Vacuum Chamber Piston Test
Conducted by:
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Jack A, Tamara H
Location/Date: Blast Chamber/5:30-7:30pm, 3/
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14/2023
Safety Precautions:
All participants must wear safety glasses.
Range safety officer must audibly countdown before the test and ensure that everyone is paying attention.
Test articles should not fragment into sharp, hard pieces during the test sequence. This is ensured by eliminating any unfastened materials within the body sections, and limiting the amount of pyrotechnic charge used.
The SO should inspect all test articles prior to initiating the piston test.
Appropriate PPE will be used when installing the charge prior to the test (i.e. safety goggles and nitrile gloves). There will never be skin contact with the charge
If a misfire occurs: wait at least 60 seconds and disconnect the battery (or use an alternative method to disable the testing mechanism) before allowing anyone to approach the test article.
Strict 25 foot keep-out zone must be established, which all test participants must obey. Members should ensure that no bystanders are present. The SO must ensure that no one is in the expected path of the projectile regardless of distance from the test articles. Mark of the test area (such as with caution tape) or otherwise guard entrances from bystanders.
All debris must be cleared out of the blast chamber when the test is complete.
Call MIT Police 617-253-1212 to report an emergency.
Goals:
- Evaluate the performance of black powder ignition for piston actuation at high altitude (low pressure)
- Validate the manufacturing and integration of our hardware components
- Verify hand calculations that indicate viability of piston mechanism for high altitude deployment applications
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Perform integration according to the Piston Integration Procedures above.
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Run wires from outside to inside the blast chamber. Make sure that the wires are shorted on the outside of the blast chamber. On the inside, unshort the e-match leads and connect it to the wires.
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Place the piston in the vacuum chamber (firebolt-fitting assembly pointing down).
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Clamp the piston between two bricks.
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Put the lid on the chamber and turn on the vacuum pump until pressure level reaches 0 psi.
Wait five minutes.
Repressurize vacuum chamber.
Inspect piston for any signs of shear pin weakening/breakage.
Return piston to vacuum chamber in the same orientation and replace weights.
Put the lid on the chamber and turn on the vacuum pump until pressure level reaches 0 psi.
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Only after exiting the chamber and closing the door, perform a countdown and connect the outside wires to a voltage source (battery).
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In the event of a misfire, disconnect the battery and wait at least 60 seconds before allowing anyone to enter the chamber/approach the test article.
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After firing, wait at least 60 seconds before entering the blast chamber.