Baffles Baffle Baffled Baffles

[Domino]

Unlike most designers who used computers from conception to final design, Domino liked to draw hers out on actual drafting paper. It just seemed to let her get her ideas out more smoothly without messing with a machine interface or finicky programs, and it was much easier to destroy should the need arise.

Now standing before a suspended ion sublight drive, Domino held one such design open as she weighted down the corners. Baffling an engine was nothing new, even to Domino. Baffling an engine without running cryogenics through it was another matter entirely. Intending to exploit one of the basic gas laws, Domino was confident that she could do it without all the cryogenics. They were finicky, expensive to maintain, expensive to operate, had to be running all the time or they wouldn’t chill exhaust right when you cloaked, and required teams of mechanics.
[member="Isis Varida"]

 

[Isis Varida]

[member="Domino"]

THe call had been unexpected to say the least and as Isis tapped her lollipop against her teeth and was reviewing her wrist datapad she made a small frown with her face. The jumpsuit she was in helpful for going around while she announced herself and ran a hand over her head while the holo was showing more of the designs she had to work on. "I am here to help as best I can." Her attention though was more on what she was going to be meeting and who it was. A famous woman who had done a great many thing... most of which were so epic they couldn't be spoken of because no one knew the real details and it was like a fish tail. Isis slowly entered seeing the twi'lek as she spoke. "Isis Varida from Damorian Manufacturing."

 

[Domino]

Domino would never call one of her projects 'epic,' grand maybe, or epic in proportions, but never epic itself despite how much she'd probably love hearing one described as such. Unbeknownst to all, it was one of these grand projects she was currently embarked on. Today was foundation day where the very first steps were being taken. After all, big things had tiny beginnings.

Hearing Isis introduce herself, Domino looked over her shoulder and waved her to come up beside her. "Come take a look at this and tell me what you think." She hadn't told the Liren what the project they'd be working on consisted of so this would be a small test of her skills as a designer. Without having worked with her before, Domino had no way of knowing if Isis's achievements had been her own or due to a team behind her.
[member="Isis Varida"]

 

[Isis Varida]

[member="Domino"]

Isis looked at the twi'lek as she moved over and was watching with a raised eyebrow. No more was given and it was more a part she was looking at when she finally arrived and took in the long shaft of the design while thinking it over. First thing that came to her mind was something from a slave house.... but it wasn't that. Next guess in her head was for a weapon but she was thinking about it more while she looked at it from a slightly better angle and got her thinking lollipop out unwrapping it. "It looks like something for a gun at first but based on the scale you want with the design I'd say for an engine... Which could be a great thing."

 

[Domino]

"Yes, just might be for an engine," Domino said demurely as she pointed at the ion drive suspended before their workstation while trying to suppress a smile. "As volume increases, temperature decreases. One of the basic rules of the gas laws. These chambers," running a hand over the print to show which ones, she continued, "will give the exhaust gas time and a place to do that expansion before being exposed to space where it can be detected. Usually this type of thing would be done with cryogenics so as to preserve the engine's position in a ship, but I've no problem sinking mine deeper into a ship."
[member="Isis Varida"]

 

[Isis Varida]

[member="Domino"]

Isis was looking at her and resting in her hand for a moment as she spoke the lollipop with a small grin on her face. "It could work and be a good thing, not soemthing many will see coming as they are all going for stealth equipment and tech. You'll be able to come up with a better way and it might be cheaper in the long run for your company... Another valuable reason." Sadly she lacked that ambition but there were several things she wanted to do... this wasn't one of them, she would want to get better at building a standard ship before trying to tinker with the parts of it. Smart credits though was on this not being cheap. "Alright so what is your plan to get this on all of your ships?"

