Bruce, try Aspen Machining in Lafayette. They machined for me an adapter for my scope out of aluminum stock, so I would think having a couple of plates made as you describe would be a piece of cake.

KenP

Thanks, Ken. I MapQuested them, and it's close enough to get to on the way home from work. I'll stop buy with a bulk plate and see if they can make what I need.

Checked in with them, Ken, and they passed me on to a sheet metal shop. I checked where I work in our machine shop, and they weren't much help, but I might be able to get some stock aluminum from them, and I can cut it myself. Not my first choice, but, hey, worth it in the long run.

Sorry that didn't work out. My neighbor owns Boulder Sheet Metal. All HVAC stuff but he may have something that will work for you. I'll touch base with him this evening.

KenP.

Will the aluminum plates fin inside the airframe or on top of the plywood bulk heads? Just wondering what level of tolerance you need in the dimensions.

Just re-read your post. If all you need is 1/16", I'm pretty sure my neighbor has some. I was looking for the same stuff a few months ago for a different project and he did have some. I'll let you know later this evening.

Inside the airframe on the bulk plates that are 4 15/16". The only tolerance issues would be that it can't be large than that up to a quarter inch shorter, that'd be okay. Thanks, Ken. I really appreciate this.

My only comment Bruce is that I'd go with bigger than 1/4"-20 all thread for the central threaded rod. I'd go up to 5/16", maybe even 3/8", all-thread. That's what I'm doing with my Competitor 5. By the way, I'm also changing the fins out for composite fins I'm building up myself on a core of 3/16" carbon/nomex honeycomb using a clipped delta planform with a couple inches of tip chord. However, don't look for this baby to fly until 07...

Warren

This is wierd. Thought I posted a reply. My neighbor does have (he thinks) the aluminum sheet. Says' he'll bring me some this weekend. I will have to cut it because he doesn't the tool to cut it round. I can do that though.

KenP.

Ken, are you sure you want to do this? That's an awful lot of work, unless you have the right tools. Just make sure, and let me know what I'd owe you in a PM. Thank you, and is there anything I can do in return? [posted in your rocket design review thread] You know, the more I think about this, this is really too much to ask of another rocket guy, besides this will be my L3, and I really should do all the work. If you can get 1/16" aluminum that would be more than enough. I got some 1/16" metal at work, and while it's a bit heavier than aluminum, it'll work. Just let me know.

Warren, that's a great suggestion. But I don't think, since my aft end is going to be a lot heavier than yours, that that may be the best route. Heavier especially since you're going with a lighter and stronger fin. That's impressive. I need the aluminum plates, and--while I haven't committed myself yet, I still may use 4 all-threads at 1/4"/20 instead of one at 3/8". I'll also admit that just unscrewing one would be a lot easier than unscrewing four... hmmm... still want the plates, but I may rethink this. Haven't drilled any holes yet. Thanks, Warren. You know, this site is such a great vehicle you've created. No wonder it's grown so much. Great work! Now get back on vacation; the river is waiting!

Bruce the plates are finished.

I actually agree Bruce bigger diameter allthread would be better. Also I belive in exerting the force of the deployment onto the allthreads vs the BP. so I dont use the ubolts. I actually either use forged eyenuts or forged eyebolts attached to the allthread that way the allthread wich in my L3 is 2 x 3/8 has the shock given to it. Much stronger and much better then yanking on a BP. please feel free to give this a look and see what you think. Its a post on my L3 build On TRF and has plenty of pictures.

http://www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=27663

I agree with you and Warren about where to put the stress. But where does the All-thread put the stress?... on the bulk plates, even with eyebolts attached to the All-thread, right? I picked up the thin metal plates Ken made for me today, and trust me, those will hold any stress applied to them. Still may go with 3/8" though. I really like those pictures of your kit unassembled, Conway. Looks like mine and Warren's only ours are an inch less in diameter. Every time I go out in the garage and see mine, or see yours online, I feel just like a little kid at Christmas. 🙂 Thanks to all for all your help and advice, especially Ken. I owe ya man.

Actually only the deployemnt of the appogee/drouge segment might really put any stress on the BP's and as that it is such a smaller size in comparison to the mains its not alot. The other reason it is not so much on the shock cords or atleast in my set up is the way the washer and nuts are placed internally and externally to make sure that the load on both events place the load on the steel parts not the BP. So the biggest stress is when the mains open and because you have an extended shock cord on the appogee section the stress when the mains deploy is tortionally along the allthread, eybolts and the shock cords. Or atleast as in how I do my designs. Glad you like the pics. Im actually doing my fin lamination starting today with a layer of kevlar on top of my G10 fins. Ahh yes. Like Christmas. I wish... Then I could ask my wife for a Talon6 a Ultimate Endeavour, A L3 Armagedon, and a bunch more projects I wonder if I could get here to get me my piece of aluminuml 6066 Tube thats 8 inch diameter for the new motor case. I wish it was Christmas. of course not that I would get any of those things. Maybe just a kick in the pants..

But looks like you have a great solution with the aluminum BP's plenty strong enough.

Ah, the Christmas list... 🙂 Better start now..