Nosecone Mount Altimeter/Tracker

thingiverse

This design is specifically created for mounting an electronic altimeter/tracker in the nosecone of a high-powered rocket. The rocket's airframe has a diameter of 3 inches, and the base of the nosecone is crucial for attaching recovery harnesses. It is mounted to the nosecone itself with screws, securing it to a bonded internal ring. The altimeter/tracker mount must be compact enough to fit through this ring and allow full extension of the antenna tuned for the 70cm Ham band. The Altus/Metrum altimeter used in this case features a push-on/push-off switch located at the base of the mount, which is carefully inserted into a custom-cutout. The altimeter is secured with screws into brass inserts within the ABS print, obtained from McMaster-Carr. Beneath the altimeter lies a bay for a 1200mAh battery that provides sufficient power to keep the tracking function operational and transmitting coordinates for over 12 hours. The antenna is attached to a 5/16-inch dowel inserted into the end of the mount. To ensure maximum strength, this print should be laid flat on the print bed as shown, rather than standing upright, so that weaker extrusion lines are not exposed in cross-section. This allows for added durability during violent launch and parachute deployment. This design was successfully used in a recent launch at BALLS 2016, providing excellent tracking throughout the rocket's ascent and descent phases. The rocket landed nearly 8 miles away, and transmissions continued to be received throughout the recovery process. This is the second iteration of this design, which addresses a previous issue with the antenna dowel mount breaking off during flight. This was likely due to the large impulse experienced at drogue parachute ejection, possibly caused by an excessive black powder ejection charge. Print Settings: Printer: Flashforge Creator Pro Rafts: No Supports: Yes Resolution: 0.2mm Infill: 30% for added strength Notes: The original design was printed standing upright, which resulted in insufficient lateral strength between layers, causing the antenna mount to break free. To enhance lateral shear strength, it is recommended that this print be made horizontally with 45-degree supports underneath. This design was created using 123D Design software.