Nerf Rocket Air Cannon

[TheTramp]

Here are a couple of pictures of my recently completed (mostly) pneumatic air cannon.

I still need to paint it. Anyone know a good source for olive drab spray paint?

You can also see that while I've modified it to fire with the blowgun (MUCH faster), the solenoid is still on the valve. That's just there to plug the hole which I'll fill in later.

This is much smaller but just as powerful as the one I brought to Shattner Ball 2. I've also corrected the design flaw that cause the last one to blow in half during the game. :eek:

http://sc.groups.msn.com/tn/FC/B1/StormCellarBrewery/1/1.jpg

[TheTramp]

Hmmmmm.....I don't know why the pic didn't work. Here are the links:

http://www.spyderzone.net/albums/Markers/cannon1.jpg

http://www.spyderzone.net/albums/Markers/cannon2.jpg


Edit: Crud. They won't let me link it.

[mxracer33x]

email pics to [email protected] and ill host them for you.

[TheTramp]

OK thanks. I've got them on my home computer so I'll do that tonight.

[nippinout]

Copy/Paste the links into the browser. Works for me.

[barberjohn]

how does it work? i know nicad did something like that too, but i would like to see pics of what it looks like.

[TheTramp]

Originally posted by nippinout
Copy/Paste the links into the browser. Works for me.

Try this.

I'll be working on getting pics up tonight and I'll give an explanation of how it works.

[the_next_guy_]

looks cool. About what velocity does the rocket reach?

[TheTramp]

It's set up to shoot a rocket at around 250-260fps with 1 12gr.

I have to do some more tests to make sure it's hitting that velosity and not going way over.

It should shoot a rocket consideraly further than you can shoot a paintball. Luckly the rocket doesn't have to break on impact.:D

[2000Sabre]

Tramp

Are you planning on going to Shatnerball 3 this year? I think it's going to be in the Chicago area. I'd like to see this action. It was fun up until it broke during the game. You should bring to AONE 5 and let everybodgy check it out. C YA

[TheTramp]

I'll absolutly be bringing it to AONE 5.

I'd like to make it to Shattner ball 3 but if it's in the Chicago area I don't think I'll have the $ to fly out there. If it was going to be in PA again I'd be there.

[mxracer33x]

http://www.cyclelandspeedway.com/temp/AOHOST/cannon1.jpg

http://www.cyclelandspeedway.com/temp/AOHOST/cannon2.jpg

Have fun

[OysterBoy]

Blueprints? PLEASE???

:D

How complex is the system I'm curious? I'd really like to build one for halloween (giving candy out'creatively)

[SuiciDal Sn Y p ER]

...wouldnt it hurt having a jolly rancher hit you at 300fps?

[shades]

max pressure for the valve is like 100 or so psi any more and you wil1 blow the valve. I use mine at 80 or so psi and it works fine.

[TheTramp]

THANKS FOR POSTING THE PICS

It's a really simple set-up.

A 3" wide and ~6" long chamber to a modified 1" sprinkler valve to a 2" barrel

One 12gr fills the chamber to ~75psi. This shoots a nerf rocket at around 250fps and 75-100 yards (if shoat an angel)

I've got the gauge on there to make sure I never go over 100psi (max valve pressure)

I got most of my dimensions from the theories and descriptions of Joel Surprise’s "LP" launchers on his site:
http://www.spudtech.com/
The guys on the forum at his site are really helpful if you run into problems.

If you follow the links on his page you can find all the info you need. Or you could just buy one of his launchers. :)

[rkjunior303]

LOL I could have alot of fun with one of those in the neighborhood :)

[trains are bad]

I'd tap another hole in the chamber and put a pop-off valve in it. What're you going to do if it does go over? Do you use one of those bicycle pump things to fill it?

[TheTramp]

I would have put in a pop-off valve but at this point it isn't really nessasary. This is because a 12g only fills it to ~75psi. When I use a bike pump it take FOREVER to get it to ~60. Either way I'm not worried about the valve failing.

I'm planning to upgrade to a regulated, remote, CA tank and at that point I'll put in the pop-off valve in case the regulator spikes.

[trains are bad]

But I mean, do you use one of those 12 gram powered bike pumps? Because I don't see an onboard 12gram adaptor.

And where do you get your nerf rockets? I can't find any around here.

[TheTramp]

Ah I see....yes I do use one of those CO2 bike inflators.

I went with the tire valve so I could use a bike pump or air compressor but they weren't very convenient. I decided to go for the 12g's but I didn't feel like tapping a new hole for the adaptor and just got one of those inflators from the bike shop.

You should be able to find the 2" nerf rockets at a larger toy store like Toys-R-Us. There was a thread here before Shattner Ball 2 that had a link to getting them on-line.

I've got the ones with the noise maker in them but the ones without are a little cheaper.


I'll probably end up making a new air chamber. It's just screwed firmly into the valve with a lot of Teflon tape. The new chamber will have a gauge, pop-off valve, Schrader valve (bike), and a N2 tank fill nipple. This way I can have all the filling options and also full safety.

[OysterBoy]

Originally posted by SuiciDal Sn Y p ER
...wouldnt it hurt having a jolly rancher hit you at 300fps?

lol no i meant having it set at a lower velocity, and launching them into a field (ala scramble, when you throw a marble and kids go and run after to grab it first)

[TheTramp]

You could absolutely do that. In fact you'd probably only have to fill it to around 30psi, stuff in a tight wad and pour the candy on that. Boom! Candy rain. (well actually the sprinkler valves make a distinctive honking noise when fired)

You'll just have to be careful with the pressure or that candy will go into orbit! :eek:

[OysterBoy]

lol
:D

thanks for the help:)

[SuiciDal Sn Y p ER]

...if ur gonna do that why not save some money and shove a spring down a tube and fill it with candy. attach the spring to a flat surface that you can fit down the pipe and drill 2 holes in the pipe, stick in a metal rod or some sort of stick and when you want to fire just pull the stick!

[OysterBoy]

not as cool.... lol

[Sparq]

Might as well join in the fun here...
http://www3.sympatico.ca/reids/Cannon2.jpg
http://www3.sympatico.ca/reids/Cannon1.jpg
It's more bulky and less efficent than it should be because I was unable to find certain parts...namely a90 or 180* solenoid valve...ended up having a strraight valve and a pair of elbows that space the barrel and chamber apart too much.