Coilgun - V2b IV

Since my last post here I've gotten the V2b to work, break and work again!

Results are very promising, easily shoots through 2x3mm plywood and I doubt the second stage is tuned anywhere near good.

So here's the setup.
From left to right: Cap charger(230VAC -> 325VDC), Capbank 1&2, Coilgun.
Also featured in the photo is a complete mess of wires.

 

Target holder:

Little video of the shots I've taken so far.

Coilgun - V2b III

Finally did something with this project
Capacitors should now be super-easy to hook up properly.
Charge and discharge wires properly set up and all.

Seperate positive poles and common ground.

I still need to:
-Hook up a battery for the trigger and lm311 circuit
-Get a better camera(Ugh, yes, I really do need one)
-Stuff.(I bet there's something really useful and critical behind this very useless line.)

Coilgun - V2b II

Another little update...

I've connected the capacitors, soldered coils to thyristor circuits and mounted everything on the 'prototype'.
-Grinded one projectile to match the barrel within ~0.3mm diameter
-Optogate is fitted, might still need to cover the holes and barrel a bit better so ambient light doesn't get through.
-**ck the control panel, I'll just put a trigger to fire the first stage and the rest is automatic.
-Everything besides 1st stage trigger and battery is soldered.
-Mounted protoboards with a little slab of glue(Hopefully removeable if need be)

Need to:
-Connect capacitors in a better way and make sure charge wires gets attached along with the charge equalizer.
-Hook up a battery for the trigger and lm311 circuit
-Get a better camera
-Stuff.

Coilgun - V2b

Just a tiny update on the 2stage/~400J coilgun.

I've found a suitable barrel, 6 meters of it to be precise, and the coils are now done as far as winding goes.

What's left to do is:
-Grind the bullets down to fit the barrel
-Make holes for and mount the optogate
-Solder all the circuits together
-Wire up what's left without electrocuting myself in the progress
-Make some kind of controlpanel for this

Coilgun, 2 stage, ~400J aka V2b

Time for my first 'real' 2 stage coilgun I guess. First stage will be switched manually with a microswitch+SCR whilst the second stage will have an optical trigger.

2x3300µF caps with max 350V, planning to charge them to ~315.

So far it's just a pile of shit since I'm still looking for a suitable barrel, unlike my older coilguns I'm downsizing the projectile this time. Planning to have 9-11mm diameter projectiles.

Here's a little clip of the pictured optical triggering circuit and one of the SCR assemblies being used on another coilgun, that one has a inner diameter of 14mm and a 12mm diameter projectile weighing in at around 40 grams.

 You can also check this clip out on my youtube:  Click me!