 

[Domino]

That brought a slight frown to Domino's lips. The loss of the Reason still stung though it didn't sound like Isis had intentionally struck a nerve. Very few people knew how closely she'd worked on the ship's conception, design, and construction. "Considering the pressures and tight tolerances, I'm not sure it'll work as an after-market part. The baffle's sheath would ideally be the same piece as the engine housing so it'd be one continuous unit." She traced the related part of the diagram before gesturing up at the engine to show what she meant. "I think you'd have to take most of a ship apart to get at the engine, replace its cover, and then get the extended baffles in if the design even allowed it. Much easier to add them as part of a ship during a design phase." Pausing to let the other woman take it in for a moment, Domino gave the lollipop a curious glance. "So any thoughts so far Isis?"
[member="Isis Varida"]

 

[Isis Varida]

[member="Domino"]

She was thinking about it and as the twi'lek described how the part would work she was not fully liking it. Her thoughts going over rebuilding ships and how that would take but building it in the ships from the beginning would be an important thing. "I am thinking about what could be used for it. Installing it while building the ships will be helpful. We'll have to see how it will function on your ships, I did always like a few of them." She set the lollipop back in her mouth and brought the wrist pad up to access the shop pf Phenex to look at the ships. "I don't know what the smallest model you will be able to set this part on."

 

[Domino]

That gave Domino pause, she was really only interested in using it on one ship at the moment, but really though. "Should be able to use it on any engine, the problem is that it's going to have to be made for each individual type of engine. So a Vaugn would have a different one than say... a Ghost. Which means that each type of engine would need a baffle designed to custom measurements. Right now I'm thinking of having a computer controlled assembly machine mill out each baffle. That way the same machine can just load the required specs for the order and fulfill them." Of course those machines were expensive and milling was slow, she'd probably only ever set up half-a-dozen lines at most. Milling was more expensive, but it yielded a stronger higher quality product.
[member="Isis Varida"]

 

[Isis Varida]

[member="Domino"]

Isis was thinking it over and that would be the better way with a computer. Save time and eliminate the need for a human error... or whatever she hired, Jawa's were really the best ones for things like this. "Computers will work and well what would you like from me. A design is good and all but I admit looking it over I am much better with my hands and getting into the thick of things to work and test." She was leaning a little while turning off the holo for the shop and grinning now. "So which one are we measuring this to fit on for now to test and see how it goes?"

 

[Domino]

Taking the prints, Domino began rolling them up as she spoke, "I was actually hoping you would be able to make the first baffle for me. I have the tools in the shop." Handing the Liran the rolled papers, she led the way through a pair of sliding steel doors into a small hanger holding a light dropship. "I figured the Graul would be a good test ship, cheep, durable, easily modified, single center-line engine, and a lot of passenger space we can fill up with testing equipment." Filling the rest of the room were several bits of heavy machining equipment and plenty of materials to make the required baffle as well as the ship's drive already hanging in the shop entrance they'd just left with it's cowling already removed.
[member="Isis Varida"]

 

[Isis Varida]

[member="Domino"]

Isis followed her as they were going and she had a bit of a grin on her face hearing they were going to test it now... She was like a kid in a candy shop getting to choose while the shop came into view and she was nodding her agreement. Alright she coudl work with this while she changed a little, her bodysuit great for working but she removed her ring as well as coat with her candies in the pockets. THe only awkward moment she could think of was asking Domino to slip some of the lollipops in while she was working and her hands ran along the ridges on her head with a smile on her face. She went towards the machines and pointed. "Alright lets get to work, have the schematics ready and give me the measurements."

 

[Domino]

It was good to see another so taken with the excitement of technological possibilities and exploring new ideas and Domino stepped forward to help with a smile. "Here, let me..." Domino started to help Isis work on the baffling, using the force to bend pieces into shape or hold them while they were welded into piece or, occasionally, to feed the engineer another piece of her candy without getting it dirty with their hands blackened from grease and oils, flecked with metal shavings.

Eventually, they had a serviceable baffle pieced together around the engine. That hadn't been a fun task to think about until Domino had realized she could just use the force to suspend the engine while moving the two halves of the baffle into place. Now she was just holding it steady while her accomplice secured it into the dropship's engine mounting. "After we test to make sure the engine's firing, what do you say to cleaning up and getting something from the cafeteria, we've been at it for hours and I missed lunch."
[member="Isis Varida"]

 

[Isis Varida]

[member="Domino"]

I am iron woman.... Isis was internally rocking out while they worked on it. The use of the force was a good thing and well she had to admit to a little being jealous while moving and working. Getting some more of the candy when she finished was worth it before she enjoyed the montage of them working. The baffler as she finished with Domino mentioning testing it and then cleaning up and getting some food was a good idea that she could get behind. "I am all for that, now lets see how this does." Isis moved back and stood there welcoming the feeling of grease on her hands as she nodded a little. "I could use some food."

