Casting Sugar Rocket Fuel - Build a KNSB (Sugar) Rocket Motor - Part 5

This is the fifth video in a series where I document building a KNSB-fueled rocket motor from scratch.This video will show the casting of the propellant (fuel) grains.
**This video is for entertainment purposes only, don't try this at home.**
Amazon affiliate links for some of the tools used:
Skillet: amzn.to/3Ckqiow
Silicone Spatula: amzn.to/35Hk5Hb
Scale: amzn.to/3KsEwXo
Infrared Thermometer: amzn.to/3MtucA1
PTFE Lubricant: amzn.to/3hKL9b0
McMaster Carr links to casting tools:
Shoulder Bolts: www.mcmaster.com/91259A106/
Tubing: www.mcmaster.com/5234K46/

Пікірлер: 118

  • @marciacunningham5877
    @marciacunningham58775 ай бұрын

    When I was 15 (1959) I and other kids were making candy fuel just like this. Miraculously, no accidents. I pushed the cap out of spent shotgun shells which made a perfect nozzle. I filled the shell and taped the end closed. Cannon fuse and a stick taped on and I was in business. Making candy fuel and storing it allows it to absorb water, greatly reducing it's power. Enjoyed your video. Michael

  • @abhidhotre1667

    @abhidhotre1667

    5 ай бұрын

    Great 😅

  • @MinuteRockets

    @MinuteRockets

    5 ай бұрын

    Thanks for sharing your story. I always try to store my fuel with desiccants to reduce moisture in the fuel. I agree, I have had some motors that were under powered because of moisture.

  • @shere_kan8329
    @shere_kan83292 жыл бұрын

    Holy smoke !! I was getting worried ! I've made a similar motor to yours and I've ground tested it flawlessly numerous times. It should take the air in a month

  • @calebvaccaro
    @calebvaccaro2 жыл бұрын

    Keep this going, glad to see you back at it. Hope everything was well.

  • @MinuteRockets

    @MinuteRockets

    2 жыл бұрын

    Things are well now, thanks!

  • @mohitjajoriya1362
    @mohitjajoriya13622 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for uploading such informative videos. They are really good. Can you share the documentation of the analysis you did? It will be really helpful.

  • @MinuteRockets

    @MinuteRockets

    2 жыл бұрын

    I showed the analysis in the first video on the design, check it out. It's a spreadsheet that does the calculations that I got on Richard Nakka's site I believe.

  • @2ProBro.Gaming
    @2ProBro.Gaming2 жыл бұрын

    loved it

  • @infamousbanter
    @infamousbanter Жыл бұрын

    You probably just saved like 10,000 peoples Houses or skin.. good job, safety is first with Any chemistry.. ✊️

  • @alecmalone5657
    @alecmalone5657 Жыл бұрын

    That looks like some good barbecue sauce

  • @MinuteRockets

    @MinuteRockets

    Жыл бұрын

    Delicious!

  • @ghulamhussain5547
    @ghulamhussain55474 ай бұрын

    O very nice thank you sir

  • @anthonyrichard7319
    @anthonyrichard73192 ай бұрын

    I have a steel wok which is constantly rusting....soon as kno3 and sugar touches the metal....you can watch it change colour providing fuel with iron oxide...

  • @andreyl2705
    @andreyl27054 ай бұрын

    awesome)

  • @bktvlogs1996
    @bktvlogs1996 Жыл бұрын

    Thanks sir 😊😊😊

  • @thefarm9640
    @thefarm96402 жыл бұрын

    Awesome

  • @dragonworksrocketry2573
    @dragonworksrocketry25733 ай бұрын

    I'm a bit of a stickler when it comes to formulas. With that said, your percentages total 101%. What I have done, is remove 1% of Kno3 replacing with the 1% of Red Iron Oxide. Is it a huge difference? Maybe, maybe not, but makes more sense to me, than 101% Subscribed!

  • @sebastienhoremans7908
    @sebastienhoremans79085 ай бұрын

    Hi, first thanks a lot for your very instructive video. Do you have the reference of your Black & Decker heater ? I can’t find it in france 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👍👍👍

  • @MinuteRockets

    @MinuteRockets

    5 ай бұрын

    You don't need a heater, it is just being used as a fan (no heat) to cool the parts off. Any small fan will do, or they will cool off naturally just not quite as fast.

