SpudFiles

This is BTL Industries' first pneumatic cannon, the CA1 SMSS. It isn't built to do any specific thing, except begin my experience with pneumatic launchers. I will be using a similar classification system for each of my cannons and cannon subsystems (no matter how primitive or insignificant).

Name: CA1 SMSS (Cannon Assembly Mk.1, Single-shot, Muzzle-loading, Stock Sprinkler valve)
Type: Man Portable Pneumatic Cannon
Loading Method: Muzzle Loading w/ ramrod
Barrel Type: 1" by 3.5' sch40
Chamber Type: 3" by 2' sch40
Operating Pressure: 15-70psi (Electric) 15-100psi (Manual)
Fire-Control Sys: FA-E1 NCS
Ammunition: 1in rubber ball and/or small diameter paint roller
# of Valves: 1
Type of Valves: Stock Orbit Watermaster 1in Sprinkler, Solvent connectors
Sights: None
Projected Improvements: Improved electronics OR Blowgun modification to valve. Also, properly secure FA-E1 or later system, instead of using duct-tape. All unlikely to be done.

By no means is the CA1 a well designed cannon. The only really remarkable thing about it, is that almost none of the purple primer is visible, and its construction is fairly solid. Its barrel and tank dimensions were chosen on the fly, and none of it was put down on paper. It's control system couldn't be simpler. The FA-E1 NCS, due to being rushed to completion to be fitted to the prototype of the CA1, lacks a toggle safety, and only houses a push-button control and a single 9v battery. However, this is not much of a problem, due to the test constraints of the targets and backstop used during testing. Shortcomings aside, the CA1 SMSS can be considered a design success, because it did in fact manage to achieve the original goals of its design, which was to increase BTL Industries' knowledge and skill in the design and construction of pneumatic cannons.




Here is the specification for the FA-E1 NCS used on the CA1 SMSS. It's purely for archival and documentary purposes. When you look at the actual system, this actually seems kind of pointless.

Name: FA-E1 NCS (Fire Actuator- Electronic Mk.1 Non-adjustable Control System)
Type: Electronic Valve Actuator
Type of Supported Valves: Stock Sprinkler Valve
# of Supported Valves: 1
User Interface: One(1) Momentary Pushbutton Switch
Energy Output: 9V D/C
Power Source: 1 9v-Type Battery
Operating Constraints: Up to 75psi (Valve Dependant), Not Waterproof

The FA-E1 NCS is the first Fire-Control system built by BTL Industries. Originally designed to operate using two 9v batteries and to have an SPST toggle safety, after a number of design compromises and the need to be finished in order to be used on the CA1, the FA-E1 NCS dropped the second battery and safety switch. In the rush to complete the CA1, the FA-E1 was duct-taped to the chamber instead of being properly attached. It is unlikely that the FA-E1 will be used again in it's current iteration.


EDIT July 22: The CA1 SMSS is set to be dismantled. Pipe will be saved from it, and the sprinkler valve used in the WC-AB launcher. The cannon should be dismantled in less than two days, depending on priorities.


Here's a video.
EDIT: Because there have already been numerous posts about possible safety issues with the cannon and improper loading procedure, please do NOT make any posts about the possibility of DWV fittings or bad habbits that may appear in the video.


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Here's a video from the 4th of July!
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WHOA DWV man scrap that cannon right now go get you some pressurerated fittings now. And why did you youse that whole ballvalve setup just to fill your cannon. Other than the DWV its an okay cannon.

Maniac wrote:WHOA DWV man scrap that cannon right now go get you some pressurerated fittings now. And why did you youse that whole ballvalve setup just to fill your cannon. Other than the DWV its an okay cannon.

No, it's all NSF-pw. I just went out and checked.

Anyway, the ball valve is so it can be carried independently from the compressor.

DWV is the bell reducers

Ball valve still doesnt make sense

EDIT: It isnt a schrader, its a quick connect right?

The bell reducer is DWV(drain waste vent), which means it is not meant for any pressure.

brplatz wrote:DWV is the bell reducers

Ball valve still doesnt make sense

EDIT: It isnt a schrader, its a quick connect right?

