Vortex feeding issue

[Pennywise]

I inherited a 3d printer from a friend of mine, so naturally my first project (after a few dnd minis) was doing some experimenting with vortex block design.
The design in question has a skirt surrounding it to aid in loading, and since making the model, i have attached a couple of shrouds to avoid jamming.
I designed the plunger to allow air through easily in hopes that it wouldn't just be pushed back instantly, which seems to work fine.
The runway for the bbs was initially a half circle, but was redesigned with a more channeled pathway to aid in cycling.

On normal use, the gun will only fire a couple bbs per trigger pull. This is followed by a few more the next time, etc.
However, when i remove the back cap and pull the trigger with just my finger holding the plunger in the chamber (to stop bbs from jumping out at me), it cycles perfectly. Of course, as a result of a majority of the air coming out through the back of the gun instead of through the intended path, the velocity and rps are lower than ideal.

Has anyone had an issue like this? All I can think is that there is just too much air coming in through the block, pushing the bbs away instead of guiding them around the runway.

https://www.tinkercad.com/things/eZfBEAbpkWD
Sorry if this isn't the correct format, or if this link doesn't work.
I was a member of this forum maybe 12 years ago, but life got in the way of these fun projects.

[Pennywise]

I inherited a 3d printer from a friend of mine, so naturally my first project (after a few dnd minis) was doing some experimenting with vortex block design.
The design in question has a skirt surrounding it to aid in loading, and since making the model, i have attached a couple of shrouds to avoid jamming.
I designed the plunger to allow air through easily in hopes that it wouldn't just be pushed back instantly, which seems to work fine.
The runway for the bbs was initially a half circle, but was redesigned with a more channeled pathway to aid in cycling.

On normal use, the gun will only fire a couple bbs per trigger pull. This is followed by a few more the next time, etc.
However, when i remove the back cap and pull the trigger with just my finger holding the plunger in the chamber (to stop bbs from jumping out at me), it cycles perfectly. Of course, as a result of a majority of the air coming out through the back of the gun instead of through the intended path, the velocity and rps are lower than ideal.

Has anyone had an issue like this? All I can think is that there is just too much air coming in through the block, pushing the bbs away instead of guiding them around the runway.

https://www.tinkercad.com/things/eZfBEAbpkWD
Sorry if this isn't the correct format, or if this link doesn't work.
I was a member of this forum maybe 12 years ago, but life got in the way of these fun projects.
[/quote]

[Pennywise]

I inherited a 3d printer from a friend of mine, so naturally my first project (after a few dnd minis) was doing some experimenting with vortex block design.
The design in question has a skirt surrounding it to aid in loading, and since making the model, i have attached a couple of shrouds to avoid jamming.
I designed the plunger to allow air through easily in hopes that it wouldn't just be pushed back instantly, which seems to work fine.
The runway for the bbs was initially a half circle, but was redesigned with a more channeled pathway to aid in cycling.

On normal use, the gun will only fire a couple bbs per trigger pull. This is followed by a few more the next time, etc.
However, when i remove the back cap and pull the trigger with just my finger holding the plunger in the chamber (to stop bbs from jumping out at me), it cycles perfectly. Of course, as a result of a majority of the air coming out through the back of the gun instead of through the intended path, the velocity and rps are lower than ideal.

Has anyone had an issue like this? All I can think is that there is just too much air coming in through the block, pushing the bbs away instead of guiding them around the runway.

https://www.tinkercad.com/things/eZfBEAbpkWD
Sorry if this isn't the correct format, or if this link doesn't work.
I was a member of this forum maybe 12 years ago, but life got in the way of these fun projects.

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

life got in the way of these fun projects.

Doesn't it always

Where does air enter the block?

Traditionally the space for the BBs is a full circle.

[Pennywise]

The air inlet is most visible in models 1 and 4. At the top of the rendering in number 1, and the bottom of 4.

Something I should clarify, when the gun is fired with spring and plunger in place, I get the feeding issue; a few bbs shoot out, followed by only air.
The spring is mounted to the back plug, but the plunger is unattached. When I remove the plunger and put the back plug back on and fire, it has the same issue. I had initially figured my spring was just too strong, but this doesn't appear to be the case as this result shows.
When I remove the back plug and fire with it off, the gun cycles perfectly (excepting a vast majority of the air simply releasing out the open back)

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

I see it now. Normally the idea of the vortex block is to have a "free" area where BBs can circulate while agitated by the air, my impression is that the more limited shape you've chosen for the "vortex chamber" is not the idea.

It probably works without the back plug because the fact that the air can leak gives less resistance to the air coming from the blowgun, and the resulting airflow is enough to compensate for the lack of agitation otherwise.

[quinn whitsitt]

use more air presssure it will help reduce jams