3D Printed Spool Winder pyronaught 2016-05-10 | Filament guide is mechanically linked to rotation for proper spacing between winds.
Axis8 Taping 4 shell pyronaught 2023-11-15 | Loading and taping a 4" shell. The 1/2" tape is a little too wide for small shells so it doesn't lay as flat as on the bigger shells.
Axis8 Shell Taping Machine Test pyronaught 2023-11-05 | This is the first complete test of the new Axis automated shell taping machine. The profile for a 6" shell with 4 layers and 4 different taping angles is selected. The operation completes in one minute and 16 seconds. Can paste from 2" to 8" shell sizes using both gummed tape and pasted tape. Foot operated auto shell gripper, no rod swaps necessary.
Axis8 Controlled Stop pyronaught 2023-10-30 | Using sensor to ensure the water bucket always coasts to a stop at the bottom position so that it doesn't spill.
Shell Pasting Machine Hoop Test pyronaught 2023-08-20 | It's been 10 years since I built my last shell pasting machine. I'm bringing new skills to the task of making the ultimate shell pasting machine. Mechanical design is complete, here is a hoop RPM test with all components installed plus water and tape.
CNC Trimming Carbon Fiber pyronaught 2017-02-03 | Probotix Router being used to trim 3D contours and holes in carbon fiber parts.
Personal Hydrogen Generator pyronaught 2016-06-27 | Here is the final self contained, portable hydrogen generator for filling RC blimps. This unit produces about 10 cubic feet per hour of 95% pure hydrogen. This is a 120 volt, 59 plate cell that draws 12 amps at 100F temps while using sodium hydroxide as the electrolyte. The electrolyte is pumped through a radiator and uses a temperature controller to maintain a set working temperature, thus the unit can be run for many hours without overheating. An oxygen meter is included on the control panel to measure the percentage of oxygen leaking into the hydrogen output.
Hydrogen Production pyronaught 2016-06-11 | Collecting hydrogen from my 3D printed hydrogen separator cell, which generates 96% pure hydrogen.
3D Printed Gear Train pyronaught 2016-05-06 | Constant rate reciprocating gear motion with bevel gears. This mechanism will be used to guide thread back and forth onto spools on a spool winding machine.
Home Made Sliding Ring Electrical Contacts pyronaught 2016-02-11 | No more power cord entanglements due to Mach3s inability to handle the rotation axis in a predictable way. This four conductor sliding ring connector was made using a 3D printer and a thin sheet of copper etched into concentric rings using acid. Each of the four conductors can handle up to 15 amps, and there is no problems with electrical noise on the thermocouple readings.
Hydrogen Burn Test pyronaught 2015-11-16 | This test shows a 30 liter bag of hydrogen containing 6% oxygen contamination being burned. Note that the gas will NOT ignite internally from a spark generator the way higher concentrations of oxygen will, and there is no explosion here like you get with 33% oxygen. The point being that hydrogen balloons with less than 10% oxygen do NOT explode when ignited and static electricity is not a risk.
Hydrogen/Oxygen Separation Cell pyronaught 2015-11-14 | This water electrolysis dry cell uses membranes to keep the hydrogen and oxygen from mixing, routing each gas out a separate line so that they can be collected individually. Five parallel cells are sandwiched in a single stack that can produce roughly 2.5 liters of hydrogen per minute (not HHO, but just the hydrogen). This hydrogen generator is being developed specifically for filling RC blimps.
Passfire.com Fiberglass Star Roller pyronaught 2015-08-31 | Instructions for building this star roller can be found on passfire.com. This video demonstrates the roller being used at two different speeds. Note the good star size consistency on the finished batch of 1/2" stars, which are white glitter to red. These were rolled up from 1/4" cores in about 20 minutes at the 40 RPM speed.
Multirotor Flying Saucer Test pyronaught 2015-07-22 | Testing some Multiwii code changes on my UFO quad. Sorry about the shaky video, my 9 yr old kid doesn't get the concept of standing still when shooting video.