  • @johnny4498
    @johnny44986 ай бұрын

    Hi, thanks for your awesome videos. Why do you devide the propellant of a sugar rocket motor into mulitple grains and not a single large segment? Can I build a 1 inch pvc motor with a combustion chamber length of 240mm with only one propellant segment, so directly cast the propellant in the pvc pipe?

  • @MinuteRockets

    @MinuteRockets

    6 ай бұрын

    The reason for the shorter grains is because the burning of the ends makes a uniform burn profile. Look up Bates grains to learn more about it. You could do a single grain but it will be progressive, meaning it will burn faster as it goes along because the hole in the middle is getting bigger. You can make it flatter with a star pattern in the middle, look up star grain for more about that.

  • @johnny4498

    @johnny4498

    6 ай бұрын

    @@MinuteRockets Thanks! can I also use normal supermarket sugar and the potassium nitrate to make the propellant and easily cast that into the grain mold?

  • @cv8metal884
    @cv8metal8848 ай бұрын

    Just putting this out there for all the people who have asked if pla works instead of resin. As confirmed yesterday it does not. At all lol. Will probably end up either using a higer temp filament or still printing the case in pla but machining an aluminum sleeve they can cool off in and help hold their shape. Cheaper than ordering tubes. Also how are you lighting your motor? From the top of all the grains or the very bottom? I've read always light at top to prevent it from sending pressure back up the core and making it do weird things.

  • @MinuteRockets

    @MinuteRockets

    7 ай бұрын

    Good info. I haven't tried any filament, maybe ABS would work? And yes, you want to light the top of the motor for the reason you stated primarily.

  • @cv8metal884

    @cv8metal884

    7 ай бұрын

    @@MinuteRockets I ended up turning a case that the pla can cool off in under pressure that made it work. Abs I'm not sure. It's probably not worth it just because of dealing with the smell it puts out but the mould I made solved the problem and presses out any air pockets thers could be.

  • @vcesaar7544
    @vcesaar7544 Жыл бұрын

    which filament did you use to print those casting molds? I'm thinking about printing similar ones in PLA, but I'm not sure they'll resist the high casting temperature

  • @MinuteRockets

    @MinuteRockets

    Жыл бұрын

    Hello, the parts were made with a resin 3d printer (Elegoo Mars) and Elegoo standard resin. I talk a little bit about resin and heat effects in this video: kzread.info/dash/bejne/o22Ip5STeK-_h9o.html

  • @vcesaar7544

    @vcesaar7544

    Жыл бұрын

    @@MinuteRockets awesome! Thank you for your insight!

  • @googlecrazy657
    @googlecrazy65710 ай бұрын

    Yeah I like that scale for my dabs

  • @izzatnajmibinmohdyaacobupm3438
    @izzatnajmibinmohdyaacobupm3438 Жыл бұрын

    Hello, just wonder what is the function of cement colour in the propellant composition?

  • @MinuteRockets

    @MinuteRockets

    Жыл бұрын

    It's red iron oxide, which is a burn rate catalyst. More info here: www.nakka-rocketry.net/oxidex.html I also like it because it helps me tell when the propellant is well-mixed.

  • @yusuf.MR84
    @yusuf.MR846 ай бұрын

    👍👍

  • @ketnoiammepkl1950
    @ketnoiammepkl1950 Жыл бұрын

    Tôi muốn biết nguyên liệu chi tiết của khối thuốc

  • @matthewsnyder7950
    @matthewsnyder795011 ай бұрын

    What about an induction cook top since it doesn't generate heat and is fairly precise on temp?

  • @MinuteRockets

    @MinuteRockets

    9 ай бұрын

    That would probably work. I haven't used one so I don't know how hot the top of the stove/bottom of the pan get.

