Shepard Test Stand

h1. Assembly Instructions v1.0

{{toc}}

h3. Mechanical System

The assembly of the Mechanical System consists of four main sub-assemblies (shown in Figure 1 below):

# The motor mount (a modified "*Estes D & E Engine Mount Kit*":http://www.estesrockets.com/rockets/accessories/engine-mounting/303159-d-and-e-engine-mount-kit)

# The motor mount bracket

# The main structure

# The back plate

*Figure 1 - Shepard Mechanical Components*

!shepard_components.png!

h5. Notes

* Be sure to cut out the parts listed in CutList tab of the [[Bill of Materials|BOM]]

* The assembly process for the Mechanical System requires the ues of two different glues

** Wood Glue: "Titebond II Premium Wood Glue":http://www.titebond.com/product.aspx?id=2ef3e95d-48d2-43bc-8e1b-217a38930fa2 - This glue forms tight bonds and dries very quickly.  It should be used for all assembly steps except initial fin placement.  It is particularly well suited to making fillets.  Note, transfer this glue to small squeeze bottle for improved application.

** Multi-Surface Glue: "Loctite Go2 Glue":http://www.loctiteproducts.com/p/pg_go2_glue/overview/Go2-Glue.htm - This glue bonds to a variety of surfaces including metal, used to attach the copper t-connector to the card board Motor Mount 

h4. Motor Mount

Assembly of the motor mount follows the instructions supplied with the *Estes D & E Engine Mount Kit* with a few small exceptions which are required to accomodate the t-connector (MM06) used to vent the ejection charge)

# Take the mount tube (MM01) and mark one end as the front [where the motor will be inserted] and the other as the rear [where the t-connector (MM06) will be attached]

# Test fit the t-connector (MM06) in the mount tube (MM01) by inserting it approximately 1/4" into the mount tube (MM01) and then remove it; the fit will be tight, and may even require a slight stretching of the mount tube (MM01)

# Make a mark 1/4" from one end of the red engine block (MM04)

# Cut the red engine block (MM04) at the 1/4" line from the previous step, keeping the larger section as the final engine block (see Figure 2)

 *Figure 2 - Modified Engine Block (top) vs Original Engine Block (bottom)*

!modified_engine_block.jpg!

# Follow Step 1 in the *Estes D & E Engine Mount Kit* instructions

## Step 1.A - Make a mark on the mount tube (MM01) 1" from the rear and 5/8" from the front [this second mark should be offset along the circumference of the mount tube (MM01) slightly]

## Step 1.B - Cut a 1/8" wide slit at the mark 1" from the rear of the mount tube (MM01); insert the engine hook (MM05) into the slit (see Figure 3)

 *Figure 3 - Engine hook inserted into mount tube*

!motor_mount_step1b.jpg!

## Step 1.C - Apply wood glue to the outside of engine block (MM06) and the inside of the inside of the rear section of the mount tube (MM01) making sure to completely coat the inside of the mount tube (MM01) up to where the engine hook (MM05) is inserted; Slide the engine block (MM06) into the rear of the mount tube (MM01) until it rests agains the engine hook (MM05); be sure to smooth any excess glue in the mount tube (MM01) to create a smooth water tight surface (see Figure 4)

 *Figure 4 - Engine block inserted into mount tube*

!motor_mount_step1c.jpg!

# Follow Step 2 in the *Estes D & E Engine Mount Kit* instructions - Apply a bead of wood glue around the mount tube (MM01) just to the rear of the mark 5/8" from the front and then slide the engine retainer ring (MM02) onto the the mount tube (MM01) from the front of the mount tube (MM01) until the engine retainer ring (MM02) is just past the 5/8" mark (see Figure 5)

 *Figure 5 - Engine retainer ring mounted*

!motor_mount_step2.jpg! 

# Allow the assembly to dry overnight

# Apply a bead of multi-surface glue to the edge of the  base end of the t-connector (MM06)

# Insert the t-connector (MM06) into the rear of the mount tube (MM01) (see Figure 6)

 *Figure 6 - Completed motor mount*

!motor_mount_completed.jpg!  

# Allow the motor mount to dry over night

h4. Motor Mount Bracket

# Prepare the plate (MMB01)

## Drill the four 1/4" through holes for the zip ties (MMB04) (see Figure 7)

*Figure 7 - MMB01 with zip tie holes highlighted*

!MMB01_zip_ties.png!  

