Moonbogg wrote:I found a video showing someones "hybrid rocket" failing violently. It made me nervous because my cannons are aluminum, like this guy's rocket. Why did this rocket blow up like that? Anyone know whats going on here?
IMO that "rocket" failed because it moved. And because the parts were not solidly connected, to each other, and to the same surface.
If the rocket had been bolted down to something that wouldn't move... And the "valve" and nitro tank were bolted down, likewise, to the same surface. So that every piece was individually solid, and solid to each other. I think they would have had a pretty good test run on that rocket.
As it is, to set something like that up, watch it all move and parts collide with/destroy, each other... then to say that "We need a bigger cylinder", indicates to me that they shouldn't be playing with this stuff at all.
I mean, what kind of idiot understands how to build a rocket, but doesn't understand the need to buckle said rocket down to something more solid than some little concret block... Because that rocket is going to want to
move !!! And it's going to want to move whatever it is attached to. I mean, what is the
purpose of a rocket anyway ???
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IOW: It's just like setting up a pressure tank, of any sort, filled with a combustible gas or mixture... And releasing the pressure. As long as the tank is set solidly somewhere, the pressure will simply release in the easiest direction... Whatever valve you use to release the pressure. Even if the gas being released, is ignited.
People do it every day. It's called propane torches, welding torches, etc.
But you start releasing the gas, ignite it... Then shoot the tank and/or it's connection to the rocket/torch... It's liable to explode. Likewise, smack the hose, (whether rubber or metal), that feeds the "rocket" (Torch), with something that will break the hose, and release the gas in an uncontrolled manner, anywhere near the already ignited torch.. And there you have another probable kaboom.
The above being more likely if your "tank" and/or "rocket" are only just barely able to handle the pressure. And can be easily pierced.
These guys used their brains to design and build the rocket. But then turned their brains off when it came to testing/utilizing it.
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Imagine what would happen if DHall had built Vera... Just sat it on the ground with the propane tank sitting behind it, and all the connections being loosely laid about between them... Then shot it.
Vera is likely to fly backward into the propane tank and connections, and
boom !
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Your cannon is not going to come anywhere NEAR being subjected to the same sorts of forces and dynamics. Unless you plan on smacking the chamber with a BFH, at the moment that combustion is taking place...
If you keep your cannon in the house, when not in use. On a shelf, or even in a case. And if it doesn't get kicked around, dropped, or banged up... Then you have little to nothing to worry about. You have more to worry about when you get in your car and go someplace.
You might want to disassemble it and have a look at all the parts after the first thousand rounds. But I don't think you'll find anything to worry about, even then.