Rail Gun Project

newtoengineering, Thu Nov 14 2013, 04:35AM

I am making a rail gun for fun and I need some help. I will be using 5 1000uF 450V PCB dip radial electrolytic capacitors as my power source. I plan on making the rails about 8 inches long.

Should I use this type of capacitor as my power source?
How do I make sure that they are charged to no more than 450v?
Do I have to factor in their capacitance?
Are these rails long enough?

Pictures:

One of the photos will show my concept for the rifle. I plan to build the rifle on top of a wood plank and there will be two handles to hold it. The rails will be bolted down and the wires from the switch will connect to a pair of bolts. There will be an analog voltmeter (digital if I must) and the capacitor bank will most likely be in the formation on a dice (four in each corner and one in the middle). To control the current, I will have a switch, which is located above the handle.

Should I use an analog voltmeter?
Is there a certain type of switch I should use?

Breech:

Since there is a set distance between the rails (x axis) and the acrylic (y axis), I have to have a perfectly fitting breech and ammo. I will decide the size later, but I need to know if my breech idea will be effective. Basically, I will have either a non-conductive space or longer breech for the ammo to go into via a hole in the top. Behind the ammo, there is a bolt that has a pole drilled through it (top drawing). Connected to those poles is surgical tubing that connects to nobs on the outside of the breech mechanism (possibly long screws) (top drawing). To stop the bolt from hitting the ammo, there is a notch in the bottom that is big enough for a small rod to fit in (top drawing). By pulling this rod down, the bolt can slide forward and hit the projectile (right drawing). To guide the poles sticking from the bolt, there is a sleeve cut out from its casing (also ensures the notch is in the same place each time) (right drawing). This is all attached to the rails and the "anchor point" is the point that the tubing connects to (left drawing). As seen from the rifle concept drawing, the pull down trigger is accessible from the handle.








Thanks!