Rocket with Helicopter recovery system

thingiverse

I was on a mission to create an engaging way for students to grasp the concept of drag in the rocketry unit, something beyond the conventional parachute or streamer. Inspired by maple seeds falling from trees (watching them spin down towards my gutters), I pondered why not helicopter blades? After some research and inspiration, this design emerged. This model rocket can accommodate ESTES engines A, B, and C. Although I'm pleased with its appearance, I believe it could be even lighter. **Print Settings** * Printer: MakerBot Replicator 2 * Rafts: Yes * Supports: No * Resolution: Standard * Infill: Standard I added supports to the engine holder in the STL file, spaced 0.005" below the fin brackets (they snap off easily). Printing the body fins without supports wouldn't hurt, but I ended up with a functional yet imperfect print. **Post-Printing** To assemble this design without glue, I included threads and barb fittings on the body sections and pins. Warming the barbed section of the body and pins with a hairdryer (if printed in PLA) may help make them less brittle when inserting them into place. You can also add a little glue to the bottom fins once they're in position or use a soldering iron to secure them with a small weld. A bit of sanding is necessary to ensure a good fit between parts, although this shouldn't be too much trouble since I played with tolerances during printing and reprinting. **How I Designed This** This rocket doesn't need a parachute for recovery; instead, it has three helicopter blades that create drag and slow its descent back to the ground, just like those maple seeds we clean out of our gutters every year. It was designed on Solidworks (and redesigned more than once) then printed on a Replicator 2. **Custom Section** **Project:** Model Rocketry **Objectives:** * Understand Newton's laws of physics * Understand the concepts of an action-reaction engine and thrust * Understand the concepts of drag (controlling and recovery systems of a rocket) * Understand the stages in the flight of a rocket **Audiences:** This project is suitable for grades 7-8 Technology education classes or science classes. **Preparation:** At this point in the year, students have been working with Solidworks for half the year and should be familiar with the program. They should also have an understanding of the principles behind rocket flight. I use a PowerPoint as a lecture tool (link to Rocketry powerpoint). **Steps!** 1. Introduce the unit of rocketry to the students 2. Teach the principles of flight using the PowerPoint 3. Have students sketch out a design of a custom rocket they'd like to build (must include an engine mount, launch lug, recovery system, etc.) 4. Once sketches are approved, have students design their rocket on Solidworks (or other software) from scratch 5. Completed plans are then built or printed! 6. Take the rockets outside and fly! **Results:** At the end of this unit, students should have designed and produced a model rocket and understood the objectives listed above. As a check for understanding, have students reflect on their rocket in a typed paper that answers these questions: * What was good about it? * What could be better if I designed it again? * Who went the highest? Why do you think that was? * Who had the most unique rocket in class? Did it work well? Why or why not? * Any other open questions that would apply...