SpudFiles

After I had seen JSR's thread about his 6mm crossbow project I wanted to build my own. This time it's non pneumatic, but maybe when I have success I will make one with a piston.
The plan to use 40MM white PVC, some 16MM and 18MM OD PVC pipe, for the rubber band I chosen a very powerful muscle band(for image see below). The trigger mechanism is still a problem because allod of pressure will be put on the sear, I think a laundry washer trigger wont work, any Idea's ?.
G's from the Dutch, Tom

i made a crossbow not long ago. the problem with the pvc is that it soon becomes brittle . try using wood (what i did).

If you use a rubber band, or any sort of elastic material, then it ain't a crossbow.

TurboSuper wrote:If you use a rubber band, or any sort of elastic material, then it ain't a crossbow.

depends if the limbs are flexible and how elastic the rubber band is, but in this case you're right.

If i cut the half of the 18 MM OD PVC pipe then it will be flexible is that an solution?
G's drom the dutch, Tom

Yes it probably would be but it also isn't very rugged and probably wouldn't store all that much energy before breaking.
Try spring steel a good example would be a leaf spring from a truck but you probalby want something smaller then that. Leaf spring from a utility trialer perhaps? You could also use wood or i your really good fiberglass.

If you use and elastic band you've created a fancy sling shot not nessarily a cross bow....

or you could try welding a stack of sheet aluminum together. I did that once and it held a lotta power! I measured its draw back and it was about 45-50 lbs.
Just like 3-4 sheets (1/16th) should do the trick for this project. I used 7 sheets for mine but that's because i was launching soup/soda cans.