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Pneumatic Cannon Plans

Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2007 1:46 pm
by andybigfoot2
Me and my friends are building a pirate ship. We need to make cannons for this vessel. We have an unlimited budget and we are looking for a powerful cannon. We want to launch tennis balls. We are looking for a dual chambered cannon (for more power) or a steel cannon (for more PSI) that doesn't require melding. I see many people on this website are very experienced in this field and we are looking for plans to create a cannon. Thanks for the assistance.

-Andrew

Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2007 1:53 pm
by spud yeti
That is awesome! I always wanted a pirate ship! You guys rock!
As for help, just look on the pneumatic cannon showcase area and post questions!
If you need specific help then ask here!
Pease please please post pics of the ship! :D
Aar, thadt be grand, matey! :toothy7:

Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2007 1:56 pm
by hi
what kind of psi are we talking here? 100 -200 psi? what kind of range do you want out of it?

i can help, as pneumatics are my specialty. for tennis balls you will need some 2.5'' pipe for the barrel, but 2.5'' is exceedingly hard to find. you can get it on www.mcmaster.com. if you dont want to order it, you can just use 3'' pipe with wadding.

as for the steel cannon. you can buy threaded parts that just screw together. this cannon would work fine with pvc though, just as long as you dont go over about 150 psi.

the most omportant part is the valve. you can use a sprinkler valve (not recommended, its not very powerful), you can use two 3/4'' QEV (quick exhaust valves, this is probably the best choice for you), or you can build a piston valve, which are exceedingly powerful, but if you have never built a pneumatic this can be hard.

you can also buy a mauler valve, but they are a little pricey, but are VERY powerful. this is the way i would go if you have an unlimited buget because they have a 2'' porting and are very well made. you can get them at www.bcarms.com

Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2007 1:58 pm
by andybigfoot2
I am looking for the most powerfull I can get, without getting arrested lol. We are looking for something with easy ammo. Tennis balls were the first things that came to mind. Any other suggestions. We are planning to shoot the cannons as far as possible and launch at the other pirate ships we will build (not directly tho for safty reasons). And we dont want to make it super difficult to assemble. My friend said we will get the mauler valve, if thats what you recommend. What ever you say we should get, we will. This is my first pneumatic cannon, so... you know more than me.

Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2007 2:02 pm
by spud yeti
So how big are your ships?
(I'll let hi answer your question though :D )

Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2007 2:04 pm
by andybigfoot2
17 feet i think. We are adding wood to the ships. And Hi, you are the master of the cannons I see :).

Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2007 2:07 pm
by hi
if you truely have an unlimited budget then buy a couple mauler valves from sgort. that is the most powerful valve currntly in existance. (supah valve is in the same class, but you cant get them any more).

edit- one mauler valve per cannon.

my suggestion is a 3'' chamber about 3 to 4 feet long, a mauler valve, and about a 5 to 6 foot 2.5'' barrel. you will be the collest person on the high seas if you do that.

you could also get some sdr21 and sleeve it in some 2'' sch80 (also availible from bcarms) and launch golf balls, but that might be a little to deadly to launch at another ship.

Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2007 2:09 pm
by spud yeti
how much are mauler valves?
That is pretty big boat! Where do you get this unlimited budget from anyways? I want one too :D

Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2007 2:10 pm
by andybigfoot2
Thats the point :) Thank you. im not sure exactly what we need to get. If you make a list we might even go today and get them. Im not sure what to do with the parts afterwards though. We can interchange barrels right? That would allow for us to carry maximum ammo without a pitstop at shore. We are gonna build one main super powerful cannon that has a pivot and then a bunch of more compact bazookas and sniper pneumatic cannons. We need help with the super powerful one :)

Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2007 2:13 pm
by iPaintball
Why di you post this thread twice? Whatever... Buy 2 mauler valves and use dual 3" chambers, about 4 feet long. Your barrel shoul prolly be about 6 feet long.

Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2007 2:14 pm
by andybigfoot2
Sorry, someone said to post it in the other section.

Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2007 2:16 pm
by spud yeti
well they stupid (no offence). The showcase is for completed cannons and the discussion area is for...well, discussion. Like this! Please correct me if Im wrong someone! :oops:

Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2007 2:17 pm
by andybigfoot2
How wide should our barrel/ barrels be? Is it possible for us to find a diagram to assemble it or directions? I know now what the main parts are going to be, but not the small connecter pieces or how to make each barrel. Im not sure about the technical information. Once I make this cannon I will be expirenced enought o make other smaller ones. I learn very quickly.

Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2007 2:21 pm
by spud yeti
I always draw up a diagram before I buid a gun. It just gets my head right, if you know what I mean?
Post your diagram up so we can all see it and give suggestions!

Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2007 2:24 pm
by andybigfoot2
I don't even know where to start... Thats the part I needed help with. This is going to be my first cannon. :)