Impulse Structures
The Impulse Test Stand structure is an interface to mount a solid rocket motor to a load cell in a reliable configuration. The adapters and adjustable mourning rings allow it to fit motors 1-3 inches in diameter and it is able to support up to 440lbs. The low resistance of the sliding motor mount provides accurate thrust readings while keeping the motor securely constrained. The test stand is secured to the ground with four mounting feet that have holes that the included stakes can be placed through. The large base also provides a platform to place weigh down weights on, and has mounting holes for the electronics. The structure is all aluminum and corrosion resistant.
Impulse Electronics
The electronics of the Impulse Test Stand record high accuracy thrust, temperature and humidity data. Data is stored to an included micro SD card and thrust is recorded at up to 1000hz with 0.2% accuracy (see below for sample output). The high sample rate allows for transient modeling, and better noise filtering ability. The included calibration program can be used to perform a 2 or 3 point calibration of the load cell. The electronics are interacted with using a 4 button control panel and LCD screen. A LiPo battery and USB charging port powers the system. The electronics are housed in a 3d-printed box which can be mounted to the test stand or detached. There are breakout pins on the PCB that can be configured for 4-20mA pressure transducers. Please reach out to Skillman Rocketry if you are interested in using a pressure transducer with Impulse.
Data from the electronics is stored in a convenient CSV file format onto the SD card. This can easily be imported into Excel or any other data processing program for graphing and data analysis. The images below show an unfiltered sample output of the data recording program at 1000Hz. The left image shows the raw output stored onto the SD card. Ambient temperature and humidity values are recorded once at the beginning of the test and are displayed at the top. Two columns are outputted below this, one with time and another with the corresponding thrust. The middle image shows the data imported into excel, and the right image shows the plot for this data.
What's in the Box:
- Complete structures to fit motors 1 to 3 inches in diameter
- Impulse Test Stand electronics
- Load size of your choice (50kg, 100kg, 200kg)
- Load cell adapters for different motor sizes
- Micro SD card and adapter
- Stakes to secure stand (4)
- Data reduction program
- User Manual/Assembly Instrucitons
What's NOT in the Box:
- Your rocket motor
- Motor Ignition system
- Weights for calibration
- Adjustable wrench and allen keys
Questions? Contact us at skillman.rocketry@gmail.com - we are here to help!
