227 replies to this topic

[Omega]

I won't have any trouble affording the CNC router, and I have a long list of other things I can use it for (including actual work for the company where I'm currently employed).

With all I have planned for the next two years the tool will pay for itself fairly quickly.

Also (you're gonna want to check this) if you're using it for work, you could either seek employer reimbursement, which might get you fired depending on your boss/job, or a tax write-off. Things you buy for work are generally a huge tax write-off.

Dang, I hope these start getting massed soon, I've got a couple bucks owed me and I hope to blow them on something awesome like a +bow.

Props to the Slug. We seriously need a :props: emote.

[VACC]

Props to the Slug. We seriously need a :props: emote.

You really should go add that to the highly ignored emoticon request thread so I can ignore them all in one place.

Cap'n, regarding the replication of nerf guns, I always assumed it would be a pretty expensive proposition and I know you have no intention of getting the accessory at the moment, but my curiosity is not satiated. I only ever thought about replicating the shell without any inner workings, however I was thinking about replicating a crossbow chamber and barrel assembly/coupler all in one piece. Would something like that (obviously not at the moment, but down the road perhaps) be feasible?

VACC
~talks to his crossbow at night~

[CaptainSlug]

Eh, making cylindrical parts requires CNC lathe, CNC end mill, or making a mold. It's not something the router can accomplish directly.

[frost vectron]

I've got a quick question, CS, about the parts list.

On page 13, you listed parts that are bought in bulk and then other sets of parts.

87225K61 - Gray Tinted Polycarbonate Sheet 1/4" Thick, 12" X 12" = $13.53 Each

85805K26 - Gray Tinted Polycarbonate Sheet 1/8" Thick, 12" X 12" = $5.16 Each

but then over at http://www.captainsl...om/plusbow.html, the parts list says:

85805K43 - Gray Tinted Polycarbonate Sheet 1/4" Thick, 12" X 24" = $18.71 Each

85805K26 - Gray Tinted Polycarbonate Sheet 1/8" Thick, 12" X 12" = $5.16 Each

So my question is: are we supposed to buy the 1/4" Thick 12" x 24" or the 1/4" thick 12" x 12" ?

Thanks again!

On another note, I PM'd you about some other plus-bow related things. Sorry for bothering you!

[CaptainSlug]

The 12x24x1/4" sheet is needed if you're making the plunger rod yourself (it's 13.25" inches long by 1/2" wide). If I'm providing the plunger rod cut to size as a part of the kit then you won't need more than one 12x12x1/4" sheet.

Edited by CaptainSlug, 03 February 2008 - 12:43 AM.

[CaptainSlug]

After some discussion with VACC, Groove, and a few other people during the UMD War several weeks ago I've been tinkering with all possible ways to refine the trigger pull load and consistency of my +Bow. I think I've finally solved it to the point that it feels significantly lighter, and is much more durable/consistent. The solution was actually stupidly simple. All you have to do is duplicate the arrangement of parts from the other hardpoint.

The resulting trigger pull isn't quite as much of a hair trigger as the original crossbow, but it is about the same pull strength. Doing this reduces the trigger pull from 4 pounds down to about 1-1/4 pounds.
If a hair trigger is desired the other refinement needed would be to cut the notches in the plunger rod slightly shallower than the template indicates.

I'll have pictures of the new turret in a few days.

Edited by CaptainSlug, 10 February 2008 - 12:00 AM.

[Omega]

Sweetness. Any news on whether kits will be available, or is it still "Wait and see, asswipe"?

[CaptainSlug]

I have to get Home Owner's Association and maybe even County permission before I can start installing a shed in my backyard. I have enough money saved to get the CNC Router, but I need to have somewhere to set it up. It's not a tool you want to have inside your home because it's noisy, messy, and large.

So it will be at least 3 or 4 months from now before I will have the Router setup. And an unknown amount of time before I can actually start making these with the intent to sell them. It's an eventual thing and it will happen sometime this year. There are and will only be 4 +Bows in existence that I made manually with my own two hands, and all four have prospective owners lined up.
http://www.captainsl...erf/bow_029.jpg

Edited by CaptainSlug, 10 February 2008 - 02:23 AM.

[Blasphemy]

CS, I don't know about in Virginia, but up here in Connecticut my father and I built a shed in our backyard and we managed to find a simple way around zoning regulations. Our shed's foundation is on concrete skids, which actually qualifies it as a mobile structure, this exempts it from all zoning regulations a shed with a solid dug-in cement foundation would have to follow. It's just something you might wants to check out, it could save you months even years of waiting.

Edited by Blasphemy, 10 February 2008 - 10:17 AM.

[CaptainSlug]

A temporary structure doesn't need a county permit, but does need HOA approval so we just need to get that (which won't be hard).


And this isn't an update, it's just a "Nyah Nyah, I made two more than they're not for you" post.

Currently being packaged for shipping to their new owners. I won't be making any more until the CNC Router is setup.

