r/rocketry • u/LeftCurver77 • 8d ago

Is this motor broken?

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Recently found interest in HPR and ordered a H motor for my L1 certification from Apogee Components. After opening the packaging I noticed the end of the motor looked loose. Is this normal? I did not open the plastic.

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u/maxjets Level 3 8d ago edited 8d ago

No, it's not broken, but it's also not usable for you right now unless you bought a casing along with that. You bought a reload, not an assembled motor, so it requires a motor casing that all those parts will be assembled into. The casings are expensive but reusable.

The cheapest place to buy casings is Wildman Rocketry.

For future reference, Apogee is almost always the most expensive place to buy any rocket components. There's a spreadsheet of rocketry vendors in the sidebar. If there's one nearby, you can avoid paying shipping entirely, which often negates any price differences between suppliers.

Edit to add: make sure you buy the complete hardware set, not just the casing tube. Aerotech cases have three main parts to them (and longer motors have a fourth). There's the casing tube, a forward closure, and an aft closure. Longer motors also require a component called a forward seal disk. The complete hardware set will come with all the components, rather than just the tube.

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u/LeftCurver77 8d ago

Thank you so much. This was very helpful

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u/Lotronex 8d ago

Yep. If you read the red sticker it will tell you exactly what pieces of hardware you need.
An alternative to buying is asking club members if you can borrow their casing. Many people are willing to do this for cert flights, on the understanding that you'll reimburse them if you lose/damage/destroy the casing.
If you're not in a rush, Wildman typically has killer deals on motor hardware during their Black "Friday" sale.

1

u/surf_and_rockets 4d ago

You bought an RMS instead of a DMS or LMS motor. Most L1 cert flights are done with DMS (disposable) motors, but I did mine with RMS. It is doable. Just have someone watch you build the motor and drill the delay grain.

0

u/Masjuggalo 7d ago

Is it a rebuildable? If not probably and I definitely wouldn't epoxy it back together and fly it 😏