My Field Target Project

[QVTom]

Oops, didn't even notice where it was posted. Perfect for a new thread in the R&D gate.  Tom

[joel w]

Mike,  I Just about have all the bits together but the hammer return spring I have is .049" wire diameter and from looking at the one in your picture I am guessing it is about .020" wire diameter?  I am looking at Mcmasters but not finding one with the right dimensions.  I might have to modify one if I can not find a source.   
Any suggestions?

Thanks Joel

 

[michaelthomas]

You needn't look too far......lol.  Mine is a spring from a pen.

Mike

[joel w]

The poppet return spring looks like a pen spring,    However I was talking about the solenoid hammer return spring in your first pic on the far right?   Hmmm  Maybe I need a different pen?

[michaelthomas]

Hmmm....yes, you did say hammer spring didn't you?

Sorry.....I don't have the number, but it is a solenoid return spring kit from the same place I listed for the solenoid.  Guardian brand.

If I remember correctly, I had to get the number of the return spring kit from the guardian site......then use it on the other sites search bar.

Mike

[joel w]

Thank you Sir!     
I think this is it.  http://www.onlinecomponents.com/guardian-electric-a49036746011.html?p=11480492

[michaelthomas]

No Problem. 

Mike

[Sfttailrdr46]

  Mike just wanted to say really great job on your project, also want to add that now I understand your statements on the tack driver thread just a tad better. In a past life I was a Navy ET after the Navy ended up working for a company called ISC Telephonics here on Long Island N.Y. and had the good fortune of working in the engineering lab with a great engineer doing R&D, repeatability was the watchword and if there was no consistent repeatable results under diverse conditions it did not mean squat. Again amazing rifle if I ever get into PCP Something that High Tec and that high a cool factor would be on my wish list

[michaelthomas]

Thanks Don.....that's nice of you to say.

I should point out that I am certainly aware that I seem to have a knack for wording things in ways that can be misunderstood.  I don't fathom the "other" way while I'm typing.......but I becomes apparent to me after it's too late.  I can't count the number of posts that I have made where the point I was attempting to make has gone badly awry......and trying to explain myself further only seemed to make the matter worse.  I suppose that is partly due (or wholly) to my sarcastic style of humor.

I seldom, if ever, run into this trouble in person.  The cold truth is that once a person finds something I have said to be inflammatory......from that point on,  anything I say is viewed in the worst possible light since the internet doesn't convey body language, tone, and other very important clues about the speakers intended angle.  My wife suggested that I learn to use the smileys to help with things......and I've been giving it a go. 

Since this is my thread.....I feel like I can ramble a bit without drawing criticism for a hijack. 

I don't posses the ability to feel brand loyalties or their ilk.  I think this comes across as disturbing or abnormal, too.  I believe that everything can be objectively assessed for quality and ranked accordingly.  If brand loyalty or emotional attachment is present, the ability to objectively view something is compromised.....if not completely destroyed.

I seriously believe that the first step towards improvement for anything is the full acceptance that the current state of things is not good enough......no matter how much is invested.   Brand loyalties, knowingly skewed results, and emotional attachments are impediments to this realization......in my narrow mind, anyway.

I apologize (to everyone) for sometimes using abrasive, sardonic, and blunt dialog to convey my points.

I'm working on it. 

Mike

[michaelthomas]

I tried to fix some spelling errors and ended up quoting my own post with nothing additional to say.

Oops.

[Sfttailrdr46]

I tried to fix some spelling errors and ended up quoting my own post with nothing additional to say.

Oops.

Still totally impressed with your FT project 

[michaelthomas]

Well....thanks again.  It's been (and still is) a great learning experience for me.

Joelw.....I see you added to your post with the return spring parts link.....thanks.

Mike

[lloyd-ss]

...................
I should point out that I am certainly aware that I seem to have a knack for wording things in ways that can be misunderstood. .............
..........
I apologize (to everyone) for sometimes using abrasive, sardonic, and blunt dialog to convey my points.
I'm working on it. 
Mike

Certainly no problem Mike.  Your wife's    suggestion of the smilies was a good one    .  I know from personal experience how hard it is to take words back once they are out of my mouth     .

