Coil Gun (Pros and cons?)

[Crozius]

Now i know there have been other posts about the same subject, i have done a search and looked at most of them. If this is not the right spot to be putting this thread it can be moved if needed.

 

Onto the subject.

 

I have been looking around and various coilgun designs and settled on Jeff Hoves design (http://www.jeffhove.com/robots/coilgun.html). I thought it best to start off small, running off just a AA battery and a single Capcitor as shown in the design schmatics. Over time i will slowly get more knowledge into the design and theory behind the project, in which i will increase the voltage and the number of capacitors etc.

 

What tips can all of you give me for a beginner into coilguns? What are the pro's and con's of this little school holiday experiment?

 

I have seen that some of the larger coilguns have ammeters to see moniter the capicitors voltage etc. Would that be needed for this particular design?

 

I know of all the safety things like the 300v (approx) that can be stored in a capacitor in just a disposable camera. Thus the reason of rubber soled shoes, rubber gloves and plastic handled screwdrivers. Safety is my first concern, if i wasnt confident enough that i was not gonna kill myself i wouldnt consider doing this.

 

Thanks for all the help.

Crozius

[MrMongoose]

Pro: If you can charge it from a wind turbine or solar cell, it will contribute to global warming less than a traditional gunpower gun

[Sisyphus]

Pro and con compared to what?

[Crozius]

Just general pros and cons, like it may be fun (pro) but it can be dangerous (con)

[MrMongoose]

It may be fun and educational and even possibly serve a practical purpose.

 

It will cost money, require time and may be dangerous.

[Mr Skeptic]

Coil guns can accelerate their ammo to arbitrary velocities, not limited by the speed of the gases like with gunpowder. So you can use one to punch clean holes in brittle objects that a bullet would shatter.

[richard]

This may provide a little fun and learning. To get any more impressive will heat the planet directly, cost a fortune and take up lots of space.

[Crozius]

Yep, well at the moment i only have two disposable camera capacitors that are roughly 300v so i am told. So i will try with one then put the second in series or whatever.

[insane_alien]

remember those caps can hold enough to kill you. be careful.

[Crozius]

I know, what i plan on doing is linking both of them up to some insulated wire which are connected to some aluminium foil in salt water. Then i know that they are discharged after a few days.

[insane_alien]

or you could just short them with some resistor wire and they'll be done in seconds.

[Crozius]

Which is a pity because i dont have any resistor wire.

[insane_alien]

okay, then, just use a really long (2-3m) bit of normal wire then