Rocket Science Learning #2 – Manufacturing the Electronic and Mechanical Equipment Required for Rocket Propellant
This second section of the study addresses the design and fabrication of the equipment developed for the preparation and shaping of rocket propellant. Two primary pieces of equipment were developed within the scope of the study: a Temperature-Controlled Fryer and a Propellant Shaping Stand. The Temperature-Controlled Fryer was designed to maintain the temperature of the container in which the rocket propellant is prepared at the desired value through a microcontroller (MCU – PIC). The Propellant Shaping Stand is used to shape the prepared propellant into the desired form. These pieces of equipment were developed as a result of extensive testing and design studies and also allow different design approaches to be implemented. The study additionally addresses the importance of indirect and controlled heating and explains the fundamental operating principles of the equipment employed. By presenting the design drawings, fabrication stages, electronic circuits, and software as an integrated part of the study, the design and manufacturing processes of the developed systems are examined.