AboutJames Bell Expertise I am a member of Tripoli Rocketry Association, and am certified to fly hi power rockets. I can answer questions anyone may have about design, materials selection, stability calculations, motor selection, altitude and performance predictions, and parachute and recovery options.
Experience I make my rockets from existing kits or parts readily made through commercial channels. I do NOT make my own motor propellants (they are challenging enough even for the companies that do this for a living), and I do not advocate making rockets using "typical household item" such as paper towel rolls.
Question I am wanting to design a tower which would be a three railed design and be able to hold small model kits to large fiber glass rockets up to 7 feet tall and about 6 inch diameter. I have looked up google and wikipedia extensively but cannot find any help on how to design one or just to get any ideas. Please help me.
Answer Ali -
I have seen many different variations of launch towers. The most popular involve a nippled lug that rides inside a slotted tube, like a "C" in cross section. This allows for a single rail, but requires a good amount of reinforcement along the tube rail.
The second one I've seen is a three rail system similar to the one you are describing. I haven't seen any specific plans on this type of tower, as it seems all are individually made. The best one I saw had the individual rails mounted on a moveable rod inside a sleeve, with turnscrews to hold it in place. You could retract or extend the rails to suit different body widths of rockets. Granted, all the ones that I saw usually belonged to a high-powered rocketry club, and not by a single person, thereby cutting the cost by spreading it out over many people.
There doesn't appear to be much out on the web that would help you. The best I found is this one to CAZTEK, Inc.
I use an Aerotech Mantis for all my lower powered rockets. All my high-powered stuff requires FAA procedures and I usually do these at a formal launch with a large group, so I use their heavy launchers. All my stuff is rigged for various sized launch rods, so I have never dabbled in creating a tower.
I hope this gives you a little bit of information. If not, or if you have any other questions, don't hesitate to write back.