## Drill and countersink the two 1/4" through holes for the machine screws (see Figure 8)

*Figure 8 - MMB01 with machine screw holes highlighted*

!MMB01_machine_screws.png!  

## Create the two <insert width here> dados on the bottom of the plate (MMB01) to provide space for the zip ties (MMB04); this can be done on a table saw with either a dado blade or with multiple passes using a standard 1/8" wide blade (see Figure 9)

# Clamp the block (MMB02) to the rear edge of the plate (MMB01) (see Figure 10)

 *Figure 10 - Block clamped to plate*

!motor_mount_bracket_clamped.jpg! 

# Drill pilot holes for the two 1-1/2" drywall screws

# Attach the block (MMB02) to the plate (MMB01) using two 1-1/2" drywall screws, making sure to leave approximately 1/8" of the rear screw exposed (see Figure 11 - need pic from CAD model)

<insert pic of final motor mount bracket from CAD model here>

h4. Main Structure

<will need images for most of these steps>

# Assemble the Test Stand Base; Note: it is significantly easier to assemble the Test Stand Base using the concrete block (need part number) as a stand/jig

## Place the top (TSBa02) on the concrete block so that the rear edge is flush with the concrete block

## Place the two sides (TSBa01) along the edge of the concrete block so the front edges of the sides (TSBa01) are flush with the front of the top (TSBA02)

## Clamp the sides (TSBa01) to the top (TSBa02)

## Drill pilot holes through the sides (TSBa01) into the top (TSBa02) [3 on each side], and use 2-1/2" dry wall screws (TSBa04) to attach the sides (TSBa01) to the top (TSBa02); be sure to remove the clamps

## place the front (TSBa03) under the top so it rests against the concrete block

## Drill pilot holes through the sides (TSBa01) and the top (TSBa02) into the front (TSBa03), and use 2-1/2" dry wall screws (TSBa04) to attach the front (TSBa03)

# Attach the Test Section Beam

## Remove the Test Stand Base from the concrete block

## Draw a line down the centerline of the long axis of the top (TSBa02)

## Place and clamp the beam (TSBe01) along the line on the top (TSBa02)

## Turn the Test Stand Base on its side and drill 3 pilot holes through the top (TSBa02) and into the beam (TSBe01), and use the 2-1/2" dry wall screws (TSBe02) to attach the beam (TSBe01) to the top (TSBa02); be sure to remove the clamps

# Prepare the Back Plate

## Drill the <insert diameter> pass-through hole in the back plate (BP01)

## Place the Test Stand Base back on the concrete block

## Place the back plate (BP01) against the back of the Test Stand Base [it should fit between the sides and rest against the concrete block and the beam]

## Drill 2 pilot holes through each side (TSBa01) into the back plate (BP01)

## Drill 1 pilot hole through the back plate (BP01) into the beam (TSBe01)

# Treat the test stand components with heat resistant paint

## In a well ventilated area, lay out all of the wooden components and apply two coats of heat resistent primer (see Figure ?)

 *Figure ? - Priming Shepard components*

!shepard_priming.jpg! 

## Allow primer to dry per manufacture's instructions

## Apply two coats of heat resistent paint (see Figure ?)

 *Figure ? - Painting Shepard components*

!shepard_painting.jpg! 

## Allow paint to dry per manufacturer's instructions

h4. Final Assembly

# Insert the two zip ties (MMB04) into the Motor Mount Bracket (see Figure ?)

 *Figure ? - Zip tie placement*

!final_assembly_step1.jpg! 

# Use the metal screws (MMB03) to attach the Motor Mount Bracket to the end of the drawer slide (RS01) (see Figure ?)

 *Figure ? - Motor Mount Bracket attached to Drawer Slide*

!final_assembly_step2.jpg! 

# Attach the drawer slide (RS01) to the beam (TSBe01) using 1-1/2" drywall screws (RS02) (see Figure ?)

 *Figure ? - Drawer Slide attached to Beam*

!final_assembly_step3.jpg! 

# Place Motor Mount on Motor Mount Bracket and close the zip ties (MMB04) snuggly; note, be sure to have a motor in the motor mount to prevent the zip ties from crushing the Motor Mount (see Figure ?)

