Specific thread schematics for Merlin, Autococker, and Timmy needed

[QUINCYMASSGUY]

Hi guys, I am playing around with my latest idea, an adapter to take an oldschool merlin body and make it be able to use either 03 cocker clamping hopper necks (the feedneck would actually be part of the body) or a timmy-threaded adapter. The third idea I may be looking at is a clamping no-rise like AGD's, basically just a collar sitting on top of the body to clamp a halo hard. So here is what I need from you folks before I continue:

1.) What is the thinnest diameter a feedneck gets to when feeding a paintball? It's got to be maybe 3/4" but is there a specific diameter used in most feednecks?

2.) What is the diameter of the space an oldschool merlin leaves you to install the feedneck? It definitely leaves a little wiggle room for the feedneck they provide and I need this to know how wide I need to make the base of the adapter.

3.) What are the particular threads an Intimidator uses for their feednecks? They have the reverse feednecks that screw onto an externally threaded feedneck and I really need to figure out and get a template for those threads. Is there a chart with all the different types of threads used in PBall gear? I found one for older autocockers and that's it.

4.) And finally, is there a specific tool I can use to measure all this stuff without bugging you guys? I'm happy to do it myself, but when you ask a PBall company what their threads are, they won't give you a straight answer.

Thanks in advance for the help guys, The part is basically going to look like a Male Adapter you can get in home depot but it's the specifics I need.

[argnot]

Well first I would pressume the ID of the smallest portion of the feed need is going to be slightly larger then the diameter of a paintball so .75 inches is propably going to be a little small seeing as it will only give you .035 inches of "wiggle" room. I would just check on a standard feedneck of any make and use it. To check the ID get yourself a set of micrometers or calipers. You can get ones with varying degrees of accuracy. I think all you are going to need is about .001 of an inch for your project. As for threads you can get a tool that will tell you what you would need but the easiest way would probably be to email Doc at:

http://www.docsmachine.com/

Hope this helps.
Edit:
I checked last night and a standard feed adaptor ID is .75 inches.

[QUINCYMASSGUY]

doc

I definitely agree Doc is a valuable source of info, and I will see if I can find some calipers to meet my needs, but the feed neck information is still being elusive. I remember barrels are 10-32 (what that actually means I have no idea) but getting the exact threading other companies use has proven to be borderline impossible. It is actually the gauge for timmys that I need since that seems to be the most feasible, and the diameter of their feednecks would be helpful. Anyone have a timmy and some calipers to give this a try? Is there anything in the manual or in the tech training info they give you that lists the guage? Thanks for any help you can give me.

[Cristobal]

I'd head over and check out Have Blue's Tech Ratsnest. He's got a tap and drill chart that might be helpfull, also a drawing for AKA's feednecks.

I believe that an inner diameter of .75" is pretty standard for feednecks.

For standard US threads, the first number refers to the diameter; the second to the threads per inch. In your case 10-32 is way too small to be a barrel thread. For sizes under 1/4", threads are named by their machine screw size number, and a #10 corresponds to a hole of about 3/16"! Cockers barrels are threaded 15/16-20.

A screw pitch gage will work nicely to tell you how many threads per inch (the pitch) of a thread. Failing that, great care and a ruler might suffice for coarser threads. See here for an example. I would expect that you'll be looking for something at least 20 tpi for a feedneck thread.
Then you can take calipers and measure the diameter of the threads.

[QUINCYMASSGUY]

threads/aluminium fabrication

Thanks man, I looked around but didn't find anything specific, but that is a great resource to use. I am keeping it bookmarked.

Is there a type of business I could take a timmy feed collar (the part that holds the hopper) and have them professionally measure the threads and cut a piece of aluminium piping to match my needs? What would the type of shop I'd be looking for be called? I emailed Doc Nickel and haven't heard from him, and such a low budget request could be put at the back of the priority list, meaning at least 6 months to wait for it.

Also, what is the type of aluminium used for most feednecks?

[CoolHand]

You are looking for a top notch machinist, probably one equipped with a CNC lathe or turning center.

I would do the work, but I do not have a turning center, and that would be a real bear to do on a manual machine, especially if you were unfamiliar with the uber-fine pitch threads.

I just layed a mic and a pitch guage on an Angel feedneck, and here is what I got.

~.8167" Dia. x ~32 Threads per Inch.

That is an oddball dia, which leads me to believe that it is metric, and an uncommon metric at that.

The alum is usually a 6000 or 7000 series such as 6061, or 7075, with a T-6 Heat Treat for toughness. Don't let them use anything that is dead soft, or an alloy that only has three numbers (like 360), as those are casting alloys which don't machine well.

Also, if you plan on using tubing to start from, make sure you get seamless, not rolled and formed (the seam will give you nightmares when turning it).

Good luck.

[QUINCYMASSGUY]

coolhand

Coolhand, thank you for the input and that is definitely the kind of info I needed. Angel threads might be odd because they're British and using a different system. I might be ok with Timmy threads, just need to identify it. From what I understand by reviewing a page on threads, I need the timmy feedneck's (not collar):

-Thread form
-Thread pitch
-Hand of the thread
-Major Diameter
-Minor Diameter
-Pitch diameter

And I guess now we might realize that different companies may use different measurement systems and may even choose to go with odd threads to avoid other companies producing identical threads.

That info regarding the different types of aluminium will be very valuable, thank you.

[Rick927]

If you find out what the threads are, KBC tool makes all kinds of odd ball taps and dies so you dont have to cut the threads on a lathe. If its a real weird one clymer reamer can custom cut one for you, for high$$ one time use, but ok for production runs. I'm trying to figure out how to make a double ended collet clamp elbow 7/8 feed tube to 1 hopper in alluminum or maybe welded up ss steel tube. The indestructable elbow(I hate plastic) If you get the specs and are stuck, LMK I have a home shop and I'm always looking for projects.