mini-railgun [paintball] barrel construction
Hon1nbo, Sat Jun 14 2008, 12:54AMokay, so I had a project about two years ago that died and I am resurrecting. I had a paintball barrel that I coated with teflon (well I didn't, someone else did) and I had two copper rails going through the barrel, fed from the muzzel. the paintball gun was loaded through the normal breach, but manually without a hopper since the projectile was smaller. I used a capacitor from a teacher at my school (I think it was around 1.2kV but dont remember the capacitance.)... anyways, it fired and apparently worked, but the steel ball bearings barely went faster than the paintball gun alone... so I scrapped the project...
well, as aforementioned, I am ressurecting it: BUT I would like to machine a custom barrel, but make it use a standard paintball thread and be of similar size (the power went in a backpack and the gun was mounted for testing and designed to be held) I think a lathe would be the best tool to use, and then a band saw to cut it, and (assuming the walls are think enough) hold it together using nylon bolts at the top and bottom of the barrel... but, since it is two halves, I plan to chisel a grove for the copper rails (only reason I have to cut it in half, but if you know a better way please post)
but what would be the best material for the barrel in this case?
Re: mini-railgun [paintball] barrel construction
rp181, Sat Jun 14 2008, 02:22AM
How did that work? how would a steel projectile be propelled?
rp181, Sat Jun 14 2008, 02:22AM
How did that work? how would a steel projectile be propelled?
Re: mini-railgun [paintball] barrel construction
Hon1nbo, Sat Jun 14 2008, 03:52AM
same way all rail guns work... but now that I think of it, I really just assumed they were steel, they may have been something else, it was two years ago... but my results could also have been due to gun inconsistency (I wasn't using a high end marker, as I didn't want to ruin a good marker)
Hon1nbo, Sat Jun 14 2008, 03:52AM
same way all rail guns work... but now that I think of it, I really just assumed they were steel, they may have been something else, it was two years ago... but my results could also have been due to gun inconsistency (I wasn't using a high end marker, as I didn't want to ruin a good marker)
Re: mini-railgun [paintball] barrel construction
rp181, Sat Jun 14 2008, 11:58AM
I think the projectile has to be conductive, but not magnetic, like copper or aluminum.
rp181, Sat Jun 14 2008, 11:58AM
I think the projectile has to be conductive, but not magnetic, like copper or aluminum.
Re: mini-railgun [paintball] barrel construction
Hon1nbo, Sat Jun 14 2008, 02:08PM
that's right, may be why it didn't work well at all (never really know though, it is long gone.)
I plan to use aluminum this time...
Hon1nbo, Sat Jun 14 2008, 02:08PM
that's right, may be why it didn't work well at all (never really know though, it is long gone.)
I plan to use aluminum this time...
Re: mini-railgun [paintball] barrel construction
rp181, Sat Jun 14 2008, 02:45PM
Ball projectiles wont work well, there is very little metal contacting the rails, unless you curve the rails.
rp181, Sat Jun 14 2008, 02:45PM
Ball projectiles wont work well, there is very little metal contacting the rails, unless you curve the rails.
Re: mini-railgun [paintball] barrel construction
Hon1nbo, Sat Jun 14 2008, 02:52PM
the rails were curved, and I tried using a little high temp solder paste at the beginning of the rails to ensure even conductivity... wont be doing that b/c of the lead content now, as I'm going ROHS. (though silver based might work, but I dunno)
Hon1nbo, Sat Jun 14 2008, 02:52PM
the rails were curved, and I tried using a little high temp solder paste at the beginning of the rails to ensure even conductivity... wont be doing that b/c of the lead content now, as I'm going ROHS. (though silver based might work, but I dunno)
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