[Mechanical] Initial Structural Testing

This week we were able to use the testing apparatus that Nick E. put together to test whether using hot glue to attach the sample container to the backing plate would hold up during the stresses of the rocket launch. Some of these stresses include up to 50 g during launch and the vibrations from flight. We attached the base, top disk, servo assembly via hot glue to the backing plate and tested it against vibration at 20 Hz, 30 Hz, 40 Hz, 50 Hz, 60 Hz, 70 Hz, 80 Hz, 90 Hz and 100 Hz.

This is the high speed video (210 FPS) of the testing at 50 Hz.

This is the high speed video (210 FPS) of the testing at 100 Hz.

The vibration test was a success. Even with the initial design, which does not include the gussets to support the assembly, the hot glue held the assembly without fail.

The second test that we conducted was to drop-test the unit. We put the entire assembly inside of a container and dropped it from 11 meters. It was able to withstand three drops from 11 meters before failing. Once we have the new design eith gusset printed, we will retest.