Berzerker prep
Jul. 11th, 2009 08:59 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
johnridleyTom and I spent the day messing with PVC. We've got a workable breach-loading spud gun design and will have enough parts to make another 3 of them; I plan to help kids build their own if they want to.
Now we're messing with a couple of water bottle launch systems. I have a wire release system head built, we'll test that tomorrow after buying a few more PVC parts. That one uses #9 O rings in a filed groove, and the release is like what was in Make Magazine. It looks OK but I am not real sure the firing mechanism will work every time, though it will release very easily. The old system requires a very hard yank to get it to fire, and little kids couldn't manage it.
Tomorrow I'm going to build a wire-tie + slip ring release system on a tube with #94 O rings in a PVC/CPVC 5/8 x 7/8 system - that's what I've used in the past, I just couldn't find any CPVC in 5/8 OD at Lowes. I'm going to head to Jackson tomorrow and look there. I'm also going to try one of the zip tie/slip ring releases.
I'm not planning on putting the treb together this year. I'm not abandoning it, but I just didn't have the time to do any work on improving it and I don't think it's worth putting together in the same configuration as last year. So hopefully this will be more of a year for lounging around talking, helping other people on their projects, standing around taking pictures and kibitzing, and shooting off little Estes rockets and spud guns.
Now we're messing with a couple of water bottle launch systems. I have a wire release system head built, we'll test that tomorrow after buying a few more PVC parts. That one uses #9 O rings in a filed groove, and the release is like what was in Make Magazine. It looks OK but I am not real sure the firing mechanism will work every time, though it will release very easily. The old system requires a very hard yank to get it to fire, and little kids couldn't manage it.
Tomorrow I'm going to build a wire-tie + slip ring release system on a tube with #94 O rings in a PVC/CPVC 5/8 x 7/8 system - that's what I've used in the past, I just couldn't find any CPVC in 5/8 OD at Lowes. I'm going to head to Jackson tomorrow and look there. I'm also going to try one of the zip tie/slip ring releases.
I'm not planning on putting the treb together this year. I'm not abandoning it, but I just didn't have the time to do any work on improving it and I don't think it's worth putting together in the same configuration as last year. So hopefully this will be more of a year for lounging around talking, helping other people on their projects, standing around taking pictures and kibitzing, and shooting off little Estes rockets and spud guns.
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Date: 2009-07-12 01:24 pm (UTC)Goodie. Does this mean that K & I can (ahem) shoot off one or two of your rockets? I haven't gotten out to a hobby store to look for a kit, and frankly, my set-up here is not as conducive to mad scientist stuff as it was in Kzoo. I think K might enjoy it.
Look forward to seeing you all again. xo
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Date: 2009-07-12 02:01 pm (UTC)