Edited by CaptainSlug, 12 February 2008 - 11:12 PM.

[Omega]

*Whine whine scratch scratch*

WAAAANNNNTTTTT but I need to save for a laptop. Damn.

[Chanclas]

Ever seen this.

It's a 3d printer that you can either make yourself or buy from someone else. Read the wiki for info. I can't really explain the whole thing too well. But you can make pretty much anything using whatever material you want accurately because it carefully deposits the material drop by drop, layer by layer. I don't know about making something out a solid block of material though. Supposedly it can be made under $2000-$3000.

[CaptainSlug]

Yes I have, but that only works with resins which are not strong enough to be used in this application. Plus it costs the same as the tool I need.

[bobafan]

Is there any particular reason the coupler on the top +bow is shorter that the others?

[keef]

Its not. It just has electrical tape over it.

[Chanclas]

Are these dimensions of clear poly tubes the same as their counterpart white SCH40 PVC tubes that you can buy from Lowe's?

Slug, the tube you used here is the thin-wall version, correct? And it'd be similar to SCH 40 1 1/2" thin-wall PVC?

I've almost completed a homemade and would like to make a second version with clear PVC. But I need to know if they are the same thing, and also which of these dimensions is actually the 1" thin-wall we normally get from a hardware store? Are those the same products as the ones in the first link?

Edited by Chanclas, 16 February 2008 - 02:34 AM.

[CaptainSlug]

tube size =/= pipe size

1. Are these dimensions of clear poly tubes the same as their counterpart white SCH40 PVC tubes that you can buy from Lowe's?

2. Slug, the tube you used here is the thin-wall version, correct? And it'd be similar to SCH 40 1 1/2" thin-wall PVC?

I've almost completed a homemade and would like to make a second version with clear PVC. But I need to know if they are the same thing, and also which of these dimensions is actually the 1" thin-wall we normally get from a hardware store? Are those the same products as the ones in the first link?

No. Pipe does not come in sizes that match the actual dimensions. The only one that has measurements that actually come close to the size designation are 3" and 4" sizes of pipe. YOU ARE NOT going to be able to substitute any of the parts of the plunger or plunger tube with plumbing parts.

The plunger tube has 1/16" thickness walls. It's not similar to the dimensions of any pipe product. SCH40 1-1/4" pipe is close and is going to have an OD of 1.66" and an ID of 1.364" but the dimensions are far enough off that it's unusable.

Transparent PVC is nothing like polycarbonate in terms of material properties, mechanical properties, or cost effectiveness. I wouldn't recommend using transparent PVC at all because it's just so ridiculously expensive (it's TWICE the cost of polycarbonate per cubic inch).


There are NO PARTS of the +bow that you can reliably obtain in the quantities you need from chain hardware stores. I sourced everything from Mcmaster because I did not want to have to run around to local stores looking for things and I didn't want to have to deal with the fact that my Home Depot doesn't stock the same parts as your Home Depot.

Edited by CaptainSlug, 16 February 2008 - 03:23 AM.

[nerf ownage]

it looks amazing and when u think about how low it takes to build the price becomes more reasonable

[CaptainSlug]

Not yet described feature: the ability to ship a whole +Bow in one standard priority box.

A shipped +Bow will look like this.

Assembly Instructions
1. Assemble stock as shown with 12” rod at the top.
2. Place the trigger plate spring and then attach the stock to the frame and body sides
3. Attach the grip to the stock frame, then loop the rubber band onto the trigger screw
4. Hinge the grip into place and attach it to the body sides
5. Attach the plunger handles to the plunger rod
6. Add a barrel

Shipping weight is around 2 lbs 1 oz

Edited by CaptainSlug, 17 February 2008 - 09:38 PM.

[Chanclas]

Link 5 not working.

[CaptainSlug]

Fixed. Steps 4 & 5 share the same photo.

[sam]

What is painted on your personal +bow?

[CaptainSlug]

It's a printed insert mural of art from Death Note. Done because I felt like it.

I like skulls.

Tomorrow I'll post a template that others can use to make their own inserts.

Edited by CaptainSlug, 18 February 2008 - 03:30 AM.

[Squishy]

mmm. Tasty apples.
EDIT: What I had to say was redundant, and was retracted. Sorry. I blame sleep madness.

Edited by Squishy, 18 February 2008 - 03:25 AM.

[GBscientist]

Captain Slug, how is the turret coming? I find it quite an impressive and interesting concept. You noted previously that the turret had a higher rate of fire, but was heavier than your breech barrel. If you used shorter barrels on the turret, say 6 inches, it could provide higher rates of fire for close combat situations while reducing mass.

You had a concept design some time ago called the Sledgehammer that used a drum magazine. Could an attachment be designed for the +bow that imitates that but without the auto-advance feature? It could provide a high-capacity, easy-reload alternative to the turret.

On a final note, the term 'turret' is being kind of misused when referring to the construct in question. It's really more of a revolver magazine.