  • @shere_kan8329
    @shere_kan83292 жыл бұрын

    Particule size of sorbitol does matter. Richard nakka carried out some tests and I have too, the finer the powder, the less viscous the propellant will be

  • @MinuteRockets

    @MinuteRockets

    2 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for the comment! Particle size of the oxidizer (potassium nitrate/KNO3) matters, but particle size of the sorbitol doesn't since it will be melted, there will be no particles of sorbitol in the slurry. I believe the finer the powder, the more viscous the propellant, but at the cost of lower performance (slower burning). From www.nakka-rocketry.net/sorb.html: It should be noted that the viscosity of the melted propellant slurry is highly dependant upon how finely of the potassium nitrate is milled. When prepared as described above, the slurry will not be fluid enough to cast, and as such it is necessary to scoop the propellant into the casting mould. The slurry will be more fluid and easier to cast if the potassium nitrate is milled for a shorter time, such as 10 seconds or less. Or if the potassium nitrate is obtained as a fine granular form (similar to table salt), it can be used "as is". The drawback is reduced performance due to less efficient combustion, lower chamber pressure, combined with a slightly longer burn time compared to propellant made with fine-grind oxidizer.

  • @shere_kan8329

    @shere_kan8329

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@MinuteRockets upon further investigation, you're right. I missremembered this part, I was actually thinking about the mixing ratio😅

  • @user-oo8pb6uy4l
    @user-oo8pb6uy4l6 ай бұрын

    👍

  • @TheRocketeer
    @TheRocketeer2 жыл бұрын

    What material is the 3d casting tube made of? How long is the motor burn duration with and without RIO? This is a very good demonstration on how to safely cast a sorbitol motor! I am looking forward to the test fire.

  • @MinuteRockets

    @MinuteRockets

    2 жыл бұрын

    The casting tubes are Elegoo standard resin (amzn.to/3hOaHUG) I haven't done a test with and without the RIO in a motor, but according to Richard Nakka, RIO makes it about 25% faster in open air. (www.nakka-rocketry.net/oxidex.html)

  • @WilliamDye-willdye
    @WilliamDye-willdye2 жыл бұрын

    Sweet! (pun intended)

  • @anuragpatil6966
    @anuragpatil69665 ай бұрын

    What is the material used for 3d printing, PLA, ABS??

  • @MinuteRockets

    @MinuteRockets

    5 ай бұрын

    This is Elegoo standard resin, used in a resin/SLA printer. www.amazon.com/ELEGOO-UV-Curing-Standard-Photopolymer-Printing/dp/B07Z986566

  • @djisydneyaustralia
    @djisydneyaustralia Жыл бұрын

    Surely sugar would be favourable performance wise over sorbitol?

  • @MinuteRockets

    @MinuteRockets

    Жыл бұрын

    Actually they are very similar. Sucrose might be 2% better (153 ISP vs 151). However sorbitol is preferable because it does not break down (caramelize) with heat nearly as easily as sugar, so it is much easier to work with.

  • @TheOpticalFreak
    @TheOpticalFreak3 ай бұрын

    Hi, why do you use sorbitol? And not icing sugar or fructose or glucose!? I am curious to know why, ( i am still a noob) please. Thank you! 👍😉

  • @TheExplosiveGuy

    @TheExplosiveGuy

    3 ай бұрын

    Sorbitol melts at a much lower temperature and also pours much more easily. It takes a small hit to performance compared to sucrose, but you tend to get a better grain quality, which can boost reliability. You can also add 0.5%-1% Sodium Laureth Sulfate as a surfactant which will make the propellant flow like honey, though it requires a 24 hour cure time before the grain hardens enough to load and launch.

  • @rm62rocket
    @rm62rocket2 жыл бұрын

    care to share the .stl for your casting caps?

  • @MinuteRockets

    @MinuteRockets

    2 жыл бұрын

    Sure, I just put them on thingiverse: www.thingiverse.com/thing:5342685

  • @ketnoiammepkl1950
    @ketnoiammepkl1950 Жыл бұрын

    Can I have the recipe for the projectile and the ingredients to make it please?? Thank you

  • @MinuteRockets

    @MinuteRockets

    Жыл бұрын

    Sure, it's on the paper in the video. You might need to pause to see it.

  • @emmetray9703
    @emmetray97032 жыл бұрын

    Please make Ammonium Perchlorate rocket fuel .

  • @MinuteRockets

    @MinuteRockets

    2 жыл бұрын

    I plan to do that soon. Stay tuned!

