85 replies to this topic

[Carbon]

The disc version is not structurally sound enough

Not with polycarbonate, but PVC would be fine. That's essentially the system I built on Saturday.

And you already know how cool I think this catch system is. It's given me....ideas.

Edited by Carbon, 12 October 2010 - 04:00 PM.

[Daniel Beaver]

The disc version is not structurally sound enough

I am also concerned about this, so I'm trying to think of ways of reinforcing it. However, notice that neither of the priming discs are going to receive any impact forces - all of that will be on the plunger head. In that sense, they only have to be strong enough to prime the blaster.

and the one with 2 bolts and 4 slots would be a bitch to make and the bar that is being pushed back could just rotate and slide between the two bolts.

I honestly don't understand why everyone hates cutting slots in PVC tubing. It is super easy. Just use a dremel and a diamond cutting wheel. It takes literally 45 seconds to cut, and the result is very straight.

I'm also going to cut small notches into the T handle so that the screws force it back into alignment when you prime the blaster. If that doesn't work, I'll think of some other way of doing it.

Also, none of your designs have any way of indexing the plunger rod to keep the notch from rotating out of contact with the catch.

I've thought of some little tricks to help with that. Worst case scenario, I can switch over to square plunger rods.

I'm going to build at least one of these designs this weekend, so we'll see if they work. CAD drawings are not real life.

Edited by Daniel Beaver, 12 October 2010 - 05:13 PM.

[HasreadCoC]

This is just begging for the creation of a Double RainBow.

Correction: It is begging for the creation of a double-pump-action-rainbow, heck, a triple-pump-action-rainbow, even, if you're strong enough to prime it!

Seriously, the guy who starts doing double-pump-action-rainbow contracts will get very rich, very quickly.

[Stark]

Word of advice: Don't use an acrylic plunger rod. Mine just snapped in half while I was priming it. It probably didn't help that the catch notch was cut REALLY deep. Oh well.

[archangel24]

This gives an all new meaning to "Rainbow Parties" and "Rainbow People".
On topic, very nice innovative homemade.

[BustaNinja]

This gives an all new meaning to "Rainbow Parties" and "Rainbow People".
On topic, very nice innovative homemade.

Hey, Oprah made that shit up.

And Stark, I think its kinda a general rule not to use acrylic on a major load bearing part. Its happened before.

[Daniel Beaver]

Lol, I didn't realize that plunger rod was acrylic when we made that. I think venom is ordering more nylon rod from McMaster, so we can get it replaced soonish.

[Nerf Bros]

I saw beaver facebook this design and I had to build one. I'm working on a plan for a ghetto version, using only hardware store parts. And yes, a local Menard's has polycarb. It's not the same as the McMaster poly, but it would do the trick if you were desperate. I'll just steal/buy poly from someone local instead. Traditional snap ideas can be used, endcaps, couplers, etc.; and by flipping the catch you could even use a clothespin trigger...

[TxNerfer]

I don't mean to crap on your fiesta but I believe the hardware store verision of this is a SNAP. Besides, the CPT on a SNAP is alot easier to duplicate than this.

[Carbon]

I don't mean to crap on your fiesta but I believe the hardware store verision of this is a SNAP.

Not really. This catch is essentially a miniaturized +bow catch, and works using indents on the plunger rod behind the spring stop. A SNAP has the catch in front of the spring stop, and falls victim to issues with spring size, among other things.

That said, I also think that it's possible to build a hardware store version that works on the same general principles (catch behind spring stop, slots on plunger rod) using end caps and PVC. I'm working on a version as well, Nerf Bros, looking forward to seeing what you do.

[TxNerfer]

I'm aware of the catch differences. My point is that this would be alot more trouble than it's worth to duplicate it from hardware store parts as opposed to making a traditional SNAP.

[Carbon]

I'm aware of the catch differences. My point is that this would be alot more trouble than it's worth to duplicate it from hardware store parts as opposed to making a traditional SNAP.

All I'm gonna say is this: at one point, building a homemade springer was more trouble than it was worth, too.

[Phibonnachee]

I'd like to give this a shot, except I live in Canada and Mcmaster doesnt ship there. I got all the PVC i could ever want, but stuff like clear tubing and polycarb I dont have access to. I've made a SNAP b4 but had a lot of trouble with the catch, this on the other hand looks a lot more sturdy. I wonder if there could be a way to build the RainBow catch using PVC endcaps (starts drawing).

EDIT: Didnt see Carbons earlier post, but ya, using endcaps to somehow build this seems like a good candidate for SNAP 6. Also props to Stark for such a simple yet effective homemade.

Edited by Phibonnachee, 17 October 2010 - 10:04 PM.

