Mallomar Posted October 24, 2015 Posted October 24, 2015 Greetings all: I just tried to press my first rocket: a 3 pound stinger, using tooling that I bought at a convention about 10 years ago. I'm pretty sure it was from Rich Wolter via Skylighter, but can't remember. I tried to hand ram the nozzle a few blows, but my arm is messed up, so moved to a rocket press (again, the first time I've used it). Long story short: pressed the nozzle comp until I saw the casing bulge, tried to remove the spindle to check the nozzle and...stuck! Fuck. When I finally got the spindle and ram apart (after cutting off the cardboard and soaking the nozzle), I see that my ram no longer seats completely on the spindle. It goes within 1/4 inch and stops. Apparently my spindle is slightly bent. My question: how did this happen? Surely I could not have bent the spindle from my weak flailing on it with the deadblow hammer. And the press is a fairly professional tool, so I'm sure that one of the pressing surfaces is not level. It looks like there was not enough nozzle comp to make a proper nozzle. Pretty discouraged here. Any ideas? Thanks!
carbonhalo Posted October 24, 2015 Posted October 24, 2015 I destroyed my first set of 1/2" tooling through not hitting it square while ramming and bending the spindle.
mikeee Posted October 24, 2015 Posted October 24, 2015 Is there a no pass line on the hollow rammer? You might not have had enough nozzle comp in the tube when you started ramming. A photo might give everyone some more information to work with.
Mallomar Posted October 24, 2015 Author Posted October 24, 2015 Thanks for your replies. I just checked, and apparently the spindle is only a little bent if at all. I did manage to gouge the face of the ram slightly, but I think it will not be a problem.
Peret Posted October 24, 2015 Posted October 24, 2015 I've bent a spindle before, and jammed a rammer because I didn't put enough nozzle clay in. But I don't quite understand what you mean by "my ram no longer seats completely on the spindle". It sounds to me like you may have some composition or other foreign matter jammed at the top of the rammer hole. That could be quite dangerous if it's whistle, so you should ream it out under running water.
Mallomar Posted October 24, 2015 Author Posted October 24, 2015 But I don't quite understand what you mean by "my ram no longer seats completely on the spindle". It sounds to me like you may have some composition or other foreign matter jammed at the top of the rammer hole. I checked, and there is no composition stuck in the hole. I thought that the ram completely seated on the spindle. It does not. When it is all the way on the spindle, there is about 1/4 inch gap between the face of the ram and the face of the spindle. Now that I have read a little more, I see that I should have had a do not pass mark on the ram. Llive and learn! Thanks
Col Posted October 25, 2015 Posted October 25, 2015 One increment on 3lb tooling is going to be more than 1/4" so theres no real need for it to seat right at the bottom of the spindle. Does the spindle hit the top of the bore in the first rammer or does the rammer actually jam on the spindle taper before reaching the bottom?
Mallomar Posted October 25, 2015 Author Posted October 25, 2015 The rammer jams on the spindle before reaching the top of the bore. Maybe not such good workmanship? Shouldnt the spindle go all the way into the longest rammer?
mikeee Posted October 25, 2015 Posted October 25, 2015 Every day is a new day, you now know your tooling a lot better and know what to look out for.Many times we learn more from mistakes then normal every day experiences.We have all had those days when we ruined tooling and usually learn what not to do on future work.Cleaning fuel comp that builds up in a rammer is most likely the number one cause of bent spindles.Followed up with poorly aligned tube supports causing the fuel to force the spindle out of shape.You can always re-work a bent spindle or make a shorter spindle if it is really deformed.
pyrokid Posted October 25, 2015 Posted October 25, 2015 The rammer jams on the spindle before reaching the top of the bore. Maybe not such good workmanship? Shouldnt the spindle go all the way into the longest rammer?In my experience it is more common that the spindle does not fit all the way into the longest rammer. For a tapered nozzle, you would need to have a larger hole drilled into the first rammer in order for it to accommodate the entire spindle. This would lead to imperfect compaction of fuel around the spindle in subsequent fuel increments. Ideally, you'd have a rammer for each increment of fuel, but that isn't possible for obvious reasons. It's always been the most frustrating part of rocket tooling to me, except for when my nozzles sometimes, somehow, get pressed in at an angle.
calebkessinger Posted October 26, 2015 Posted October 26, 2015 Don't chuck it. Don't get mad, just find a drill bit and clean it out a freckle. It SHOULD go all the way down on the spindle with just barely any clearance when all the way on bottom. If it didn't that means it is too tight and could easily miss the tip of the spindle coming down a loose tube resulting in... wait for it. a bent spindle. If you can't get it straightened out I would be glad to fix it for free as long as you pay for shipping. I also sell plenty of New tooling if you are wanting something a bit nicer. https://squareup.com/market/WoodysCreations
Col Posted October 26, 2015 Posted October 26, 2015 Nothing worse than a loose tube, best idea is to use it for something else or make some tooling to fit them .
Mallomar Posted October 27, 2015 Author Posted October 27, 2015 Thanks all for the replies and suggestions. If you can't get it straightened out I would be glad to fix it for free as long as you pay for shipping. I also sell plenty of New tooling if you are wanting something a bit nicer. https://squareup.com/market/WoodysCreations And thank you for the offer, I will check out your toolling.
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