Going back to the previous page and the brief discussion of barrel sources,  I have to say that I agree with all the comments. I have used some of the LW barrels.. nice quality, heavy barrels, but if its not in stock, plan on a long wait.  The barrels from TJs are really liners.. some of them are kinda thin-walled, but I find them perfect for airguns. And Mike Sayers (TJs) is a dream to work with.  He always gets the order correct and out the door pronto. I haven't personally used any GM barrels but have only heard good things about them.  And of course, as was said by AmBraCol, it is easy to turn a good barrel into a piece of junk by improperly preparing it. Personal experience on that one, too     .
Another good source is   http://www.gunpartscorp.com/
They have all sorts of stuff but I do find their search engine very difficult to navigate and ferret out what you are looking for. Maybe its just me.  I have bought barrel blanks and barrels, and other stuff from them. Prices vary and some things are dirt cheap.  Many of the barrels are too short (in my opinion) for airguns, but the site is worthy  of a good search if you are fabricating airguns or firearms.
Sorry for wandering from your original topic     , but it seemed relevant.
Lloyd-ss

[joel w]

I got my board tonight and put all the bits together like your picture shows.  Powered it up, adjusted the voltage to 60.1v,  flipped the switch and WHACK.. This solenoid setup is pretty powerful.   

Can't wait to stuff it in this Mrod and try it..  Thanks  Mike!!!

[michaelthomas]

LLoyd.....thanks for the links and barrel info.

I've had good luck on the LW barrels so far......but my first one is about a half inch shorter than it was supposed to be.   

Joel......I'm glad it's working for you.  Keep us posted on the progress.

Mike

[joel w]

I set up a pinball type setup that would shoot a small 55 gram cylinder with the spring and hammer.  I allowed it .5" to accelerate and compressed the spring almost fully.  It would shoot the cylinder 38 inches from a height of 33 inches.
Mike

 One more question please Mike.  Your last sentence confuses me a bit here.  Were you launching straight up or at a 45 degree angle or out off of a 33 inch high shelf??  Just trying to compare the power of mine to the power of yours.  I can smack a much lighter marble 32- 48" straight up depending on the caps used but I still need to compare that to my hammer and spring in some kind of pinball setup that I have not figured out yet. 

Thanks   Joel.

[michaelthomas]

Hi Joel.

My test setup was a level table 33 inches off the floor.

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/traj.html

This was the calculator that I used. Horizontal launch was the one that was most pertinent.

Hope that helps.

I finally fine tuned mine today for 885-890 with the Exact Heavies.  I couldn't get where I wanted to be with capacitance changes, so I had to drop the voltage to 57 for my particular application.  One turn seemed to equate to a 2 volt change on my boost converter.

Mike

[michaelthomas]

The actual ftlbs are not really important, I guess.  You just have to be able to duplicate the distance that your regular hammer spring will "shoot" something.

Remember that I have intentionally made my valve very small so opening force required would be less.  I don't know how that plays into your setup.

What caliber are you working on?

Mike

[joel w]

That clears it up completely.  Thank you.      I looked at the horizontal launch calculator but that is about as far as I can go with that as it is smarter than me..   Hahahha 

This will be in a regulated .22 setup with 13.43gr jsbs aiming for 20fpe.  Still waiting on my barrel from Jim...    but I did stick the solenoid to the gun and it definitely opened the valve with 1500psi many times.    It's very loud like that so that makes me think it might actually be close. 

[michaelthomas]

Are you making it for field target or heavy varmint bench rest?

Mine was really loud, too.

If it's not enough you can always get a higher voltage boost converter.  I had ordered a 97v from the same place as the other one......but it got lost in the mail and I just never ordered another.

You could steal a barrel off a junk rifle to see how it goes in the meantime.  I guarantee that if you spend a fair amount of time on a substitute barrel for testing.....the one you are waiting for will show up moments after you complete it. 

Mike