  • @rocketman321
    @rocketman321 Жыл бұрын

    can you add the link of the difference between dry and melted knsb?

  • @MinuteRockets

    @MinuteRockets

    Жыл бұрын

    Hey, so I wasn't able to find that video on KZread, and the place I found it is a private forum so I can't really share it from there. I'm going to try to reproduce the test when I get time and post it here myself. Basically the dry mix was harder to light and burned pretty mildly whereas the liquid mix burned violently and very fast.

  • @mojaverockets

    @mojaverockets

    Жыл бұрын

    We've done this with KNSB and other 'sugars' and the result is the same. As a mixed powder it burns slower than hot melted propellant. The hotter it is the faster it will burn. kzread.info/dash/bejne/dJept6ygnNvJcs4.html Only heat it hot enough to melt and pour...I don't exceed 225 F

  • @k.kgaming8357
    @k.kgaming83572 жыл бұрын

    I am testing sugar rocket at Saturday in india i will send vedio to you

  • @redbaronvonrichthofen4476
    @redbaronvonrichthofen44769 ай бұрын

    Can AL be used instead of rust?

  • @MinuteRockets

    @MinuteRockets

    7 ай бұрын

    Not in the same way. AL would be a fuel, and I'm not sure that sugar fuel is hot enough to effectively use it. Some other formulas like Ammonium Perchlorate based propellant do use AL for fuel. The rust is a catalyst, so it just helps the reaction to go a little faster.

  • @sabercruiser.7053
    @sabercruiser.7053 Жыл бұрын

    It would be professional if u casted them in a vacuum chamber = More performance less weight and a consistent burning temperature

  • @Dragon-Slay3r
    @Dragon-Slay3r4 ай бұрын

    Pop the eyes from frog with casting sugar as alum casting that failed to deploy on my face when I was at work (wow you don't forget anything) then after all that dissapears you have a double coffee lung with ball cancer cover the with added water it's mixed up It's all the same story, same shit different day 😭

  • @user-sy8jo6jw6v
    @user-sy8jo6jw6v6 ай бұрын

    Can you share the components ratio of the motor, plz

  • @MinuteRockets

    @MinuteRockets

    6 ай бұрын

    1:50

  • @ahsankhan5079
    @ahsankhan50792 жыл бұрын

    Can we make a single grain rocket motor rather than these 4 grain

  • @MinuteRockets

    @MinuteRockets

    Жыл бұрын

    Yes, you certainly could. You would just need to adjust the motor length and the nozzle throat diameter.

  • @haosaloh2009
    @haosaloh20096 ай бұрын

    Màu đỏ là gì vậy bạn mong bạn trả lời

  • @MinuteRockets

    @MinuteRockets

    6 ай бұрын

    It's Red Iron Oxide that makes the fuel red. kzread.info/dash/bejne/ZKyKsptqiq2fY9I.html

  • @habibzamani-xu7du
    @habibzamani-xu7du Жыл бұрын

    helo borather tell the names of the things that u mixed pleaase please please pleaase pleeeeeeeezzzzzsssee

  • @MinuteRockets

    @MinuteRockets

    9 ай бұрын

    It's all in the video. KNO3, Sorbitol, and red iron oxide.

  • @Aywake
    @Aywake Жыл бұрын

    when blending the elements of the rocket fuel, i actualy allways mix the fuel before puting it in the blender, and in two years no fire has been started on acident

  • @decade_ch24
    @decade_ch247 ай бұрын

    Can i used it go to space???

  • @MinuteRockets

    @MinuteRockets

    7 ай бұрын

    It's possible, you just have to scale it way up. People are working on it. facebook.com/Sugarshottospace/

  • @thelethalpredator672
    @thelethalpredator67210 ай бұрын

    I just want to say, i wish i watched this video before 4th of july lol. Ive been making my own mix of 25% sugar, 75% Kn03. Then i pour into a old pan. And i use a gasoline camp stove. On the 4th i was making my first batch(using pill bottles as measurement because i marked weights on the sides of them so because i dont have access to a scale(used my dads at his old work)) anyways i did 1 bottle of sugar and 3 of the stump remover into the pan, mixed around. I was doing this outside away from anything flamable. And it just all combusted. Lukely i wasnt burned. I was wearing shorts, t-shirt, and flipflops. Next time ill make sure to wear at least pants and closed top shoes lol. My family were sitting on the back porch just conversating as i was about 50 feet away making the batch and it went off. My mom brother, granny and dad were unphased as they are used to my shanagins. But my cousin, and aunt were freaking out. Unferstandably. Ill have to invest in a cooking thing like what you have 100% as well to help prevent that.

