227 replies to this topic

[bobafan]

I would like dibs also.

How well does this plastic take paint?

[blister]

Count me in, provided I can come up with the money.

[CaptainSlug]

How is the rail/integrating part going?

I know the rail system works. I just don't have anything to put in the bracket right now.

How well does this plastic take paint?

Fine. Although I would recommend using vinyl dye to recolor polycarbonate. The resulting layer is extremely durable and won't rub off.

[shadowkid33]

I'll pay $90 for one at Reckoning, if you wanna make one by then.

[CaptainSlug]

I don't know that I'll be ready to have any for sale that soon. I was trying to get at the very least one made by then, and I managed to accomplish that easily. The second will be made once I have every kink worked out of the first one.

I also have to get close to 400 darts made between now and then.

Edited by CaptainSlug, 22 December 2007 - 02:43 PM.

[sn1per]

Wow...I want one so bad...your creations never cease to amaze me.

[shadowkid33]

Sound good to me. I just need to know if I have to bring the money or not the day before the war. If you don't have another by then, we'll cross paths again.

[Matt31]

Wow, that's a beauty. once again, very nice work Captain.

Edited by Matt31, 22 December 2007 - 06:50 PM.

[CaptainSlug]

The prototype is now revised and working perfectly. I can prime the plunger and it will stay primed even when I smack the side of the gun or drop it. Here's a close-up of the current trigger setup.
A rubber band was used on the trigger only because I have not yet received the shorter extension springs I ordered. The trigger works fine without a spring there, but I didn't want a wiggly trigger.


The plunger is held by a sliding catch plate, very similar to the one in the original crossbow. The trigger acts on the bevel edge to push and release the catch plate.

[CaptainSlug]

If anyone wants to start machining, the cutting template document is done.
plusbow_templates.doc (100KB)

The only part not possible to print 1:1 templates for is the plunger rod, which is cut from 1/4" polycarbonate to 13.25" x 1/2". The labels for the ends of it are provided to show where to cut the notch and drill the holes.

The other parts are

1/2" OD Polyester Rod
---------------------
(2) cut to 11.25" length
(1) cut to 12" length

1" OD Polyester Rod
---------------------
(1) cut to 3/8" length

Mcmaster parts list

Raw Material
---------------------------------------

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

8541K18 - Black Nylon 6/6 Rod 1/2" Diameter = $1.02 per foot (5 feet) = $5.10 Each

8538K23 - Nylon 6/6 Rod 1" Diameter - $2.86 (for one foot)

8585K43 - Polycarbonate Round Tube 1-1/2" OD, 1-3/8" ID, Clear = $3.48 for one Foot

8865K122 - Tear-Resistant Polyethylene Foam Thick Sheet 3/4" Thick, 12" X 12", Plain Back, Gray = $6.91 Each  (also available in White or Pink)


Components
-------------------

4880K314 - Std-Wall (Schedule 40) White PVC Pipe Fitting 1" X 1/2" Sz, Pipe End Male X Socket Fem, Hex Bushing = $0.74 Each

5308T347 - Hard Buna-N O-Ring AS568A Dash Number 316 - $3.68 per Pack of 50

9637K26 - Continuous-Length Compression Spring Spring-Tempered Steel, 11" L, .844" OD, .08" Wire - $10.12 per Pack of 5

9434K58 - Music Wire Precision Compression Spring Zinc-Plated, 11/16" Length, .30" OD, .032" Wire = $4.74 per Pack of 5


Hardware
--------------------------

90309A154 - Zinc-Plated Brass Unthreaded Round Spacer 3/8" OD, 1/4" Length, #6 Screw Size = $0.57 Each (2)

91780A125 - Aluminum Female Threaded Hex Standoff 1/4" Hex, 3/8" Length, 6-32 Screw Size = $0.34 Each (4)

91780A131 - Aluminum Female Threaded Hex Standoff 1/4" Hex, 3/4" Length, 6-32 Screw Size = $0.44 Each (3)

91780A337 - Aluminum Female Threaded Hex Standoff 1/4" Hex, 1-1/2" Length, 6-32 Screw Size = $0.78 Each (2)


90272A146 - Zinc-Pltd Stl Pan Head Phillips Machine Screw 6-32 Thread, 3/8" Length = $1.66 per Pack of 100

