41 replies to this topic

[notthedinkus]

This is not a concept thread. I made a working prototype of each system, and will make the full scale version as soon as school gets out. The purpose of this thread is to recieve feedback and ideas before I begin producing the final version. The paint pictures are used because with them, I can more clearly illustrate the workings and functions of the weapon.

Now on topic.

The premace of this is complicated compared to most, but is fairly simple. It is a minigun style weapon with four barrels that rotate counterclockwise. Darts in metal shells enter at position one, where they are held in place by an electromagnet. At position two, the dart is fired by the mechanism shown in diagram 2. (The shell locked in shell allows for seal arround the dart as it is fired, rather than the use of a breach. At position 3, the electromagnet turns off and the empty shell is ejected. The regulation of the powere to the electromagnets is done with each magnet having an individual lead that runs along the wall of the chamber, creating a circuit. When the shell is at the place where it must be ejected. Nothing happens at position four.



The firing/ rotating mechanism is one unit, which will be powered either by means of a hand crank or by a motor. (Please tell me which one you think is better.) When the wheel is turned, it moves the plunger in and out, shooting the darts. A gear meshed with the wheel rotates the four barrels. Since they are driven off of the same wheel, timing is not an issue, and R.O.F. can be varried greatly.



Also, if anyone knows of a good gear supplier, it would be appreciated.

Please post comments and suggestions.

[Foam Shooter]

I was just trying to design a gun like this with no successs figuring it wouldn't be feasible in a war. I guess you proved me wrong. I don't really get the paint but if the prototype works you should make a video of it.

[Swords]

But if you do do that, you really can't crank it slowly or else your plunger would be traveling to slow to give the dart a good kick, therefore it would just flop out. So if your going to make it like this, you'll need to crank fast to get the speed you need.

[notthedinkus]

But if you do do that, you really can't crank it slowly or else your plunger would be traveling to slow to give the dart a good kick, therefore it would just flop out. So if your going to make it like this, you'll need to crank fast to get the speed you need.

I will either use a drill motor or a hand crank with a high gear ratio to increase the speed at which it turns.

[Swords]

well, I high gear ratio would work, but I think you should use the fly wheel idea. I'm not sure of what it's officially called, but it's like half a gear. When you crank it, it pulls the plunger back, and when the gear gets to the half with no teeth, a spring pushes the plunger foward. You might try that.

[Split]

Or you could just have a clip? Or make a drum magazine.. I'm still working on mine. It's actually harder than it sounds.

[eddieoctane]

I wouldn't have the plunger fixed to the gear train the drives the barrels. I would use a spring and have the gear system cock it. When the barrel rotates into position, it trips the catch and the spring fires. Relying on a connecting rod o fie the dart will most likely result in failure.

[Galaxy613]

I wouldn't have the plunger fixed to the gear train the drives the barrels. I would use a spring and have the gear system cock it. When the barrel rotates into position, it trips the catch and the spring fires. Relying on a connecting rod o fie the dart will most likely result in failure.

Indeed, I was thinking this very thing. Especially if it's a hand crank, the power would be very limited.

[slowguitarman]

I have to agree with some of the others. You really need to set it up like an airsoft AEG. I don't know if you have any experience with them, but the motor turns a gear train that is connected to the plunger rod. When the gear gets to a certain point (the plunger rod is all the way back), there is a flat spot on the gear that allows a spring to push the plunger rod forward. With is set up like this, you could still use a hand crank, and you could control the rate of fire.

[Your nerf killa]

I've been wondering, about the crank shaft is it gonna be motorized or manual to operate?
And good luck with the homemade, hope it works.

[A side of nerf]

I was thinking something along the lines of this,

The jigsaw blade/plunger moves in and out because it is an electric jigsaw. This pushes the air. I'm not sure how well this would work with your original design though, just a concept.
-A side of nerf

[slowguitarman]

The jigsaw would only have a stroke length of an inch or so. That kind of stroke would be like a baby jerking off...it just ain't gonna shoot.[/sarcasm]

Seriously, though, a jigsaw wouldn't move the plunger nearly far enough to do any good.

