Purpose

FireBolts, a term coined by the Team, are 1/4-20 bolts with E-matches glued in. They are used in Tender Descender modifications and also to ignite pyrotechnically operated pistons on the Team.

There are two types of FireBolts. Standard FireBolts (simply called FireBolts) have one e-match glued in. They are used when there are redundant separation devices (e.g. Tender Descenders). FireBolt Jumbos have two e-matches glued in. They are used when there is only one separation device with only one propellant charge (e.g. HADES piston or AARDs).

As of 11/7/18 there is an unresolved issue with the e-match shorting on the steel screw. One proposed solution is to use nylon screws instead.

Version I

Version I FireBolts were used in the 2017/2018 school year. They flew on Hermes I. They consisted of an untaped 1/4-20 by 1/2" bolt with one e-match. There was a variant called FireBolt Jumbos with two e-matches per bolt.

No manufacturing procedure was recorded.

Version II

Version II FireBolts were used in the Fall semester of 2018. They... Unknown User (premc@mit.edu)

FireBolt Manufacturing Procedure - Version 2

Version III

Procedure for Manufacturing FireBolts Version III

FireBolt Manufacturing Log

Serial Number and Sharpie Color	Date of Manufacture	Name of Manufacturer	Type of e-match (e.g. MJG Firewire)	Initial Resistance	Initial Resistance Inspection Pass/Fail	Version	Firebolt Material (SS/Nylon)	Mixing Time	Gluing Time (end)	Sealant Inspection Notes + Pass/Fail	Final Resistance	Resistance Inspection Notes + Pass/Fail	Other Notes
0	11/11/18	Madeline J + Prem C	Off brand	1.4	Pass	II	SS	5:09:45	5:15	Pass	1.3	Pass	a little indent
1	11/11/18	Madeline J + Prem C	Off brand	1.4	Pass	II	SS		6:40	Fail	1.3	Pass	bubble
2	11/11/18	Madeline J + Prem C	Off brand	1.1	Pass	II	Nylon		6:25	Pass	1.2	Pass	Very nice
3	11/11/18	Madeline J + Prem C	Off brand	1.15	Pass	II	Nylon		6:00	Fail	1.1	Pass	deep, thin hole
4	11/11/18	Madeline J + Prem C	Off brand	1.3	Pass	II	Nylon		6:25	Pass	1.3	Pass	Very nice
5	11/11/18	Madeline J + Prem C	Off brand	1.1	Pass	II	Nylon		6:40	Pass	1.1	Pass	very nice
6	11/11/18	Madeline J + Prem C	Off brand	1.2	Pass	II	SS		6:40	Fail	1.1	Pass	deep, thin hole
7	11/11/18	Madeline J + Prem C	Off brand	1.2	Pass	II	Nylon		6:25	Pass	1.2	Pass
8	11/11/18	Madeline J + Prem C	Off brand	1.2	Pass	II	SS		6:00	Fail. 1/4 sealant hole.	1.1	Pass	Don't be afraid to fail parts
9	11/11/18	Madeline J + Prem C	Off brand	1.3	Pass	II	Nylon		6:00	Pass	1.25	Pass	Very nice
10	11/11/18	Madeline J + Prem C	Off brand	1.2	Pass	II	SS		6:00	Pass	1.2	Pass
11	1/7/19	Jakob C + Prem C	Off brand	1.4	Pass	III	SS	6:24					37.64-10.11
12	1/7/19	Jakob C + Prem C	Off brand	1.3	Pass	III	SS
13	1/7/19	Jakob C + Prem C	Off brand	1.3	Pass	III	SS
14	1/7/19	Jakob C + Prem C	Off brand	1.3	Pass	III	SS	11:40
15	1/7/19	Jakob C + Prem C	Off brand	1.4	Pass	III	SS
16	1/7/19	Jakob C + Prem C	Off brand	1.4	Pass	III	SS
17	1/7/19	Jakob C + Prem C	Off brand	1.2	Pass	III	SS
18	1/7/19	Jakob C + Prem C	Off brand	1.1	Pass	III	SS
19	1/7/19	Jakob C + Prem C	Off brand	1.2	Pass	III	SS
20	1/7/19	Jakob C + Prem C	Off brand	1.2	Pass	III	SS			Fail Passed the HS Test but chipped			chipped head
21	1/10/19	Prem C + Jiaheng	Off brand	1.2	Pass	III	SS			Fail Passed the HS Test but chipped			chipped head
22	1/10/19	Prem C + Jiaheng	Off brand	1.2	Pass	III	SS
23	1/10/19	Prem C + Jiaheng	Off brand	1.0	Pass	III	SS
24	1/10/19	Prem C + Jiaheng	Off brand	1.3	Pass	III	SS
25	1/10/19	Prem C + Jiaheng	Off brand	1.0	Pass	III	SS			Fail Passed the HS Test but chipped			chipped head
26	1/10/19	Prem C + Jiaheng	Off brand	1.2	Pass	III	SS			Failed HS Test
27	1/10/19	Prem C + Jiaheng	Off brand	1.2	Pass	III	SS
28	1/10/19	Prem C + Jiaheng	Off brand	1.3	Pass	III	SS
29	1/10/19	Prem C + Jiaheng	Off brand	1.0	Pass	III	SS			Fail Passed the HS Test but chipped
30	1/10/19	Prem C + Jiaheng	Off brand	1.3	Pass	III	SS			Failed HS Test
31	1/10/19	Prem C + Jiaheng	Off brand	1.0	Pass	III	SS			Fail Passed the HS Test but chipped			chipped head did not fire at all
32	1/10/19	Prem C + Jiaheng	Off brand	1.3	Pass	III	SS			Fail Passed the HS Test but chipped			chipped head

