Comments on: Making a rail gun

By: Dick C.

Dick C. — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 18:34:48 +0000

Several years ago I did some machine work for a guy making a rail gun. He used capacitors from a railroad caboose, they were bigger than a car battery; originally used to activate crossing signals, they provided lots of power for his project. Any one else use these?

By: Garrett

Garrett — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 23:49:07 +0000

The REAL problem with railguns, is that the current is so high, and forces between the rails are so strong, that transverse lorentz forces will often deform or “bend” the gun out of shape with strong shots. Ive seen some BIG railguns, and the deformation can get NASTY if you put enough juice through. Sometimes you can wreck an entire gun, beyond repair, with just one shot.

By: ravi gaddipati

ravi gaddipati — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 22:07:49 +0000

Yes, on one of the shots the projectile bounced of cardboard. When the cable’s flew apart, it messed up the bus bars. Notice all the plasma under the acrylic.

By: draknixon

draknixon — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 20:03:27 +0000

you’ll shoot your eye out, kid…

By: againseminoma

againseminoma — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 19:09:53 +0000

Eh nevermind I see what you’re saying about the video…I thought I just had it on mute :P

By: againseminoma

againseminoma — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 19:08:07 +0000

Who’s the video he gives in step #5 from then? It’s not his rail gun on youtube he links to?

By: medix

medix — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 15:18:20 +0000

calling this ‘green’ is like saying that chemical lasers are a practical means of air defense (look it up)

By: TheKhakinator

TheKhakinator — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 12:08:14 +0000

The Robosapien hack was a COILGUN (aka Gauss gun) which is incredibly different to a railgun, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

By: Frogz

Frogz — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 05:14:18 +0000

heh yanno…. its been a long time since i looked at sam’s site, i look like an arse…
its the exact same design LOL!

By: cyanide

cyanide — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 03:21:08 +0000

i wonder how many shots he can fire before it overheats
and i wonder if it beats out the navy’s railgun in that aspect. doubt it. liquid helium cooling system, anyone?

By: As/400

As/400 — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 23:38:09 +0000

Been there, done that.

As/400 Out

By: matthack

matthack — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 20:20:11 +0000

Check out my coil gun ;)

http://matthack.com/2008/02/21/the-coil-gun-v20/

By: spadefinger

spadefinger — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 20:03:11 +0000

Is it just me or did the projectile bounce off the cardboard box?

By: spiderwebby

spiderwebby — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 19:54:32 +0000

railgun != coilgun.

when will people learn!!

By: polymath

polymath — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 19:54:16 +0000

this could be coupled with that paintball auto turret to make a pretty effective short range defense system.