[Carbon]

The endcap method works, just built a proof of concept tonight. I'll get a thread up shortly.

[Daniel Beaver]

A couple of things:

• Endcaps work as building material, though the durability of this method remains to be seen.
• I re-arranged the catch a bit, putting the spring on top, and using a spacer over the screw to enable a smoother action.

My RainBow is the first one we ever built, and the catch dimensions were eyeballed. This was my first opportunity to use the templates as guides for cutting, which I did using a dremel. Tremendously ghetto, but it works. As a bonus, my blaster no-longer SlapFires - it won't go off even if you drop it on the ground. I'm using an ACE #2 spring as a catch, which I think is slightly stronger than the +bow catch spring. A very short set screw holds the screw in place.

Stark: I personally think placing the spring on top is a better way of building them, but you may disagree. You can decide whether or not you want to integrate this into the mainline design.





UnPrimed:




Primed:




We'll have 3 or 4 RainBows on the field for this Saturday's war. Should be a good test of their general war capability and durability.

Edited by Daniel Beaver, 26 October 2010 - 05:36 PM.

[SonReeceSonJensen]

What are these little guys for? More speed holes?

[Daniel Beaver]

What are these little guys for? More speed holes?

Those are "I fucked up" holes.

[SonReeceSonJensen]

What are these little guys for? More speed holes?

Those are "I fucked up" holes.

Can you fix them with Sex Nuts?

[Daniel Beaver]

Sex bolts only cause more drama.

[Stark]

For some bizarre and inexplicable reason, people seem to thing that the Rainbow is a SNAP or is meant to make the SNAP obsolete. Allow me to make this abundantly clear:

The Rainbow is not a SNAP. The Rainbow is not meant to make the SNAP obsolete. The Rainbow has nothing to do with the SNAP.

This blaster's closest relative is the +bow, as both blasters have a plate and notch style catch. The design goal of the Rainbow was to fabricate a +bow catch that would be contained within the plunger tube, eliminating the need for sideplates, subsequently cutting down on machining time and cost per blaster. If anything, it is the traditional +bow that is obsolete as a result of the Rainbow, not the SNAP.

[Fome]

Amen Stark.
I heartfully agree that people need to stop comparing this to a snap.
Homemade springers have undergone so much innovation and improvement in the last few months that I honestly wonder who would make a +bow in this day and age.

Edited by Fome, 01 November 2010 - 11:23 PM.

[lionhawk]

Amen Stark.
I heartfully agree that people need to stop comparing this to a snap.
Homemade springers have undergone so much innovation and improvement in the last few months that I honestly wonder who would make a +bow in this day and age.

Well, I think you're right on that one. There are just so many people using SNAPs that you can't count them. I wasn't originally wanting to build a homemade, but now I really want to build a SNAP, or a rainbow.

Edited by lionhawk, 04 November 2010 - 02:03 PM.

[jakejagan]

Well, I think you're right on that one. There are just so many people using SNAPs that you can't count them. I wasn't originally wanting to build a homemade, but now I really want to build a SNAP, or a rainbow.

Snaps are homemades idiot. They are just a different type.

Great mechanism Stark and friends. I like the simplicity and sleek design.

[lionhawk]

Well, I think you're right on that one. There are just so many people using SNAPs that you can't count them. I wasn't originally wanting to build a homemade, but now I really want to build a SNAP, or a rainbow.

Snaps are homemades idiot. They are just a different type.

Great mechanism Stark and friends. I like the simplicity and sleek design.

I know they are homemades. I was originally not wanting to make a homemade and just use regular blasters, but now I want to make a homemade, and one homemade that I want to build is the SNAP. I think that you misunderstood me.

Edited by lionhawk, 05 November 2010 - 01:28 PM.

[diamondbacknf1626]

Well, I think you're right on that one. There are just so many people using SNAPs that you can't count them. I wasn't originally wanting to build a homemade, but now I really want to build a SNAP, or a rainbow.

Snaps are homemades idiot. They are just a different type.

Great mechanism Stark and friends. I like the simplicity and sleek design.

Woah, woah, woah, un-bunch your panties there, kiddo. It's rather clear that lionhawk understands that SNAPs are homemade blasters, but just wanted to comment that to him, they don't, apparently, have the originality that he sees in "homemades"

As for the Rainbow, I'm a huge fan of this new catch setup and intent to impliment it on many further blasters. One thing that may help to align the catch plates in opaque PVC is to take two pieces of a size PVC that fits within your plunger tube, measure them out appropriately for the dead-space on either side of the proposed catch position, and squeeze the catch between the two in order to align it right where you want it. Overall though, fantastic design, and I'm sure it'll contribute to many future designs.

Edited by diamondbacknf1626, 08 November 2010 - 07:30 PM.