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--- ideas:magnetic_cutdown [2008/02/05 18:39] – removing old image joshatkins
+++ ideas:magnetic_cutdown [2008/07/19 23:33] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-====== Magnetic Cutdown ======
+====== Magnetic cutdown ======
-**Magnetic Cutdown** is a proposed new cutdown method.
+**Magnetic cutdown** is an experimental cutdown method.
-During ascent, small permanent magnets would be attached to either side of each of the ropes attaching the payload to the balloon.
+It would require just an electromagnet and a permanent magnet.
-If a cutdown was activated by the flight computer, current would be passed through three electromagnets, on left, right, and centre of the cutdown mechanism, and the four permanent magnets would be attracted to them. This would free the ropes, leaving the payload to descend.
+During ascent, the permanent magnet would sandwich the balloon rope in between itself and the electromagnet.
+When cutdown is activated, current will be passed through the electromagnet, positioned so that both magnets poles are adjacent (with the rope in between), repelling the permanent magnet holding the rope in place, and releasing the balloon from the payload.
-To stop the ropes slipping through the permanent magnets during ascent, non-magnetic metal discs thicker than the ropes would be attached to the bottom of both ropes, preventing the ropes slipping out of the grasp of the magnets.
 {{ideas:magnetic_cutdown_single.png|}}
+{{ideas:magnetic_cutdown_relays.png|}}