April 20, 2023
Description
My Rocket Launch Pad uses a 6' 1010 Extrusion Rail for launching model rockets. I can loosen the set screw and slide it out and set in place a Rod for small/medium sized rockets with lugs on them which is great but i wanted to speed up the process (screwing the set screw all the way in or out to swap between Rail and Rod is a seemingly slow process.
So i wanted to make something i could use to make this quicker and easier and ultimately came up with 2 versions, I spent $2.48 at a local Menards for the Cross Dowel and Thumb Screw:
Version 1 - Using 1010 corner brackets with T Slide nuts to attach to the mount. The advantage of this one is that you can sit the rod up as high or low on the rail as you want it to be. If you have a 3 or 4' rod, the rod ends before the rail, This has not been a problem for the first 7 rockets i've launched with it like this, I've attached it just above the blast plate and the rail did not interfere. There is a little cutout on the top and bottom to allow it to fit snug between the corner brackets. I then used a #10-24 screw that is 2" long and a nut. You could use a 1/4-20, or a #8/32 (M5/M4/M3) to attach this version to the brackets.
Version 2 - Can just slide in/down the rail to the base of your 1010. You can quickly slide it down just as you would a rocket with rail buttons, but unless you have something to stop it higher up the rail, it will slide down to the bottom.
Parts:
*1/4"-20 x 1-1/4" Zinc Cross Dowel Nut ($1.49) - https://www.menards.com/main/hardware/fasteners-connectors/nuts/cross-dowel-barrel-nuts/midwest-fastener-reg-1-4-20-x-1-1-4-zinc-cross-dowel-nuts/87846/p-1444440197869-c-19515.htm?tid=2054379863900792023&ipos=2
*Corner Bracket and T Nuts:(For Version 1, if you dont already have these parts)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09KPZM4VV
License:
Creative Commons - Attribution
jgutz20
