1010 Rail Guides for Model Rockets

pinshape

With the increasing availability of 3D printers and growing participation in Team America Rocket Challenge (TARC), more students are seeking out 3D printed parts, including rail guides, to enhance their projects. I've created an STL file for rail guides that fit perfectly on 1010 launch rails, which will be available at TARC Nationals. The attached model is specifically designed to match a BT-80 tube size, allowing you to contour sand it to fit BT-70 tubes if needed. Testing has shown that with a properly mounted PLA print, the guide can withstand immense stress before failing, often destroying the body tube in the process. To ensure a strong bond between the printed guides and the body tube, follow standard procedures for gluing plastic to paper. Use coarse sandpaper to smooth out the glue surface and remove any surface residue. It's essential to lightly sand the body tube to remove the glassine layer, as this will prevent the epoxy from detaching easily. To further secure the bond, use a map pin to create small holes (glue rivets) in the body tube. This will give the epoxy a stronger attachment point. When assembling the guides, insert a straight edge into the gap to align them correctly. Printer Settings: * Printer: Wanhao Duplicator i3 * Rafts: No * Supports: No * Resolution: 0.200 mm * Infill: 100% * Notes: I print these vertically in batches of 12 to achieve the best profile. Design Process: I designed these rail guides using published dimensions for rail buttons in Onshape, a popular CAD software. By creating a sketch based on these dimensions and then extruding it to length, I was able to create an accurate and functional design that meets the needs of TARC participants.