My slightly ergonomic Co-axial piston cannon!

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Kash munni
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Sat Sep 13, 2008 12:30 pm

This is my newest cannon. It's not the cleanest thing in the world, but I only had to buy 2 fittings for it, everything else i had laying around somewhere.

Main Body:
The main body is 1 1/4" Sch. 40 PVC. The Barrel is 1/2" sch. 40. I used a sch. 40 reducer with a bit of the middle sanded out to hold the barrel. The piston is a cap from this old medicine i used to need. It's arranged to where it encloses the barrel. As in the piston is backwards so to speak. I used a soft, closed cell foam tape on the back of the piston as a bumper.

The piston
The sealing face is on the barrel in this design. I found a flat rubber washer, used for like hose valves and stuff, that fit perfectly on the breech of the barrel. So it's glued onto the barrel. The piston is fully serviceable; all you need to do is unscrew 2 screws and pull off the reducer in the back.

Pilot/fill setup:
The fill valve is just a simple, 3/8th's NPT schrader valve threaded into the PVC where there are 2 layers, on the coupling. I use an air compressor or a bike pump to fill it. The pilot valve setup is a 1 1/4" to 3/4" threaded reducer, a 3/4" threaded nipple, and a 3/4" ball valve attached to it. The valve is really nice. It opens easily, even with just one finger. I added a 90 degree elbow and a bit of pipe to the back to direct the pilot air downward, and act as a pistol grip. So yay for ergonomics.

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I usually fill it to around 60 psi. It shoots nerf darts like a nerf gun from hell. I couldn't even see the dart that i fired at a distance until it dropped about 200 feet away.

When I find some marbles that fit, or get around to making ice slugs, i will post damage pics and videos. But for now, enjoy!
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hi
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Joined: Thu Feb 01, 2007 9:28 pm

Sat Sep 13, 2008 2:52 pm

not to bad. i would use a sprinkler valve as the exhaust though, then it would be easier to shoot comfortably.
"physics, gravity, and law enforcement are the only things that prevent me from operating at my full potential" - not sure, but i like the quote

you know you are not an engineer if you have to remind yourself "left loosy righty tighty"
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psycix
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Sun Sep 14, 2008 3:08 pm

Nice build.

To add on the pilot valve discussion, instead of using a sprinkler, use a QEV!

Oh, and watch out with those ice slugs, when pvc gets cold it becomes brittle.
Till the day I'm dieing, I'll keep them spuddies flying, 'cause I can!

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Kash munni
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Joined: Sun Mar 23, 2008 7:46 pm

Mon Sep 15, 2008 3:11 pm

Got it. Thanks guys!

Sorry it's taking so long on the damage... I need to find a good, hard hitting ammo.
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