Configurable Model Rocket Rail Button Standoffs

thingiverse

This thing is a configurable standoff for mounting guide rail buttons to the body of a model rocket. It is massively configurable to adjust for the conformable body size, standoff height, button size, and aerodynamic shape. Note that this is NOT intended for use with the Thingiverse Customizer - it requires the download and installation of the OpenSCAD CAD tool. The OpenSCAD Customizer works within the tool. Fear not, it installs easily and who knows? You might find it a useful tool. Usage is pretty much self-explanatory, and the best way to figure it out is just to play around with the slider controls a bit. See the blurb below, if you haven't used the Customizer before. * The Rail Button Standoff is defined by: > The diameter of the tube it conformally fits. Common body tube sizes between BT20 and 98mm are available. > The standoff height, above the surface of the body tube. (Note that this is the height at which the button sits, even if it is recessed.) > The diameter of the standoff base, at the surface of the body tube. > The diameter of the top of the standoff, i.e., at the base of the rail button. > The diameter of the drill/screw hole vertically through the center of the standoff. > Depending upon the speed of your computer, you might want to start with a low smoothness level, like 60. Once you have the shape you want, increase the smoothness to 200 or more, but it might take ~30 seconds to render the final shape. > A conical or aerodynamic standoff is selected by the AeroButton checkbox. > The AeroFactor setting determines the length of the 'tail'. > The AftSlant setting slants the 'deck' aft of the standoff downwards for a more aerodynamic shape. (I wish it could be rounded better, but, another time.) > The Standoff Base Extension extends the base of the standoff down to meet the tube, to avoid a vertical edge at the base. This does not affect the standoff height. > The Standoff Base Elliptical factor extends the base of the standoff fore and aft without increasing its width. > Rail Button Recess allows the base of the rail button to be recessed into the top of the standoff. Recess Diameter is the diameter of the cavity, which should be smaller than the top of the standoff. > Rail Button Recess Depth is how far the button is recessed into the top of the standoff. Note that the bottom of the recess is at the standoff height. * If you enable the console window (i.e., uncheck the 'hide console' box under the 'view' menu item) all of the standoff dimensions will be displayed there. (You may have to scroll that window to find them.) This item, and other configurable model rocket tools I have written are posted and discussed in [this thread on TRF](https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/3d-printable-component-generators.148308/). All of my Thingiverse model rocketry-related designs are collected in this [Thingiverse collection](https://www.thingiverse.com/garyacrowellsr/collections/model-rockets-vcp}. This thing was inspired by the many standoff designs of [Jack Hydrazine](https://www.thingiverse.com/JackHydrazine/designs). =================================================================== ===================== OpenSCAD Customizer =========================== This file has been created with the intention to use the OpenSCAD 'Customizer', on an installed version of OpenSCAD, which allows the use of Windows-style selection tools to set parameters of the component. The use of this feature requires the following steps: 1. You must be using a recent OpenScad version, at least later than 2019.05 OpenSCAD is available at: http://www.openscad.org/downloads.html 2. Open the Fin_Guide.scad file with OpenSCAD. 3. In the OpenSCAD [View] menu, uncheck the option [Hide Customizer]. The Customizer window should open at the right side of the screen. 4. At the top of the Customizer window, check 'Automatic Preview' and select 'Show Details' in the dropdown box. 5. If you are comfortable with the instructions above, then also in the [View] menu, you can check the option [Hide editor], which will allow the full screen to view the model. You can also check to [Hide Console].