Spin Stabilized Quad with no Electronics pyronaught 2015-06-19 | This quad has no lateral control, only up and down control. It was made just to demonstrate the stability that can be achieved by fast rotation without the need for any stabilization electronics.
Neighborhood 4th of July pyronaught 2014-03-18 | A simulation of random consumer fireworks being fired off in a neighborhood on the 4th of July. Simulate and fire your backyard fireworks shows using ShowSim Backyard Edition software, available at www.showsim.com
World Class Fireworks 500g Cake Simulations pyronaught 2013-12-16 | A few selections from the 130+ collection of 500g cake simulations included in the World Class Fireworks effect library available for ShowSim users in the next update.
ShowSim: Shogun Cake Demo pyronaught 2013-11-20 | This short video showcases eight cakes from the several hundred new class C cake simulations being released with the new Backyard Edition of ShowSim (low cost version for hobbyists to use for personal shows). This epic cake library will also be available for all other versions of ShowSim at no cost. Product will be included from Brothers, Shogun, Dominator, Winda and Megabanger.
Automated Registration Marks & Labeling pyronaught 2013-09-23 | I have the post processor automatically adding registration marks perpendicular to the cutting line at evenly spaced intervals (user specifies line length and spacing). Lines are centered so that it doesn't matter which way the panel is flipped when sewing. The panel cut time was reduced to 2 min 20 sec after making this video by tweaking the rapids speed, acceleration settings and putting the head angle changes on the same line as the G1 positioning line instead of a separate G0 line.
CNC Fabric Cutter: G-code modification test pyronaught 2013-09-19 | Testing the g-code produced by my post processor, which takes files generated for a 3-axis router and converts them to work with the fabric cutter. Hot knife only lifts off the table to change A-axis angles when they are greater than a preset value, such as when cutting the star. Smaller angles such as those with the circle are done while the head is down.
CNC Fabric Cutter: first test cutting nylon with hot knife pyronaught 2013-09-17 | Cutting 1.3oz silicon coated nylon with a hot knife fabricated from a soldering iron. Feed rate is 300 IPM on the cuts.
CNC Fabric Cutter: First Test pyronaught 2013-09-17 | This is the first test of my home made CNC fabric cutter. Sending it one of Mach3's stock g-code files to see if it can draw it. The file is intended for a router, so there are lots of pauses from dwell times and spindle direction changes would occur, and the pen is just held down the whole time so it is one continuous line. Still a good first test though. Rapids from end to end are 1000 IPM. It could go faster, but that's about as fast as I'd ever want to run it I think.
DIY CNC Fabric Cutter: Vacuum Table Test pyronaught 2013-08-31 | Testing a segment of vacuum table on some silicon coated nylon
DIY CNC Fabric Cutter: Tool Head Test pyronaught 2013-08-31 | Manually testing the knife and pen air cylinders.
Wrapping 2.5 Shells pyronaught 2013-07-16 | Full process of loading, wrapping, unloading and burnishing a 2.5" shell on the Mosquito shell wrapping machine.
Dominator Effect Simulations pyronaught 2013-05-22 | Some ShowSim simulations of cakes and pre-loaded artillery shells from the Dominator Pro series.
Corning Drum Operation pyronaught 2013-02-21 | This shows the operation of the Passifre.com corning drum (unloaded) running on the Universal Roller. This machine allows you to safely granulate and screen your own black powder unattended. Plans for the entire machine can be found on passfire.com.
2.5 Shell Tests with Onion Slicer Stars pyronaught 2013-02-05 | These 2.5" shells are impressive for their size. The exact details for how to produce them using a new Onion Slicer star production method will be appearing on Passfire.com soon, as well as the new red star formula seen here.
Mechanical Two Rotation Stop Switch pyronaught 2012-12-16 | This shutoff switch automatically turns off the shell wrapping machine after two full rotations have been completed. The switch is then easily reset for the next shell.
