Rail Guns

[videogames101]

(Sorry if this isn't technical enough, idk where else to put it....)

We've been working with magnetism in class lately, and I'm quite curious what it actually takes to build a working rail gun.

Here I found some instructions on a VERY high-powered one, but I don't know if making something that shoots at 4km/s is even legal: http://home.insightbb.com/~jme...4/rail/rail-intro.html

I understand the basic principles behind them, but to build something that can actually fire a projectile at a decent velocity is a little beyond me. Does anyone have any experience in building and/or using a rail gun, that could help me out in building my own, or at least, explain what materials it requires?

 

[soccerballtux]

You'd have better luck building a coil gun, as well as using the search feature and using google.

 

[silverpig]

It can be done, but it basically comes down to buying a lot of capacitors. For a hundred bucks though all you're likely to get is launching a small projectile a few feet. You could stand in front of it and not be hurt.

A coil gun (gauss gun) is simpler to make and while you won't be putting chunks of iron through your neighbour's car, it can shoot a magnet into the air with a modest power.

 

[wwswimming]

http://metalstorm.com/

one company that re-thought the gun. some of their products
fire hundreds of thousands of rounds between re-loads.

i think they use electronically ignited munitions, each of which
has its own propellant. sort of like model rockets.

 

[videogames101]

Originally posted by: silverpig
It can be done, but it basically comes down to buying a lot of capacitors. For a hundred bucks though all you're likely to get is launching a small projectile a few feet. You could stand in front of it and not be hurt.

A coil gun (gauss gun) is simpler to make and while you won't be putting chunks of iron through your neighbour's car, it can shoot a magnet into the air with a modest power.

After some reading, i'm thinking of changing this to the aforementioned coil gun.

Question though, "modest power" is not a measurement i'm familiar with, what size magnet and how far?

 

[soccerballtux]

Calculate it! It depends on a lot of things; nobody can tell you "how far" without giving any design specs.

 

[CatchPhrase]

Check if it is legal in your area first.

 

[silverpig]

Originally posted by: videogames101

Originally posted by: silverpig
It can be done, but it basically comes down to buying a lot of capacitors. For a hundred bucks though all you're likely to get is launching a small projectile a few feet. You could stand in front of it and not be hurt.

A coil gun (gauss gun) is simpler to make and while you won't be putting chunks of iron through your neighbour's car, it can shoot a magnet into the air with a modest power.

After some reading, i'm thinking of changing this to the aforementioned coil gun.

Question though, "modest power" is not a measurement i'm familiar with, what size magnet and how far?

Typical bar magnet. Point it at the ceiling and it'll go up a few feet... enough to catch it easily.

 

[DerwenArtos12]

Originally posted by: wwswimming
http://metalstorm.com/

one company that re-thought the gun. some of their products
fire hundreds of thousands of rounds between re-loads.

i think they use electronically ignited munitions, each of which
has its own propellant. sort of like model rockets.

They basically pack the barrels similarly to way back when muzzle loading but, they stack powder and projectiles then ignite each pocket of powder behind it's respective projectiles with a small electric spark. Essentially the entire gun is the barrel with a battery and a button.