2017 TARC Railguides

thingiverse

2017 TARC requires the use of a reduced diameter booster. You can either mount the rail guides on the payload bay or use a standoff. These are 3D printable railguides that will work with a BT60 Booster and a BT70 or BT80 payload. The two legged version has been tested and works fine. My students launched a 5#, 5.5" high power rocket on an I300 motor with the slim guides and had no issues at all. Should work printed in any material. I've printed them in ABS and Nylon, both work well, the nylon seems slipperier. Be sure to mount these properly: Wrap a piece of coarse sandpaper around a body tube, abrasive side out and sand the foot of the guide to remove any residue and make a good fit. Wipe with alcohol. Lightly sand the body tube where the guide will be installed and trace around the guide.3. Use a map pin to punch 4 - 6 holes in the area where the guide will be mounted. This will form "glue rivets" and increase mounting strength. Mount with epoxy. You can check alignment by placing a ruler in the slot along the top. (PolyZap may also work) We've tested the strength of the guides mounted this way and had to destroy the body before the guide let loose.