set concrete Retention Methods for Concrete Caps & Other Fittings Circumferential Holes I.D. Ring Squeezing Screws / Pins Ignition & Igniters Ignition Time. What's the Difference? Anatomy of an Igniter How an Igniter Works Igniter Calculations Current and Power Battery Draw Down Temperature Example Igniters Electric Matches and Igniters The Law 4-4-2008 -- This is being re-written. Links The Science, Equations & Math Free 1979 Homemade Black Powder Rocket Motor Manual	"How To" Pages & Experiments Designing Rocket Motors What is your motive? What is your purpose? Design Tables Instead of Motor Design Three approaches to motor design What you need to know Design a 1" PVC Motor Propellant Properties and the Burn Rate Formula Other Formulas Motor Design Tables PVC Motor Specs for Sucrose Propellant Motor Designations by Size & Grains 1/2" Motors with 1/4" Bore (1,2,3,4,5 Grain) 3/4" Motors with 1/4" Bore (1,2,3 Grain) 3/4" Motors with 3/8" Bore (4,5,6 Grain) 1" Motors with 3/8" Bore (1,2,3,4 Grain) 1" Motors with 1/2" Bore (5,6 Grain) 1-1/4" Motors with 1/2" Bore (1,2,3,4 Grain) 1-1/4" Motors with 5/8" Bore (5,6 Grain) 1-1/2" Motors with 1/2" Bore (1,2,3 Grain) 1-1/2" Motors with 5/8" Bore (4,5) Inhibitor Sleeves What are Inhibitor Sleeves? Why are Inhibitor Sleeves Used? How to Make Inhibitor Sleeves Grain Casting Fixture Casting Types Casting Fixture Goals Fixture Design Fixture Fabrication Propellant & Grain Preparation Setup Grain Mold and Supplies Propellant Preparation Weigh Your Ingredients Stir the Mix Blurping Stage Mashed Potato Stage Casting Stage Cast grains When is it ready? The Casting Process Coring Finished Grains Desiccator -- storage Casings and Motor Preparation Casings ID Rings & Fittings Circumferential holes Nozzle Mandrel Forming the Nozzle Sealing the Nozzle Loading Propellant Grains Time Delay Storage Homemade Wire-Wound Igniters Pyrogen NC Laquer Black Powder Mixing the Pyrogen The Lead Wire The Igniter Wire (Bridge Wire) Wrapping and Soldering the Wire To Solder or Not to Solder Applying the Pyrogen Dryng the Igniters Safety Short the Leads Modifications for Larger Motors Firing a 9V Igniter Misc. Tables PVC Pipe Schedule 40 PVC Pipe Schedule 80 Standard Gauges for Wire and Sheet Electrical Resistivity of Selected Metals and Alloys Current vs Temperature (current required to heat nichrome wire to a specific temperature) Testing & Test Fixtures Experiments My Projects, Plans, & Direction What Exists Large Composite Propellant, PVC Pipe Motors -- John Wickman Black Powder, Paper Casing Motors -- David Sleeter Sugar Propellant, Metal Casing -- Richard Nakka Sugar Propellant, PVC Casing -- Dan Pollino, Chuck Knight, Jimmy Yawn Where are the holes? Small Reliable PVC Sugar Motors Batch Fabrication Nozzle Types and Retention Methods Best Method to Make Propellant Ratio Differences Quantization and Characterization End Burning Motors Other Combinations Other Questions Effect of Caramelization Effects of Time on Propellant Strength of Casings and Nozzle Material Test Methods Future Developments Steerable Parachute Recovery Mile High Rocket Brown Iron Oxide & End Burners Caramelization Effects Retention Experiments
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