FireBolt Firing Log

Serial Number and Sharpie Color	Date of Firing	Individual(s) Responsible for Integration	Pre-Integrated Resistance	Use (flight, test, inventory inspection)	Pyrotechnic Device	Type of Pyrotechnic	Amount of Pyrotechnic	Notes on Setup	Resistance at Current Source	Name of Current Source	Current and Voltage Used	Notes on Firing (success/failure/unsure, blew out, melted, etc.)
4	11/13/18	Prem	1.9	Piston Test	---	---	---	Cap sheared off	---	---	---	Cap sheared off while screwing into NPT plug
5	11/13/18	Prem	---	Shear force testing	---	---	---	Reasonable resistance caused shearing	---	---	---	Nylon is weaker than stainless steel
3	11/20/18	Prem + Jakob	---	Recovering Plug	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	Impressive cloud of smoke released
0	11/24/18	Prem + Maggie	1.5	Piston Test	Piston	Black Powder	.1 g	No AV bulkhead	---	Blast Chamber Power Supply	12 V	Blew through epoxy
10	11/24/18	Prem + Maggie	1.2	Piston Test	Piston	Black Powder	.1 g	No AV bulkhead	---	Blast Chamber Power Supply	12 V	Successful
8	1/7/19	Jakob	1.3	Water Proofness	---	---	---	Dunked in water then ingnited	---	9 V battery	9 V	Successful
12	1/9/19	Jakob	1.3	firebolt hydrostatic epoxy test	Piston	Black powder	.6 g	only the piston	1.3	11 V lipo	11 V	Successful
11
13
20	1/13/18			Testing chipped head								Fired without popping
21	1/13/18			Testing chipped head								Fired without popping
25	1/13/18			Testing chipped head								Fired without popping
26	1/13/18			Testing Firebolts that failed HS Test								Fired with popping
29	1/13/18			Testing chipped head								Fired without popping
30	1/13/18			Testing Firebolts that failed HS Test								Fired with popping
31	1/13/18			Testing chipped head								Did not fire at all
32	1/13/18			Testing chipped head								Fired without popping

Child pages

FireBolts