Page History

Black Powder Piston Capsule Test

Conducted by: Jack A

...

(484-502-8924), Claire J

Location

...

: Blast Chamber

...

Date: 04/25/23

Time: 1830-2030

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. 

• Email Anthony Zolnik about blast chamber usage and receive approval or confirmation. 
  
  NOTE: Because there is no smoke or venting of fumes, members and the SO do not need to contact police before testing; however, it is required we reach out to at least one facilities manager (Anthony). 

Goals:

• Evaluate the performance of two new designs for black powder capsules

Materials:

Tools:

•  

  Black powder (.4 g per capsule)

  2 adjustable crescent wrenches
•  

  Gloves

•  

  Alligator clips

•  

  Bricks/sandbags/weights

•  

  Vacuum chamber & pump

•  

  Safety glasses 

•  

  Close toed shoes

•  

  A very long wire

•  Multimeter
•  

  9V battery

•  

  Scale

•  Hydrostatic Testing Manifold
•  Hydrostatic pump
•  Bucket of water

...

Hardware:

•  

  4 pistons

•  

  4 pistons

•  

  8 e-matches

•  

  2 Brass NPT Plugs with two holes

•  

  2 Brass NPT Plugs with one hole

•  4 Brass NPT Reducing Adapters
•  4 Burst Disk Washers
•  Hydrostatic Testing Manifold
•  Hydrostatic pump
•  Bucket of water
•  

  4 1/4-20 screws

•  5 minute epoxy
 Gloves

...

Consumables:

•  

  Alligator clipsBlack powder (.4 g per capsule)

•  

  Weighboats and popsicle sticks5 minute epoxy

•  

  Teflon tape

•  

  bricks/weights

•  

  Vacuum chamber & pump

•  

  Safety glasses 

•  

  Close toed shoes

•  

  A very long wire

•  Multimeter
•  Two adjustable crescent wrenches
•  

  9V battery

•  

  Scale

• 8 e-matches

...

Procedures:

Check-offs:

•  

  Fit check

•  

  Reserve the blast chamber

...

•  

  Perform integration according to the Piston Integration Procedures above.

•  

  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.

•  

  Place the piston in the vacuum chamber (firebolt-fitting assembly pointing down).

•  

  Clamp the piston between two bricks. 

•  

  Put the lid on the chamber and turn on the vacuum pump until pressure level reaches 0 psi. 

•  

  Only after exiting the chamber and closing the door, perform a countdown and connect the outside wires to a voltage source (battery).

•  

  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.

•  

  After firing, wait at least 60 seconds before entering the blast chamber.