  • @MinuteRockets

    @MinuteRockets

    9 ай бұрын

    Glad you didn't get hurt.

  • @jlathem56
    @jlathem567 ай бұрын

    by chance do you share the files for printing the 3d components?

  • @MinuteRockets

    @MinuteRockets

    7 ай бұрын

    Yes, they are at minuterockets.com/downloads.php

  • @jlathem56

    @jlathem56

    7 ай бұрын

    @@MinuteRockets - Awesome! Thanks

  • @thefarm9640
    @thefarm96402 жыл бұрын

    Why do you split up the fuel? Why not one big tube of fuel?

  • @MinuteRockets

    @MinuteRockets

    2 жыл бұрын

    Using shorter grains instead of a full length grain gives a more even burn because the surface area of the fuel remains roughly constant as it burns in the core and on the ends of each grain. The geometry is called a Bates grain. If we did a full length grain, the surface area would constantly increase as the core got bigger and bigger, and the motor would produce more thrust as the burn went on, which could be a bad thing.

  • @ChucksSEADnDEAD

    @ChucksSEADnDEAD

    Жыл бұрын

    You're also more likely to crack a full height grain and ruin it, which is another practical reason.

  • @user-nb3zm4wv8o
    @user-nb3zm4wv8o8 ай бұрын

    Công thức và tỉ lệ là gì vậy bạn có thể chia sẻ không

  • @MinuteRockets

    @MinuteRockets

    7 ай бұрын

    It's on the paper in the video, you might need to pause to read it. Also more info at www.nakka-rocketry.net/sorb.html

  • @LuckyEarners
    @LuckyEarners7 ай бұрын

    Why add the screw and silicon tube in that pipe

  • @MinuteRockets

    @MinuteRockets

    7 ай бұрын

    The screw gives it rigidity and the silicone is a so it doesn't stick. You need the hole in the middle of the fuel grain to increase surface area, otherwise the fuel wouldn't burn fast enough to produce usable thrust.

  • @TomWhile
    @TomWhile11 ай бұрын

    All that and we didn't get to see it fly

  • @MinuteRockets

    @MinuteRockets

    7 ай бұрын

    Here's a video of the motor running: kzread.info/dash/bejne/nop_uc96qaysZ6w.html These flights are with similar motors: kzread.info241FL8GbHaM kzread.infosWFy1H89di8 kzread.infobRl2kcieChY

  • @user-ei3tj7wg5j
    @user-ei3tj7wg5j3 ай бұрын

    Can someone give me the right wight on the 3 thing used here

  • @TheExplosiveGuy

    @TheExplosiveGuy

    3 ай бұрын

    65% KNO3, 33-34% Sorbitol, 1-2% red Iron Oxide. Adding 1% Sodium Laureth Sulfate will greatly reduce viscosity too, making it easier to pour the grain.

  • @alinajafpour3248
    @alinajafpour3248 Жыл бұрын

    Wouldn’t a plastic container potentially generate static electricity and ignite the mixture?

  • @MinuteRockets

    @MinuteRockets

    Жыл бұрын

    Good question. This mixture is actually pretty stable and will not ignite with just a spark. I have never seen anyone have trouble mixing this way.

  • @mehadyhasan1965
    @mehadyhasan1965 Жыл бұрын

    Chemical list and wait list give me please

  • @MinuteRockets

    @MinuteRockets

    9 ай бұрын

    It's in the video, you might need to pause on the paper. KNO3, Sorbitol, and red iron oxide.

  • @atech.industry
    @atech.industry Жыл бұрын

    Sir can it work like this by potassium chlorate + sugar??

  • @MinuteRockets

    @MinuteRockets

    9 ай бұрын

    I haven't used Potassium Chlorate. I'm not sure that it's stable enough to make a propellant that is safe to store and transport.

