First* cannon - piston valve
Posted: Sun Dec 20, 2009 11:37 pm
So, I did a lot of research (and still am) because I wanted a really good air cannon. Anyways, after all that research, here's my first post.
*The first cannon I made was a ball valve cannon with a .5 liter soda bottle as an air tank. It shot NERF darts for my physical science class.
After messing around with ball valves and such I looked into building a coaxial. It worked pretty well, except for the fact that it started tearing its sealing face at anything above 120 PSI, and I couldn't breach load.
I call this my first cannon since it's really the first, fully functional, sturdy air cannon I've made.
Info:
Barrel: 1/2" x 2'
Chamber: 1-1/4" x ~8" (maybe a little more)
Valve: 3/4" inside a 1-1/4" tee
<table><tr><td align="center"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/morphingrob ... site"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_aBXfV0GXozg/Sy7rM ... Cannon.jpg" width="160" height="160"></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/morphingrob ... bsite">Air Cannon</a></td></tr></table>
I'm amazed how well it works, but I'm not exactly surprised since R/D for all my air cannon adventures must be well in the $100-$200 range. Most of it was spent on buying parts for piston valve prototypes.
Anyways, more details.
It's a barrel sealing piston valve with 3/4" ports inside a 1-1/4" tee. It's piloted by a slightly modified hose handle and filled by a schrader valve.
Currently it operates at anywhere from 40 to 140 PSI, depending on what I'm shooting. So far I've shot stock and modified NERF darts and nail darts (my own variety) [1/2" barrel] and EXPO whiteboard markers [3/4" barrel]
The piston is made out of a 1"x1/4" bolt through a filed down 3/4" endcap (I used a drill). The sealing face is a 1-1/4"x1/4" neoprene washer sitting on a fender washer of the same size. It also has an o-ring for maximum performance.
- - - - - - - - - -
If my dad ever lets me continue with this hobby (he won't let me buy any more parts because he's said I've built too many (3, including this one)), I really want to make a more compact piston valve with 1" porting (pretty much a stinger valve) but without the female adapter on the end. Another project in the design stage is an over-under with a toolie-piston, but that might get its own thread.
- - - - - - - - - -
Anyways, hopefully this post isn't too long Please rate; comments and suggestions appreciated!
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*The first cannon I made was a ball valve cannon with a .5 liter soda bottle as an air tank. It shot NERF darts for my physical science class.
After messing around with ball valves and such I looked into building a coaxial. It worked pretty well, except for the fact that it started tearing its sealing face at anything above 120 PSI, and I couldn't breach load.
I call this my first cannon since it's really the first, fully functional, sturdy air cannon I've made.
Info:
Barrel: 1/2" x 2'
Chamber: 1-1/4" x ~8" (maybe a little more)
Valve: 3/4" inside a 1-1/4" tee
<table><tr><td align="center"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/morphingrob ... site"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_aBXfV0GXozg/Sy7rM ... Cannon.jpg" width="160" height="160"></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/morphingrob ... bsite">Air Cannon</a></td></tr></table>
I'm amazed how well it works, but I'm not exactly surprised since R/D for all my air cannon adventures must be well in the $100-$200 range. Most of it was spent on buying parts for piston valve prototypes.
Anyways, more details.
It's a barrel sealing piston valve with 3/4" ports inside a 1-1/4" tee. It's piloted by a slightly modified hose handle and filled by a schrader valve.
Currently it operates at anywhere from 40 to 140 PSI, depending on what I'm shooting. So far I've shot stock and modified NERF darts and nail darts (my own variety) [1/2" barrel] and EXPO whiteboard markers [3/4" barrel]
The piston is made out of a 1"x1/4" bolt through a filed down 3/4" endcap (I used a drill). The sealing face is a 1-1/4"x1/4" neoprene washer sitting on a fender washer of the same size. It also has an o-ring for maximum performance.
- - - - - - - - - -
If my dad ever lets me continue with this hobby (he won't let me buy any more parts because he's said I've built too many (3, including this one)), I really want to make a more compact piston valve with 1" porting (pretty much a stinger valve) but without the female adapter on the end. Another project in the design stage is an over-under with a toolie-piston, but that might get its own thread.
- - - - - - - - - -
Anyways, hopefully this post isn't too long Please rate; comments and suggestions appreciated!
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