Touch Screen Coilgun - Featured on Hack A Day

I built this coil gun using a computer power supply, a PLC, and some leftover relays. Its a low voltage proof of concept.
More can be found at:
http://www.projects.clanscripts.us/index.php?topic=2.0

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Power
• Coilgun
• Touch
• Screen
• Rail
• gun
• Coil
• Railgun
• diy
• electronics
• mechanics
• gadget
• gauss
• hackaday

[NicksInsane]

its called a hobby. Thats what people do when they have free time. And whats wrong with having "time on your hands?"

[PrOsThEtIcS1126]

at least he was doing something constructive

[CampKohler]

@mahela1993 I agree, and that is why I used the phrase, "timing the pulses." But instead of simply assuming where the projectile will be on its route, you might be able to use the coils themselves as sensors. Put a WEAK magnet next to the opening of a coil. Then as an iron object enters the coil, the change in reluctance would induce a small output from the coil, which could be used to trigger an accelerating pulse back into the same coil. Or the last coil triggers the next one in line.

[CampKohler]

@mahela1993 I agree, and that is why I used the phrase, "timing the pulses." But instead of simply assuming where the projectile will be on its route, you might be able to use the coils themselves as sensors. Put a WEAK magnet next to the opening of a coil. Then as an iron object enters the coil, the change in reluctance would induce a small output from the coil, which could be used to trigger an accelerating pulse back into the same coil. Or the last coil triggers the next one in line.

[mahela1993]

@CampKohler Even leaving the coil on (without) reversing the current) is counter productive.. The projectile will be pulled towards the center of the solenoid.

[CampKohler]

@skierplaterandy Since the projectile is not a magnet, it would be counterproductive to reverse the coils after it passes; it would tend to pull the projectile back into the gun instead of repulsing it and increasing the velocity as you might with a magnet. I believe he does it by simply timing the pulses to the coils to be just ahead of the projectile, so you have to know where it will be at any given time. You would find that out by trial and error until you get the best acceleration.

[djgeeter]

GENIUS, well done sir.

[coolelectronicdude]

Pretty cool man.. If u use a different type of tubing that is not metal the field from the coils will be fairly stronger. I like the adjustable controller thats pretty sweet.

[Arjoonmoal]

nice but but ugly. the only thing is the psu 14amps for charging caps. crazy likeit nice video

[acidbf]

Cool



[HawkeNYC01]

cool

[skierplaterandy]

so no capacitors? just the supply?. cool i have a supply laying around somewhere i may give this a shot. i also have some old ac motors i can pull wire from. cool. so i know u have 3 coils, but how do hey all act? are they reversing just as the projectile passes? how are they operating?