  • @Aywake
    @Aywake Жыл бұрын

    i was making my fuel on a stove, but made the mistake of not using a pan, and umm i had a smoke gernade in my kitchen, the fire peoples was even called, but no majour fire

  • @Aywake

    @Aywake

    Жыл бұрын

    but the disaster was only when i made my 2nd batch, and my first batch more than a meter away cought on fire too from the hot ash

  • @noimnotarobotcanubeleiveit7024
    @noimnotarobotcanubeleiveit70249 ай бұрын

    carmelize? caramelise

  • @MinuteRockets

    @MinuteRockets

    9 ай бұрын

    Welcome to America!

  • @mojaverockets
    @mojaverockets Жыл бұрын

    Nicely done video. Suggestion, when you start heating, set the temp to 200 F and cover the skillet until all is melted. Then turn up the heat to 225 F and gently stir trying not to add air bubbles. Allowing the propellant to melt before stirring in the unmelted dry powder helps eliminate tiny air bubbles that lower the final density. Turning up the heat to 225 makes the propellant less viscous for pouring (or scooping). Here is the video link you may have been looking for. I've done this a few times with various 'sugars' and they all work the same. As a dry mixed powder, they burn relatively slowly but when hot and melted will burn in a fraction of a second in a fireball throwing propellant all over. The same as if burning a pile of black powder or a handful of apcp trimmings. kzread.info/dash/bejne/dJept6ygnNvJcs4.html

  • @MinuteRockets

    @MinuteRockets

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks for the tips! Yes that's the video. I remembered seeing it maybe on TRF but I could not find it again.

  • @Concorde002
    @Concorde0026 ай бұрын

    I mean i did it on a stove with a thermometer...

  • @MinuteRockets

    @MinuteRockets

    6 ай бұрын

    Just be very careful of any propellant that drips over the edge of the pan. If it hits the burner then the whole pot could go up in flames very fast.

  • @Concorde002

    @Concorde002

    6 ай бұрын

    @@MinuteRockets i will! i also i got a huge project coming up; i bought 19 packs of 100g of potassium nitrate and just imagine how high could i fly

  • @user-tj8hn9ox2o
    @user-tj8hn9ox2o6 ай бұрын

    In spanish

  • @HamidaSultana-kd9py
    @HamidaSultana-kd9py7 ай бұрын

    Why did you melt the sugar and added kno3 .... just mix the powdered form of sugar and kno3 and mix it well .... that works absolutely fine. Does heating up and melting the sugar make it more powerful or increase the thrust ? I added aluminium powder in the mix and used in rocket engine and it was just fantastic.

  • @MinuteRockets

    @MinuteRockets

    6 ай бұрын

    I think it's just more consistent if you melt the sugar and you get a higher density. I have seen people who just mix the powders and pack it in and it seems to work. Just a matter of what works for you.

  • @VC_27
    @VC_276 ай бұрын

    Perfect example of overcomplicating things. Begging your pardon, this is too complex for a humble sugar rocket.

  • @jamesbrowne6351
    @jamesbrowne635110 ай бұрын

    Does anyone out there speak mumble?

  • @MinuteRockets

    @MinuteRockets

    9 ай бұрын

    I do!

  • @arturgruszczynski5716
    @arturgruszczynski57166 ай бұрын

    Kurde jak można tak długo mówić o takiej prostej robocie?????upośledzony jesteś człowieku???czy upośledzonych szukasz żeby im to wytłumaczyć?????

  • @MinuteRockets

    @MinuteRockets

    6 ай бұрын

    You're right, your videos are much better than mine. Nice work.

  • @arturorojasavalos1768
    @arturorojasavalos17687 ай бұрын

    You talk a lot, and you don't say anything and the video is very long.

  • @MinuteRockets

    @MinuteRockets

    7 ай бұрын

    Thanks, very helpful!

  • @nikostsatsis9478
    @nikostsatsis94787 ай бұрын

    SPEAK LOUDER 😂😂😂😂

  • @MinuteRockets

    @MinuteRockets

    7 ай бұрын

    Thanks for the feedback, I appreciate it.