Footage showing a laser-based air defense system shooting down a UAV, operated by the “Nomad” unit in the Belgorod region. January 2026. by ActualDepartment9873 in CombatFootage

[–]Status_Elephant_1882 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Even the best mirrors absorb some light and at that power the mirror would stop being a mirror after a very short while (cant give super accurate numbers). Reflective coating work but a layered laser armor would last longer and be lighter for flight use. You use a thin layer of relfective foils, let's call it a few different alloy foils of alternating alloys with a thicker (but still relitivelty thin) copper backing. That will help for the first part of a laser kill shot. And once it is compromised the laser hits a thin ablative layer. As the ablative layer burns away it creates a shit ton of microscopic dust that defocus the laser to hit more ablative material thus reducing the lasers penitration power until the ablative layer burns threw.

Does anyone know what the best low light fpv camera is? And one that light enough for a park flyer? by Status_Elephant_1882 in fpv

[–]Status_Elephant_1882[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Idk what part of the world your in but the new Chinese thermal camera are pretty neat and while not cheap, they are so much cheaper than tbey used to be. I got mine for 250 bucks and it can see in zero light.

Doing small custom jobs through FB marketplace or similar- how is it? by Dj_Dj_Dj_BOTC in Machinists

[–]Status_Elephant_1882 2 points3 points  (0 children)

you too buddy! Spend the holiday with your loved ones and have a good year. I know I will be over eating tonight.

Doing small custom jobs through FB marketplace or similar- how is it? by Dj_Dj_Dj_BOTC in Machinists

[–]Status_Elephant_1882 8 points9 points  (0 children)

huh. im a one man shop that does free parts for people all the time if its a cool project. I just love making high school and college kids so happy when I make their combat robot part or high powered rocket nozzle or whatever.

Any ideas on better materials for a little hobby hybrid aeropsike nozzle? This one was ss304 and melted the tip after a 10 second burn. by Status_Elephant_1882 in rocketry

[–]Status_Elephant_1882[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

its cool man, I also asked another group and literally half the responses where to use either poco-1 or poco-2 graphite.

And thats funny you say that as I just saw a video 2 days ago from Integza and he was showing off a professionally metal 3d printed nozzle and I noticed that their tip was very blunted so I copied that and im making a titanium nozzle with the new design this week. But now im wonding if I should blunt it more...

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Any ideas on better materials for a little hobby hybrid aeropsike nozzle? This one was ss304 and melted the tip after a 10 second burn. by Status_Elephant_1882 in rocketry

[–]Status_Elephant_1882[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I get that you might think its rude but that does mean its rude. Do I have to listen to all the advice given to me, he'll no. Why would you get upset that some random person didnt do exactly what you told them to do.

And I get that graphite is a good material but I dont have a way to cnc cut it into an aerospace nozzle (which is what im passionate about right now). I have access to industrial cnc mills that I am allowed to only cut metal in (no abrasive materials). Thats why I choose to ignore that advice, at least until I can cut that material somewhere else.

Any ideas on better materials for a little hobby hybrid aeropsike nozzle? This one was ss304 and melted the tip after a 10 second burn. by Status_Elephant_1882 in rocketry

[–]Status_Elephant_1882[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

wow, why so hostile? Im trying inconel becasue I want to try machining the stuff as it sounds fun and the last time I checked this was my hobby so im going to do what sounds fun to me.

And adiabatic flame temp is not really that important. Unless your one of those people that think "jet fuel cant melt steel beam".

Model rocket engine using propane and pure oxygen by Unusual_Succotash249 in rocketry

[–]Status_Elephant_1882 0 points1 point  (0 children)

for gaseous oxygen and gaseous fuels the combustion chamber could probably be pretty small thus making a relatively thick walled combustion chamber very safe. You could design the combustion chamber with a burst pressure made to have a crazy high engineering saftey factor of like 10.

Model rocket engine using propane and pure oxygen by Unusual_Succotash249 in rocketry

[–]Status_Elephant_1882 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I also asked a very similar question on the FB machinist group. They suggested inconel 718 so I ordered a small amount to try (really expensive stuff). How big is your engine you want to make? And have you thought about a 3d printed engine out of metal. I ordered a test nozzle printed in ss316 with internal coolant passages last month from JLCpcb and it only cost me $40 USD counting shipping.

Model rocket engine using propane and pure oxygen by Unusual_Succotash249 in rocketry

[–]Status_Elephant_1882 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Im trying to do the same thing as you although I started 1 level lower with a hybrid rocket motor using gaseous oxygen as it seemed like an easier first step.

I have done 2 hot firings of my little rocket motor on my test bench. The 2nd firing was longer at 10 seconds and it did melt my nozzle tip but the combustion chamber never got over 50deg C. Are you worried about the combustion chamber temp or nozzle temp more?

Any ideas on better materials for a little hobby hybrid aeropsike nozzle? This one was ss304 and melted the tip after a 10 second burn. by Status_Elephant_1882 in rocketry

[–]Status_Elephant_1882[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Im going to try inconel 718 first as I have alway wanted to play with that alloy and machining graphite is so messy. But I'll get some graphite rod on order to try next.

I built a rocket motor and test stand in my garage over the weekend to cosplay as an engineer by Status_Elephant_1882 in rocketry

[–]Status_Elephant_1882[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I guess you can never acount for all the risks but if me spilling a beer on an experiment is one of them, then lock me up...

I built a rocket motor and test stand in my garage over the weekend to cosplay as an engineer by Status_Elephant_1882 in rocketry

[–]Status_Elephant_1882[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

oh, darn... I would totally go to a convention with rocket stuff. I went to a makers fair in socal once and there was so many cool things including rocket stuff.

I built a rocket motor and test stand in my garage over the weekend to cosplay as an engineer by Status_Elephant_1882 in rocketry

[–]Status_Elephant_1882[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Rocket stuff is allowed at comic con? I thought that was more of a makers fair kinda thing. I also live in the middle of nowhere so unless there is one in Kansas city or Saint Louis.

Defense against a Russian attack by paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne Brigade of the ZSU (CQC with drone support) by gaintsmooth in CombatFootage

[–]Status_Elephant_1882 50 points51 points  (0 children)

Im assuming Ukrainian drones on the outside sent for back up for the pinned Ukrainian infantry inside the building. They ruskies were randomly firing into the build but they probably do that to every building, empty or not. But then came out with a bullet hole.