Automated Shell Wrapper, Version 2.0 pyronaught 2012-12-14 | This new machine produces a smoother taping job and also allows switching between different shell sizes without the need for tools. It also has a stronger clamping mechanism than the previous machine, as well as a larger and more easily accessed hand wheel for opening and closing the shell clamp. The knocking sound on each revolution is caused from a bolt hitting the lower support rod, which needs to be cut shorter.
Industrial Star Roller pyronaught 2012-10-21 | Testing pile slippage, size consistency and comp accumulation in my new stainless star roller. For detailed construction plans for building this star roller and several other models, subscribe to www.passfire.com
Shell Wrapper: 2 Shell pyronaught 2012-10-11 | I had to post this duplicate video showing a few more details, since youtube does not allow replacing an existing video. WTF youtube, people have been asking for the replace video feature for years and you STILL haven't added it??? That's like a text editor without the Save-As feature for Christ sake.
Shell Wrapping Machine: 2 shell test. pyronaught 2012-10-09 | This is a shell pasting machine I built which automatically applies gummed tape to shells. It can handles shells as small as 2" and as large as 6". The video here shows a 2" shell getting 4 layers of paper in 15 seconds.
Star Roller Design pyronaught 2012-09-13 | Analysis of slipping problem on polished stainless rolling surface, with solution for creating traction.
Star Roller #4 pyronaught 2012-09-10 | Large capacity, high performance stainless star roller with full tilt range and variable speed.
Trenton, Michigan 4th of July Show Simulation pyronaught 2012-07-26 | This show was designed by Drew Espenshade at ACE Pyro and fired as the big 4th of July show in Trenton, Michigan. This show contains a lot of custom designed simulations to accurately represent all the specialty shells used in the show and demonstrates the wide variety of effects that are possible with ShowSim. This 30 minute show has 2571 cues which fire 4320 effects.
Tchaikovsky: Waltz Sentimentale for Piano pyronaught 2012-07-16 | This is my favorite waltz for rainy, depressing days.
ShowSim: File Manager pyronaught 2012-06-29 | This tutorial explains how to use the File Manager in ShowSim.
ShowSim Brighntess Setting pyronaught 2012-06-22 | ShowSim now has a brightness setting that can be used to compensate for the color and brightness loss that occurs during compression or frame size reduction when posting fireworks videos online.
RC Hot Air Blimp Project pyronaught 2012-05-18 | This is an RC hot air blimp I have developed which is 4000 cubic feet volume and can fly for around 15 to 20 minutes on two pounds of propane, depending on the outside temperature. The two-tank propane modules can be easily swapped out to extend flying by 20 minute intervals. Fuel tanks are standard 1 pound camping tanks with the over pressure valve converted to a spit valve for easy refilling. I'm still learning how to fly it however, it's not as easy as you'd think it would be!
RC Hot Air Blimp Flight #5 pyronaught 2012-05-18 | Everything is mostly working now. I forgot to turn on one fuel tank and ran out of fuel shortly after the first liftoff. This thing is complicated enough to warrant a pre-flight checklist to prevent that kind of mistake!
RC Hot Air Blimp Test #3 pyronaught 2012-05-05 | This is the third test flight. Still some problems with the front burner blowing out and the tail fan needs more power. Getting close though, at least this time I actually got to fly it.
fuga4.wmv pyronaught 2012-05-03 | Bach, Fuga #4 bwv 952. OK, I'm not exactly Glenn Gould, but it was worth a try.
Test Flight #2 pyronaught 2012-04-27 | This flight was plagued with problems and a head mounted iphone doesn't produce the best video in the world, but better than nothing I guess. The front burner kept blowing out its pilot light, the load cables are too long and is putting stress on the envelope above the gondola and the tail fan needs a bigger battery. All these problems led to aborting the flight.