Edited by slowguitarman, 29 May 2008 - 12:16 PM.

[notthedinkus]

I was thinking something along the lines of this,
The jigsaw blade/plunger moves in and out because it is an electric jigsaw. This pushes the air. I'm not sure how well this would work with your original design though, just a concept.
-A side of nerf

That is a good idea, but I don't think that the stroke is very large on a jigsaw. When I go to the hardware store, I will investigate.

[Split]

Yeah, jigs have virtually no stroke. What you're thinking of is a reciprocating saw though. That doesn't have much of a stroke either. However, the piece that the gear moves the blades along is definitely not metal, so cutting the travel groove bigger will give you more stroke.

I personally think you're never going to do this and that you have no prototypes at all. I mean, you don't have any pictures or videos, are still looking for a gear supplier, and don't even know how the crank will move the plunger?

Note to swords: What you're describing is verrrrrrry different from a flywheel. What you are describing will almost certainly snap on the last gear tooth, within 1-2 shots. I am positive that the Vulcan will not work like that.

notthedinkus: I thought it had been pointed out but I guess not. Electromagnets eat electricity. You will be carrying 2 car batteries to power it for 50 shots. And if anything shout short one (a drop of rain, a bump into a fence, spit from people screaming or talking) you'll be out 2 car batteries, and you might be running from leaking battery acid.

In reality, the best way to make the minigun idea work, is just hook a battery to an air pump that fills a tank. Hand crank the spinning barrel assembly, add little bumps that tap a lever, one bump for each barrel. Whenever the lever is moved, it opens the door to the air tank via a connected rod (connected is a key word here-disconnected will not reset the lever when the door is reset). Put a spring on the door to make it close itself and start again. The tank will need an overpressure valve and probably a psi indicator. Problem solved. Extremely simple assembly with 2 wires as opposed to your 4 circuits and 20 million gear heads.

[notthedinkus]

I personally think you're never going to do this and that you have no prototypes at all. I mean, you don't have any pictures or videos, are still looking for a gear supplier, and don't even know how the crank will move the plunger?
notthedinkus: I thought it had been pointed out but I guess not. Electromagnets eat electricity. You will be carrying 2 car batteries to power it for 50 shots. And if anything shout short one (a drop of rain, a bump into a fence, spit from people screaming or talking) you'll be out 2 car batteries, and you might be running from leaking battery acid.

I built my prototype out of lego mindstorms. I know how to make my own gears if I cant find any the right size for the full scale one. You only need a nine volt battery to pick up a handfull of nails, and each shell that I'm using ways way less than that. Don't flame me unless you know what you're talking about. If you want pictures, fine.





The pictures don't make nearly as much sense as the diagrams, like I explained earlier.
Now, if you aren't going to be helpfull, then don't bother posting here.

[Split]

I do know what I'm talking about and I didn't flame you. If you feel insulted by expressed opinion, that's on you bud. I don't see any 9v going though any piece of metal holding a "handful" of nails though. People have already made it clear that they want to see the prototypes, not just see a paint picture.

Now, if you aren't going to be helpfull, then don't bother posting here.

HAAAAAAAAAAAA

I just gave you the plans for a fully operational, easy to assemble, inexpensive and stable (as in without 900 moving parts that have to move perfectly synchronized) minigun. Not to mention, I'm trying to save you from hours and hours of agonizing work on something that, even if made functional, the mass of moving parts are destined to misalign with the slightest wiggle.