Yeah, it's a quick-connect.

ok that makes sense now

still bell reducers are rarely pressure rated, unless you got them online, Home Depot and Lowes where i live only have pressure rated fittings up to 2 in

Well you certainly seem to have an adequate knowledge of electronics(use of the single pole-single throw SPST term I havent seen in years, among other things), but I think you should research pneumatic cannons a little more before you fire yours ever again. For the best info read the thread in the link in manic's signature, youll soon find that your cannon is an explosion waiting to happen, and not the good way...

brplatz wrote:ok that makes sense now

still bell reducers are rarely pressure rated, unless you got them online, Home Depot and Lowes where i live only have pressure rated fittings up to 2 in

I get ALL of my equipment (minus the buttons and other electronics) from Home Depot. And everything I get is pressure-rated. I actually used to lurk on spudtech about a year back, I already know a thing or two about pneumatics.

daxspudder wrote:Well you certainly seem to have an adequate knowledge of electronics(use of the single pole-single throw SPST term I havent seen in years, among other things), but I think you should research pneumatic cannons a little more before you fire yours ever again. For the best info read the thread in the link in manic's signature, youll soon find that your cannon is an explosion waiting to happen, and not the good way...

The spudwiki page about DWV actually confirms that, even if the bells were DWV, my cannon would still be safe. I never operate it above 65 because I only have a 3 gallon compressor and it takes forever to fill the cannon to anything higher. Also, above 70, the solenoid lacks sufficient power to operate. But, that doesn't matter, because they ARE pressure rated.

I would have to back his claim his bell reducers are possibly PR... Mine in my combustion were purchased at a home depot, and are 280psi rated sch40 bell reducers, both the 4-3 and the 3-2. Rare, but they do exist. worth double checking yours, I had bought one for a 2-1.5 barrel and after making the barrel, later at the store discovered I had bought unrated DWV.... I still use it but my middle name is danger...

Guys bell reducer doesn't always mean not pressure rated. I have a pressure rated one, ask before you yell please. The ballvalve is becasue some quick connects don't have one way valves in both parts, so now he can make it portable. Man guys, don't be so critical about things you don;t fully understand.
Nice first, it's better than my first.

daxspudder wrote:I would have to back his claim his bell reducers are possibly PR... Mine in my combustion were purchased at a home depot, and are 280psi rated sch40 bell reducers, both the 4-3 and the 3-2. Rare, but they do exist. worth double checking yours, I had bought one for a 2-1.5 barrel and after making the barrel, later at the store discovered I had bought unrated DWV.... I still use it but my middle name is danger...

Yes, thats EXACTLY what I'm using! 3" to 2" reducer. It goes to a 2" to 1" bushing then to the valve.

pizlo wrote:Guys bell reducer doesn't always mean not pressure rated. I have a pressure rated one, ask before you yell please. The ballvalve is becasue some quick connects don't have one way valves in both parts, so now he can make it portable. Man guys, don't be so critical about things you don;t fully understand.
Nice first, it's better than my first.

Thanks. My next will be a Semi with a crude blow forward valve, possibly actuated either a sear or a sprinkler valve. I do so like electronic operation....

Re. the DWV, replace those bell reducers with a coupling and reducer bushing setup...everything else is fine.

I noticed you looking down the barrel of that thing with the chamber full of air a couple of times... Please don't do that again.....

I assume you know by now that a pneumatic mod on your sprinkler will provide better actuation performance....however that would make your Electronic Mk.1 Non-adjustable Control System obsolete.

Decent effort for your first. However, if you want to keep actually shooting it, do the reducer mod.

starman wrote:Re. the DWV, replace those bell reducers with a coupling and reducer bushing setup...everything else is fine.

I noticed you looking down the barrel of that thing with the chamber full of air a couple of times... Please don't do that again.....

I assume you know by now that a pneumatic mod on your sprinkler will provide better actuation performance....however that would make your Electronic Mk.1 Non-adjustable Control System obsolete.

Decent effort for your first. However, if you want to keep actually shooting it, do the reducer mod.

Actually, the cannon isn't charged any of the times i look down the barrel. And yes, the FA-E1 is obsolete, if you want to compare it to modded valves. However, I'm not going to be using this to terribly much. And, I don't know if I am capable of modifying the valve without ruining the top. The 1 1/4" used for the control box was nearly ruined when I made that one single hole. But, then again, I only have a $40 drill press. Also, we have already established that the bell reducers are in fact PR.

To mod the valve with out ruining it, remove the solenoid, fill the small center hole, and find pieces that will thread between the valve and a blowgun, not as fast as the traditional way, but you could bore out the little hole that leads from the pilot volume to the solenoid release...