Soda Rocket

prusaprinters

<p>This is a minimalist bottle-rocket system with no complicated launchers and no unnecessary parts, so we can get straight to the fun part of flying the rocket. I'll be launching mine as soon as these crazy winds die down.</p><h3>Ingredients</h3><ul><li>Air compressor</li><li>Attached air hose ending in a standard quick-release coupler</li><li>Soda bottle – 2 liters, 12 oz, whatevs</li><li>An O-ring, sized to match the mouth of the bottle (actual size to be determined shortly)</li><li>A bit of PLA filament</li></ul><h3>Directions</h3><ol><li>Use the filament to print this rocket nozzle.</li><li>Press the O-ring into place inside the nozzle.</li><li>Fill the bottle about 30% full of water.</li><li>Screw the nozzle onto the bottle.</li><li>Don safety goggles.</li><li>Couple the nozzle to the compressor hose.</li><li>Let the bottle fill with air, to 120psi* or so.</li><li>Point the rocket skyward.</li><li>Decouple the nozzle.</li><li>Watch your rocket fly.</li><li>Get a little soaked.</li></ol><p>* I've pressure-tested the nozzle to 140psi. The word on the street is that plastic soda bottles are built to handle at least 150psi. Impacts will reduce the structural integrity of both, of course, so at some point one of them may break open. I don't think we need to be <i>too</i> worried about that, but remember those safety goggles and maybe don't inflate the bottle <i>right</i> next to your face.</p>