 

[Domino]

Entering the ship, Domino made her way through the cramped passage to the pilot's cabin where additional consoles were bolted to the dash filled with readouts showing thrust, engine temperature, exhaust temperature at the engine and at the end of the baffle, as well as pressure throughout the system. "Come on, it's a bit cramped with all this extra stuff but I think you'll fit too." She called back to the Liran. Once they were both situated and the bay doors closed, she carefully guided the ship out of the shop and through a hanger to the station's exterior before kicking the ion engine on. "Lets just sit here a bit and let it warm up." So far things were looking good, but Domino wanted to make sure that was because the baffle was working and not simply because the exhaust was leaving the engine cold enough to cool down on its own by the time it reached the final sensor.
[member="Isis Varida"]

 

[Isis Varida]

[member="Domino"]

Isis was looking at it as she followed and squeezing into the ship was... well not something she was used to. The look on her face while she got in made it worthwhile once she drew out a piece of candy and putting it with the wrapper into her mouth while she swished it around and got it out quickly. She slid the wrapped into one of her pockets while looking around. "Alright it is looking good." She was sitting there while looking at the screens to watch the test and while she trusted her work she was also prideful enough to know that any mistakes were the twi'leks fault and not her own.

 

[Domino]

"Right," Domino said as she scanned the readouts. It was less of an acknowledgment of anything Isis had said rather than saying something like 'right, its time to get to work.' She studied them in silence for a good five minutes, slowly switching through the displays and occasionally sending a reading to her data pad where she used a stylus to write notes on it and circle interesting bits of data. Finally she set the pad down and leaned back watching the numbers slowly worsen. "I think we're getting cavitation like effects in the baffle. It'd explain the errant vibrations and erratic heat readings. We'll have to cut the baffle in half and take a look to be sure."
[member="Isis Varida"]

 

[Isis Varida]

[member="Domino"]

Isis was looking at her as she went over the data and eating some of the food, she wanted to will everything right but they would and could continue to work on it. Then Domino said what they needed to do as she spoke. "Alright then, we'll get it apart and work on it. I want to see this succeed." A smirk on her face though while she ate some food. "Ready when you are boss."

 

[Domino]

Finishing up and tossing her trash into an empty box, Domino lead the way back to the work area where some techs had already dismounted the baffle and engine and had pried it apart after splitting the welds. "Right here," one of them pointed out along the seam where they had joined the two halves around the engine. Tiny pits could be seen along where he pointed out. "You can see where the pressure of the gas was impacting and degrading the baffle. And here." He showed them the edges of the baffle veins themselves where little slices of metal were missing. "The sheer forces of the gas were cutting pieces off and sending them to impinge later on in the system."

"Okay," Domino said looking at the damage. "We expected the first bit. We'd always planned to make it one part because of that anyways. As for the second.... What if we rounded it off like the gas is trying to do? You know, like the downstream side of an orifice plate in a flow meter. That way the gas can expand off the end without having to deal with such a sharp edge." Looking up at Isis, Domino asked her if she thought that'd work.
[member="Isis Varida"]

 

[Isis Varida]

[member="Domino"]

Isis was looking at Domino as they moved back to look at the baffles, she had a look on her face though while moving her hands nicely clean now to look and feel where he was indicating. She agreed with Domino's idea of what to do while bringing her holo up to display it and the work being done as she was checking it and some of the numbers. She was letting the computer run it as she spoke with a piece of candy going into her mouth. "That could help, though I am concerned with how quickly it was degrading. Might need a coating inside or a stronger metal." She was watching it as her attention went towards the twi'lek cracking her knuckles to get ready for some more grunt work.