90272A159 - Zinc-Pltd Stl Pan Head Phillips Machine Screw 6-32 Thread, 2" Length = $5.71 per Pack of 100

90272A157 - Zinc-Pltd Stl Pan Head Phillips Machine Screw 6-32 Thread, 1-1/2" Length = $3.51 per Pack of 100

90631A007 - Grade 2 Hex Nylon-Insert Locknut Zinc-Plated Steel, 6-32 Screw Sz, 5/16" W, 11/64" H = $1.85 per Pack of 100

90295A075 - Nylon 6/6 Flat Washer #6 Screw Size, .140" ID, .313" OD, .057"-.067" Thk = $2.68 per Pack of 100

List Total = $72.71
Enough material to make one complete +Bows with enough leftover hardware and components to cover the construction of atleast 2 or 3 more. No part substitutions recommended. No specific Barrel included in part list.

Tools to be required for making your own
+ Scrollsaw
+ PowerDrill or Drillpress
+ Mitre Box & Mitre Saw
+ #6-32 Tapping Bit
+ Screwdriver
+ Hobby Knife (to clean the edges of the sheets once cut)

No other tools expressly needed. All tools listed are not easily substitutable and I don't recommend attempting to make this gun with anything other than a scrollsaw due to the size of the parts you will be making.

Full plans including photographs of the whole process will be available sometime in the next two weeks.

Edit: fixed template sheet link

Edited by CaptainSlug, 05 January 2008 - 10:12 PM.

[CaptainSlug]

Link fixed and lists updated. I'll make a short video of the gun firing tomorrow.

Edited by CaptainSlug, 23 December 2007 - 12:28 AM.

[six-five-two]

Wow... amazing. I would pay for one if you start selling them.

[sam]

Could you shed some light on what the plunger head is made out of? Also a picture of the bracket for the rail system would be cool.

[shadowkid33]

This thing amazes me more and more as the details of it are revealed.

Incredible job.

[Foam Shooter]

How long is the gun altogether because it looks pretty long in the picture you have. Is it comparible to a LS or something the most people have?

[Dayko]

That looks pretty good CS. Two thumbs up!!

[DeceitfulSteve]

CS, it looks like you're using the full 11" spring. What's the spring rate or load, and how would you say it compares to the AR15 spring?

[sn1per]

So it will stay primed even if you drop it? My NF isn't even that stable! Maybe it's because the first time i opened it up i lost the original catch spring...

[CaptainSlug]

Could you shed some light on what the plunger head is made out of?

The plunger head is a sandwhich of 1/4" Polycarbonate, a 3/8" length piece of 1" Acetal rod (with two Dash 316 O-rings on it), and another piece of 1/4" polycarbonate. The rear piece of polycarbonate should be 1/8" though.

How long is the gun altogether because it looks pretty long in the picture you have. Is it comparible to a LS or something the most people have?

With a 12-inch barrel it's 36 inches in length.

CS, it looks like you're using the full 11" spring. What's the spring rate or load, and how would you say it compares to the AR15 spring?

The spring constant is 131.9 and the load applied to prime the plunger to the furthest forward notch is 25 pounds. I used a postal scale as a force gauge to read the load force needed to prime the plunger. If you need a less difficult to prime plunger then you simple cut the notch further back on the plunger rod.
The spring used is almost identical to the AR-15 carbine spring.

Edited by CaptainSlug, 23 December 2007 - 05:35 PM.

[CaptainSlug]

Video
Short video is now up.

[Dayko]

Nice video. Do you know the range of it?

[CaptainSlug]

As stated previously, Ranges are 110 to 140 feet. Dependent upon barrel length and darts used.
Cutting the notch further back on the plunger rod will obviously decrease the range some. But will make it much easier to prime.

Edited by CaptainSlug, 23 December 2007 - 08:56 PM.

[Dayko]

As stated previously, Ranges are 110 to 140 feet. Dependent upon barrel length and darts used.

Sorry I missed that part. Wow nice ranges. How hard would this be for some one like me who has pretty much no experience in doing things like this?

[CaptainSlug]

If you have all of the required tools then it's not that difficult to make this gun. If you don't have the tools recommended then you shouldn't attempt this. Details on the work involved in making one will be in the write-up once it's done.

Edited by CaptainSlug, 23 December 2007 - 09:10 PM.