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Air Tank Blasters - Modding Systems!

Safety Valve & Constant Pressure Setups For reference.

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#1 SgNerf

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Posted 27 July 2011 - 03:56 PM

Just to share some systems that i've tested with air tank blasters... hopefully it can also be a useful reference for modders.

Here are 2 demo videos which show possible setups that can be incorporated into various air tank blaster mods.

Safety Valve System - Parts Demo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_sGgG6y3Io

System Parts:
- Topeak Pump (Mini Dual G)
- Pressure Gauge
- Adjustable Pressure Release Safety Valve
- Nerf Air Tech 3000 (AT3K) Air Tank Assembly
- M6 size Pressure Rated Air Hoses
- M6 size Pressure Rated Quick Release Couplers

You'll notice in the video that i'm using a Topeak Mini Dual G (2-stage/double-action) Bike Pump, it has a max. pressure rating of 120 PSI and it only took me 2 easy pumps to reach 50 PSI with the AT3K air tank (a magstrike pump would have required 6-7 pumps to reach that PSI).

Thats one of the reasons why i had to install a safety valve in my modded AT3K units, 'cos the pump effort is so easy and light that i sometimes accidentally put extra pumps into it and end up exceeding 100 PSI, which makes the trigger so difficult to pull that i had to open the casing to disconnect the air hose just to manually release the excess air pressure. With the safety valve i can set the limits or vent the pressure externally.

Anyways, after trying out various replacement pumps, i now use the Topeak Pumps for all my modded AT3Ks, it allows the blaster to operate at a much higher RoF and with alot less effort, so i recommend it (or similiar high pressure rated double-action bike pumps) for any modder who is looking for a similiar combo.

Here is what an early setup looked like (before i installed the safety valve, which is positioned at where the goo gauge used to be):

Posted Image

TP3k = Topeak 3k. ^_^

Edited by SgNerf, 21 August 2011 - 04:34 PM.

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#2 SgNerf

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Posted 27 July 2011 - 03:59 PM

Constant Pressure Air Feed System - Parts Demo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5gd299BS54

System Parts:
- Topeak Pump (Mini Dual G)
- Pressure Gauge
- Adjustable Air Flow Control Valve
- Rubber Air Bladder (From Nerf RF20)
- Nerf Air Tech 3000 (AT3K) Air Tank Assembly
- M6 size Pressure Rated Air Hoses
- M6 size Pressure Rated Quick Release Couplers

For this system, its similiar to what some modders have already previously done with their "semi-auto" mods, in my example i'm using an Adjustable Air Flow Control Valve to slow down the speed of the air refill from the rubber air bladder to the AT3K air tank. The air flow valve can be adjusted larger, so that the refill will be faster in between shots, but it'll also use up more air due to the increased flow leakage during firing.

Note that the constant pressure is derived from the rubber air bladder (not the air flow control valve).

Btw, all the pressure rated components i used in these setups were sourced from my local pneumatic equipment parts supply shops... i guess you can find similiar parts quite easily from online sites too.

Edited by SgNerf, 28 July 2011 - 10:05 PM.

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#3 ChaosPropel

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Posted 27 July 2011 - 04:23 PM

Very nice! This is a very nice reference for anyone needing help with an airgun setup.
Where did you get the Adjustable Air Flow Control Valve?
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#4 Kryptonx

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Posted 27 July 2011 - 04:29 PM

Very nice! This is a very nice reference for anyone needing help with an airgun setup.
Where did you get the Adjustable Air Flow Control Valve?

Automationdirect.com sells them to US and Canada. Be sure you're looking at Inline[Straight] Flow Control Valves.

Edited by Kryptonx, 27 July 2011 - 04:32 PM.

Not that I don't need more grinding in my life.


#5 Nate45

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Posted 27 July 2011 - 04:44 PM

Just for reference, here is the Adjustable Air Flow Control Valve - http://www.automatio...Straight)/FVU14 and here is the Topeak pump - http://www.amazon.co...e/dp/B000FICBEU .

Note: The Air Flow Control Valve is for 1/4" OD tubing.
Also two post below is a much cheaper option.

Edited by Nate45, 27 July 2011 - 08:55 PM.

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#6 bennorco

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Posted 27 July 2011 - 07:50 PM

I was actually just thinking of a something like the "Constant Pressure Air Feed System", but with a button valve between bladder and the Adjustable Air Flow Control Valve and no at3k tank. Do you think it would work?

Edited by bennorco, 27 July 2011 - 07:54 PM.

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Buy this stuff^

#7 roboman

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Posted 27 July 2011 - 08:07 PM

Just for reference, here is the Adjustable Air Flow Control Valve - http://www.automatio...Straight)/FVU14 and here is the Topeak pump - http://www.amazon.co...e/dp/B000FICBEU .

Note: The Air Flow Control Valve is for 1/4" OD tubing.


This one much less expensive, FYI.
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#8 SgNerf

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Posted 27 July 2011 - 10:19 PM

I was actually just thinking of a something like the "Constant Pressure Air Feed System", but with a button valve between bladder and the Adjustable Air Flow Control Valve and no at3k tank. Do you think it would work?

Yes, that's another setup which can work, quite a few modders have used the button valve refill method for their blasters too... though you would still need an air tank to store a certain volume of pressurized air to propel the foam darts.
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#9 roboman

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Posted 28 July 2011 - 12:34 AM

It doesn't really matter. Either way you're wasting money. Wishing will never make it a pressure regulator.


Bob, it doesn't need to be. All you need is something to restrict the flow into the tank, so you don't dump your entire bladder with one shot. The bladder will maintain a constant pressure on its own.
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#10 arfink

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Posted 28 July 2011 - 12:35 AM

It doesn't really matter. Either way you're wasting money. Wishing will never make it a pressure regulator.


I would say that if you want to "wish" for a pressure regulator, as Bob here suggests, just use something with a really tiny hole, 1/16 inch or smaller, to hold back the air. It'd do the same thing for loads cheaper, and if you don't like it you can use a smaller or larger drill bit. As long as you're just "pretending" you can always go cheaper. :) And provided you consider carefully the size ratio of your supply tank to your firing tank, and don't hold down the trigger too long with each shot you can in fact manage a few shots, even if the overall pressure will drop since you're just using a "pretend" regulator. Does the job well enough for 5 or 6 shots anyways, in my experience.
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#11 bennorco

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Posted 28 July 2011 - 01:23 PM

Yes, that's another setup which can work, quite a few modders have used the button valve refill method for their blasters too... though you would still need an air tank to store a certain volume of pressurized air to propel the foam darts.


Thanks for the advice, and pressure regulators are 5 bucks more:

http://www.automatio...inch_NPT/AR-213

Edited by bennorco, 05 August 2011 - 10:33 PM.

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