Gauss bb gun

[toadnoodle]

I decided one day to make a gauss gun, if you don't know what i'm talking about then here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coilgun it is also referred to as a coilgun, whichever you prefer.
I started by going to Radio Shack and buying a pack of COATED copper coil. it has to be coated because if the wire touched another part of the wire it disrupts the magnetism and could possibly back fire.
I then wrapped the coil around a pen that i had cut off to make a barrel. i make the coil about 1" long, any longer and the bb would travel half way down the barrel and get stopped by the magnetic field, any shorter and it wouldn't get enough momentum. On the end of the coil are two washers, these helped in the winding process, and they also help restrain the magnetic field.
I then needed a source of high and instant power so i took apart a disposable camera because it is capable of discharging 300+ volts in less than a second.
Then I connected the coil to the capacitor and I had a Gauss gun.
This is very cool because it not only shoots bb's without making a sound but it will shoot anything made of ferrous metal, such as nails and small bolts.


the ipod is there only as a matter of scale reference

I am hoping to finish this gun and make a body for it, right now its just fun to shoot.

[iPaintball]

Very nice! If you want to increase power, wire up a small bank of capacitors to be charged. If you wan't to clean it up, put in a project box. I love coil guns!

[homedepotpro]

very cool, its funny im not much of an electrical guy (at lease i don't particularly like it) but right before seeing this topic i just got done modded my fm transmitter for my zune. how far will it launch a bb

[frankrede]

wow, I really want to make a railgun now, any idea on how many fps?

[Killjoy]

this gives me the urge to go pull out my two 8000 joule capacitors and make a coil gun.
Nice job on your coil gun though, especially for something so simple which works.

[f.c]

wow. ive heard of people making them but never seen one. intriguing.

[666lucky693]

thats cool have u ever seen the one they put on one of those robo sapiens its awesome it had a laser sight

[jon_89]

how powerful is this? i know it isnt that powerful.

[DYI]

my two 8000 joule capacitors

Those things must be monstrous. I've never seen a capacitor with anywhere near that kind of capacitance before. You should make a two stage coil gun with timers. Make sure to post it if you do.

[beebs111]

these are genreally pretty low power, and are different than rail guns. gauss guns use coiled wire and a rail gun uses two rails and needs a substantially larger power force to get a projectile moving. in order to generate a good amount of power you will need to have the system timed, which is quite hard to do(for the simple minded like myself)

[TwitchTheAussie]

Beebs mate your not simple minded we just have a lack of talent in the area . Id love to make one of these there awesome. Cant wait to see it finished

[spud yeti]

That looks like a load of fun, well done.

[Killjoy]

Quote:
my two 8000 joule capacitors

Those things must be monstrous. I've never seen a capacitor with anywhere near that kind of capacitance before. You should make a two stage coil gun with timers. Make sure to post it if you do.

Actually DYI, thats what i was thinking. And the capacitors are about 2.5 feet tall, 1.5 feet long, and a foot wide, and each weighs about 75 pounds. The best part is, new they're about a 1000 bucks a peice, but i bought them slightly used for a 100 bucks.

[spud yeti]

Actually DYI, thats what i was thinking. And the capacitors are about 2.5 feet tall, 1.5 feet long, and a foot wide, and each weighs about 75 pounds. The best part is, new they're about a 1000 bucks a peice, but i bought them slightly used for a 100 bucks.

Thats insane! Thats like the size of a baby cow! Nice one on getting themm so cheap though.

[Killjoy]

yeah i was lucky. pisses me off though, they had six, but i only had 200 dollars on me, and by the time i got back they had sold the rest. oh well, can't have everything....