 *Figure ? - Attaching the Motor Mount*

!final_assembly_step4.jpg!

#  Trim the excess portion of the zip ties (MMB04) (see Figure ?)

 *Figure ? - Trimming zip ties*

!final_assembly_step5.jpg! 

# Place the Back Plate in position and attach it to the Test Stand Base with 2-1/2" drywall screws (BP03) (see Figure ?)

 *Figure ? - Attaching the Back Plate*

!final_assembly_step6.jpg! 

# Attach the 1-1/2" dry wall screw (BP04) to the Back Plate just above the through hole leaving approximately 1/2" exposed; this screw is used to hang the small pulley (BP02)

This completes the Mechanical System assembly process.

h3. Data Acquisition (DAQ) System

The assembly of the DAQ system consists of three main sub-assemblies:

# MAX31855 Thermocouple Amplifier Breakout Board

# Force Sensing Resistor (FSR) cable system

# Arduino ProtoShield

h4. MAX31855 Thermocouple Amplifier Breakout Board

* The only assembly required for the MAX31855 breakout board is to solder the header pins and terminal block onto the board. Once this is done the breakout board can be soldered to the Arduino Protoshield.

h4. Force Sensing Resistor (FSR) cable system

* The FSR came with male pins, which complicated assembly somewhat. It would be simpler to buy the version of the FSR with a female connector and make your cable fit that configuration. As it was, female D-SUB connectors that were on hand were used to connect the FSR to the CAT 5e cable that was used between the FSR and the ProtoShield. The pins were crimped on to two of the leads of the CAT 5e cable so that the female ends could receive the male pins of the FSR. The reason crimping was used instead of soldering for the pins is that it's very easy to melt the FSR's substrate, thus making the FSR useless, or at least severely altering its operation.

h4. Arduino ProtoShield

Components were soldered onto the ProtoShield in the configuration shown in the images below. Note that in the bottom view, the ProtoShield has been flipped vertically towards the bottom of the picture. This allows you to orient yourself so that you can follow the traces. For higher resolution images to aid in assembly, check the Shepard_v1.0_DAQ_Assembly_Images.zip file "here":https://opendesignengine.net/dmsf/shepard-ts?folder_id=24

*Figure 1 - Top View of the ProtoShield*

!ProtoShield_Top_View_Assembly_Edited.png!

# The MAX 31855 breakout board has the correct header pin spacing to fit the holes on the ProtoShield, so it was inserted directly. Note that the capacitor that is included with the K type thermocouple when purchased is being used. The thermocouple's reading had too much noise in it otherwise.

# The red and green wires used were "breadboard prototyping jumpers":http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103801 from Radio Shack. Left over Ethernet cable wires can be used as well.

# The resistor was soldered directly to the ProtoShield, but care should be taken that the leads of the resistor do not short any of the connections on the board.

# A 14 pin DIP socket was used for the TLV2374 for multiple reasons including prevention of overheating of the IC during soldering, and ease of replacement in the event of damage due to a wiring mistake.

# A smaller screw terminal block for the FSR leads (left side) would have ideal, but the larger block pictured was all that was available at the time of assembly. The pins are spaced more widely on the block and thus the positioning was dictated by the spacing of the holes on the ProtoShield.

# Notice that even though the two green jumper wires disappear under the MAX 31855 breakout board in the image, they have been labeled with what pins they go from/to.

*Figure 2 - Bottom View of the ProtoShield*

!DAQ_Shield_Bottom_View.JPG!

# If you view the high resolution version of this image from the Shepard_v1.0_DAQ_Assembly_Images.zip file "here":https://opendesignengine.net/dmsf/shepard-ts?folder_id=24 , you'll notice that several solder bridges have been made to connect different points. Use the schematic diagram found in the Shepard_v1.0_DAQ.zip file "here":https://opendesignengine.net/dmsf/shepard-ts?folder_id=17 to give you a more complete view of what's being bridged.

# The solder bridges are made by laying short lengths of stripped solid wire against the pins (or in the holes) and then soldering them.

# Figure 3 labels what the corresponding top side connections are for most of the solder joints.

*Figure 3 - Bottom View of ProtoShield With Landmark Connections*

!Edited_Bottom_View_Assembly_Image.png!

# The solder positions where the green and white/green wires are coming off the board is the location of the Force Sensing Resistor (FSR) screw terminal.