Airtank

Ok it’s been a while finals destroyed me and I proto the types but now it’s almost done. Airtank is assembled and now all I really need is to make sure it doesn’t blow up and threads are nice and locked and another print!

PVC primer added and other stuff

So today I started on the assembly of everything with the pvc

I put primer and cement on the barrels with the coupling and reducer, hopefully me and my dad put enough lol. I also added epoxy to my cap for the air tank as I kinda drilled the hole for the valve badly.

Building has begun

Okay so I’ve gotten basically all my stuff minus some adhesives so I drilled and tapped holes into the cap of the air tank, cut the pipes to the “right” sizes and I also printed a new part which basically has the idea I’ll put like a sling for easier carrying.


Next is filing and making sure all the pipes are even, the cuts I made were buns lol

Changed Handle

I changed the way the handle looks because t-handle looks more like a gun, and got rid of the other prints. Also some of the parts arrived, I currently have the ball valve tap and PSI gauge and then 90 degree fittings arrive today

Slight Changes cause I goofed

First change, instead of having a 1/2NPT Nipple to a 90 degree fitting, the fitting is going to be a male to male 90 degree fitting, it hasn't changed in the cad since I couldn't find a model. I changed the fitting from the airtank to the valve, and made some changes to the BOM since my original one was more expensive than I originally thought, i am trying to have everything come from one or 2 suppliers since it is cheaper to cover the shipping.

Celebration lmao and CAD update

This isnt like anything specific i'm literally just celebrating but just so I don't fake hours I am considering painting the PVC colors and like slapping stickers of whatever some people on the HC Slack want lol. I might add like a couple Stickers from some games I like but thats for later

Also added a 3D printed Brace to help keep thse pipes in place so they dont break my plumbing

3D printed holder

I made a simple 3D Printed Holder for the barrels which should connect the barrels and also at a place so I can hold the whole cannon. It will be printed out of PETG, mainly because I havent used PETG before and I impulse bought a roll at Maker Fair ¯_(ツ)_/¯

Updated BOM

FAH I GOT IT UNDER 150!!!
I have managed to finally get my BOM to a resonable price, I am going for Tier 3 grant and then going to cover the difference.

Finished Version 2 CAD

Version 2 CAD is done! Now at like 200 less dollars than version 1, it now flows into a valve, which releases the air into a tee connector and down the barrels! All that is left is to cad and print holders, and assembly.

Finished Version 2 Sketch

Here is the new and improved sketch. At the back is a 12 inch long 3in PVC air tank connected to a coupler and reducer that leads into 1/2NPT plumbing, which breaks in a Tee connector down 2 2 feet 3in Barrels.

New Version

Ive began a new design, mainly because after finishing the other one, I realized many ways to make it cheaper, and now, i am cutting out completely 3 airtanks, airhose, and 2 seperate triggers. I am now having one airtank that leads into a valve, with a tee fitting, and that leads to 2 barrels. This hopefully will still provide the same launch distance I will hope for while be far cheaper and hacing the dual firing that I want.

Changes in PVC Pipe and CAD update

I changed the size of the PVC pipe of the firing airtank from 16in length to 12in in length, mainly so I could buy 4ft of PVC instead of 5. I also added "representive" air hoses, mainly for easier visualization. Some last changes are changes in the BOM from suppliers, and finishing up the Repo, but other than that, I am nearly completetion I Think.

ok so about me finishing plumbing

NOW for real its actually hopefully finished. I changed the sizing of all the plumbing in the back to 1/8in NPT, and changed the Reducer Couplings for the firing mechanism from 3inx 1.5 to 3in x 2in because it was like a lot cheaper lol. Now everything should have its proper cad model, all remaining is finish setting up my github, review and rework bom, and add a hose. And i dont know how to do 3d sketches so. yay.

Changes not mentioned yet today

First, changed length of the firing barrels. They used to be 18in, but for cost purposes, it's been reduced to 1ft each.

I also need to make holders. Since quite literally nothing is holding the cannon actually together, I want to use a combination of 3D printed PETG holders, superglue, and ducttape, but I need to actually design the holders to work on my not supersized printer.

Firing Mechanism CAD/Main Assem

I finished the firing mechanism CAD of the cannon, and now all that is left is to finish the BOM, finish the assembly, refine some of the models and add the hose.

^^
ROUGH MAIN ASSEM DONE :tada
fixing the plumbing in the back with proper models (I love mcmaster carr so much), add hose, and then review bom with others.

Almost complete CAD Assembly

I am close to finishing the main cad assembly of my design. My worry now is the price. My BOM is over 300$, and I have already began considering a redesign. The price is 300$ without the PVC pipe, should I redesign for a cheaper price?

Ok, For real Finished Plumbing I hope

Ok So after review, I added valves for the firing tanks, found smaller hoses, and changed the plumbing. Here, there is 2 stop valves for adjustable air flow to each firing tank, and instead of a 90 degree valve going down, i realized that is completely useless and instead added 2 90 degrees on the end of the valves for more ideal connection of the hoses.

Actually got Plumbing Relatively Done

Spent like 2-3 hours trying to find the right tubing and valves for the back, it was not fun. I might still need to find smaller hoses, but for now, I have all the parts for the back plumbing done.

I don’t really have a picture so here’s the tee brass connector I’m using.

Started BOM And Air Tank CAD

I've began the BOM on Google spreadsheets and finished roughly the main tank CAD.

It's pretty rough, most of it is more or less very simple geometry to use as reference. The parts are the right sizes, and if I get around to it, I might replace it with proper models, but good enough for now.
On the BOM, I managed to find the right brass fittings, I was making sure the threading was all correct.

Layout Design

I've finished my layout design for the cannon, with the idea being there is a main Air Tank on top that leads into 2 air tanks below which lead into their own barrel. Essentially the bottom mechanism is the same as this, just repeated twice. The hope is that I will finish cadding the full assembly soon.

Initial Research/Design

Started with searching up for instructions/designs on homemade single barrel t-shirt cannons, with this one being the one I am most likely going to reference.

This is their cannon they made, I am most likely gonna have similar build methods.

Another reference I will use is This Air cannon that explains more specific steps in making the cannon.