On a more productive note, if you wish to continue with this idea, I have a way to make your shell eject work. You didn't outline any plan for doing it so I'm not sure if you have one or not. In order to disconnect your shell holding electromagnets, add a NC lever switch (also known as Snap action switches with levers) onto each circuit (I'm not quite sure why your diagram has 4 circuits in the first place, but I guess if you want to do it that way.. In all honesty I don't think you need the magnets at all, since gravity will hold your shells in and make them fall out). Put a bump on the shell right over the shell eject spot that actuates the lever switch. This will turn off your electromagnet for a moment, and gravity will drop the shell in at the same speed as if it was a bowling ball.

A couple more things: In the key on your diagram, red is electrified areas, but the only red in either picture is the plunger head.. And when the gun is firing in the diagram, there is no shell in the firing barrel.

How do you plan to make an airtight seal between the plunger head and the shell. The shell fell in through the hole in the barrel and falls out through it two steps later, so it will be there for the firing step. Perhaps a spring loaded curved door on a hinge right above the firing barrel spot (attached to the shell also of course)?

Don't get me wrong, I do love the idea of a nerf gattling gun. You obviously know what you're doing with the gears; I'm just helping point out and fill in the gaps. It's what I'm good at. Big, complex situational problems.

Does anyone else think what I'm saying makes no sense? These are, in fact, things that will have to be taken into consideration at some point if we're going to follow through with this.

Maybe while we're at it we should add an assembly line thing to the shell eject that refills them with darts and carries them along tracks back up to the shell loader! Like a gumball machine on 'roids!

Hehe.. I just noticed I posted at 1:23 server time..

[Gyrvalcon]

Brass isn't magnetic.

[notthedinkus]

Brass isn't magnetic.

That is true, but you can buy magnetic spray paint.

[Eboreg]

Does the word C.S.H.G. mean anything to you? Captain slug tried to make a minigun and later decided that it was improper to do it:

The more I Nerf the more I'm considering the underlying premise of this weapon to be counterintuitive to the spirit of Nerfing itself.

'nuff said

Edited by Eboreg, 30 May 2008 - 07:30 PM.

[marriedmynitefinder]

Also, if anyone knows of a good gear supplier, it would be appreciated.

Would a bike sprocket work?

[Oni Kadaki]

Does the word C.S.H.G. mean anything to you? Captain slug tried to make a minigun and later decided that it was improper to do it:

The more I Nerf the more I'm considering the underlying premise of this weapon to be counterintuitive to the spirit of Nerfing itself.

'nuff said

So you're saying that because Captain Slug feels that a minigun is either impractical and/or inappropriate for a normal war, nobody should build and/or use one? I apologize in advance if i've misunderstood you or am putting words in your mouth, but that's what your post seems to be saying, and if that's the case, I have to disagree with you. Why should Notthedinkus give up on his idea due to the judgements of one person?

Notthedinkus, i'm afraid I have no talent or training with mechanics, so basically every technical comment made in this thread is lost on me, but I sincerely hope you finish this project, it sounds awesome.

[ejrasmussen]

if your going to use a recipericating plunger i think you should use a model airplane motor

[Eboreg]

Does the word C.S.H.G. mean anything to you? Captain slug tried to make a minigun and later decided that it was improper to do it:

The more I Nerf the more I'm considering the underlying premise of this weapon to be counterintuitive to the spirit of Nerfing itself.

'nuff said

So you're saying that because Captain Slug feels that a minigun is either impractical and/or inappropriate for a normal war, nobody should build and/or use one? I apologize in advance if i've misunderstood you or am putting words in your mouth, but that's what your post seems to be saying, and if that's the case, I have to disagree with you. Why should Notthedinkus give up on his idea due to the judgements of one person?

Notthedinkus, i'm afraid I have no talent or training with mechanics, so basically every technical comment made in this thread is lost on me, but I sincerely hope you finish this project, it sounds awesome.

Ok, so sue me for voicing an opinion but I still think this will do to Nerf what machine guns did to World War I.

[Ubermensch]

Which is...?

[Eboreg]

Which is...?

Forced the cost of millions of lives to push the frontline one mile ahead.