265 replies to this topic

[KnightValor]

Well, no pressure, but the sooner the better for everyone's sake.


Still, don't fail a 36 page paper in the name of nerf... That's just retarded. And if you are doing 36 page papers AND making this thing, don't worry about it on your vacation... it seems well deserved.

[CaptainSlug]

I got the PVC stoppers made. These prevent the stefans from being sucked into the plunger chamber and also act as a stopper for the barrel/breech. I didn't want to wait to go to the machine shop so I simply cut short lengths of the 1/2" PVC Type I round rod and shaved them down a time bit using my drillpress as an impromptu lathe. I then epoxied the stoppers into a section of 1/2" PVC.

I manually test-fired one of the barrels with brass inserts while in the basement this afternoon and the dart shot all the way across the basement, deflected off the partly-opened door on the other side and disappeared into the storage room. So the 50-foot mark looks to be more than blown. I can do more manual testing once I get back from my trip and can get the breech holes cut, but it's no real suprise that I'm getting performance similar to what Carbon has been getting with the Snap model I based the essentials of this gun on. My setup only differs in that I'm using a longer spring.

Edited by CaptainSlug, 03 May 2006 - 07:03 AM.

[SKIZ]

Hey this is really starting to take shape, CAN'T wait ill its ready.
You do relize that when you create something as good as this by law you have to make a detailed write-up. Ok i lied but you better!!!!!!

Good luck with the testing and hope you manage to find some time to finish it in the near future.
Have you ever thought about making an attachment so that it can be mounted and then put in on servers so its remote? I know there was some talk about this at the begining of the thread but just curious to see if you would. Because with mine i made a stand to be used as a turret but as mentioned at the begining of the thread the gun is no more.

[CaptainSlug]

I don't have any practice working with servos and I have no plans to make this a turret.

[SKIZ]

Servos are easy to use but yer thats cool.
Well i still stand by my other comments. Do you actually plan on making a write-up and if so would it be in exel like bolt did so the majority of people can get it?

[CaptainSlug]

I don't know if I can keep a picture-log but I will be adjusting the CAD model to reflect the adjustments made in the actual gun so that once the gun is finished I can post a write-up using exploded views of the CAD model to explain the process of making the gun. I will also be keeping track of all the of the cutting templates in .doc format so that those interested in duplicating my work can simply print out the same templates.

Edited by CaptainSlug, 19 April 2006 - 12:10 AM.

[Dragonteuthis]

Captain Slug, you rock.

I eagerly await further news of this incredible project.

Good luck in school!

[CaptainSlug]

Okay. I have one last extremely annoying paper to write before wednesday of next week and tomorrow is my last full day of classes. I can get back to this very soon.
And for those wondering YES I will be making detailed machining and assembly instructions/plans. But only after the gun is made and working.

Edited by CaptainSlug, 03 May 2006 - 07:04 AM.

[CaptainSlug]

I went to the machine shop this morning and got the breech holes and tracks done. Took alot of milling and X-acto knife carving. I also got the motor mount cut.

I'd do more today but my hands really hurt from all the cutting work. Plus I cut two of them...
Next I need to make the breech actuating sleeve and the actuating shoes and tracks for the plungers. Then I can move on to the outer shell.

Once I can get to the store and buy some loctite clear epoxy I can test the dry-firing to get a preview of the ranges. It's already looking very good but I'm anxious to see what it gets.

Edited by CaptainSlug, 05 May 2006 - 12:20 AM.

[six-five-two]

Holy shit!!


Nice. Keep up the good work!

[CaptainSlug]

Slow day. I got the nested barrels and brass stand-offs epoxied together into a single piece so that the barrel/breech can now be actuated.


And out of dumb luck I discovered that if I make the breech track so that the breech is closed when the dart is picked up, then there is only enough space for a single dart to be grabbed. The breech will open as soon as access from the dart hopper is closed off. I may want to modify the advancing teeth to accomodate this change.

And I sanded the text off of the barrels.

More to come next week.

Edited by CaptainSlug, 06 May 2006 - 09:22 PM.

[baghead]

Most excellent. I'm very Impressed. This is really comming together nicely. I have only One question for you: When it's complete, are you going to need someone to paint it?

-bags

Edited by baghead, 08 May 2006 - 10:46 PM.

[CaptainSlug]

I'm not even really thinking about paint yet. I'm not a big fan of it anyways.

Edited by CaptainSlug, 08 May 2006 - 11:40 PM.

[CaptainSlug]

Well crap. None of the adhesives I have were keeping the brass parts together. I need to go buy some 1/2 CPVC and then lathe it down to fit inside the 1/2 PVC so I can just use PVC adhesive to attach the breech actuators.

I did however find a use for the brass I couldn't do anything else with...

Edited by CaptainSlug, 10 May 2006 - 05:20 PM.

[SgtSniper]

One word. Dayum! Man, you rock! keep it up!

[ompa]

Slug, try JB weld epoxy. Works wonders on brass for me, even with a very small surface area to work with. And I'm sure you're familiar with the scuffing of the surfaces and whatnot already.

~ompa

[CaptainSlug]

I'm just going to buy PETG for the barrels and then use IPS Weld-on plastic solvent to add the threaded stub that I need. Plastic solvent will give me a much more durable bond, especially since this will be a vital moving part.

Edited by CaptainSlug, 13 May 2006 - 11:46 AM.

[Nero121]

Just wanted to say I think this gun is amazing. Also, that your accidental discovery,- serendipity. Humans greatest works are often produced by serendipity.

[meiser5]

Sweet gun man, nice use of the hopper style system of loading it.

P.s. I will personally s*** myself if that gun works.

[CaptainSlug]

Well, cxwq hasn't been on the forum in over a month and therefore hasn't responded to my PMs. Which kinda sucks since I need to buy that PETG tubing from him.
Meanwhile I'm busy working on my computer case/watercooling project.

[Forsaken angel24]

What about Vipers petg? He might still be selling it.

[baghead]

What about Vipers petg? He might still be selling it.

He cleared it out a few months ago on ebay.

[SG Pilot]

I must say you're the bomb for creating this homemade sucker. If the project ends up working, that thing would be overkill!

Now you know that thing on how machine guns and the gattling gun work, would the plungers act similarly like the firing pins in the animated diagram of the gattling gun in action? That's pretty cool. No cocking or pumping required

Edited by SG Pilot, 10 June 2006 - 09:01 PM.

[SgtSniper]

Yeah, that would be cool. A full auto nerf gatling... But what if the endcaps produce a lot of friction and damage the internals?

[CaptainSlug]

Yeah, that would be cool. A full auto nerf gatling... But what if the endcaps produce a lot of friction and damage the internals?

The only parts potentially touching the inside of the 4" PVC shell would be the smooth-milled polycarbonate frame pieces. The internals will be suspended inside the shell, attached tothe center axle. So friction concerns will only be relevant to the advancing tracks that actuate the breeches and the plungers.

I may have to just knuckle down and lathe my own barrels. I really didn't want to have to because the drill bit required to do so is kind of pricey.