Grappling Hook Cannon??

[AegisAvenger]

<img src="http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k160/ ... e1/2-3.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

I had some spare parts laying around my work bench and decided to group them all together and stare at them until I got an idea.

I set out to build a VERY simple marble rifle. After a few tests, I found that it worked great, and thought it would end there. It seemed like just a play toy, seeing as it was using a carbonated water bottle as an air chamber of all things.

Then I found I could launch an AA battery over 50 feet with ease, holding the launcher level even..

<img src="http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k160/ ... e1/3-3.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

So now I'm thinking that with an air chamber upgrade (or maybe not even) and a few clever add-ons plus a custom round I could make a grappling cannon!! Not a serious heavy duty one, but a working one for sure.


Here's what I'm tussling with and wanted to discuss:



1) I figure I can build either a Dart round with a guideline connected to it, and have a spool connected to the cannon. IF I build the dart round, would it be better to build a round that resembles a piston, with a nail on the front of it?? This would ensure that the round would leave the barrel with force, but I'm almost positive it would tumble.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to stabilize that without having to use fins like on an arrow??


2) Instead of a dart round, how about a magnetic round?? I realize that it would limit the types of objects and surfaces I could "grapple". But something about the possibility of having a remote controlled electromagnet on a guide line makes me happy for some reason.
If I chose to go this route.. how could I keep the magnet from shattering on impact?? And how in the world could I direct such an object through the air accurately?!


I will add to this as I go, and try to get a video in soon. But I figure I should start the discussion now so some of you geniuses out there can set me straight!!

Thanks!!


P.S. if you want to see a few more pics I have some on the front of my website/blog thing.


http://www.AegisAvenger.com

[covey12]

thats pretty cool, ive tried different things with my cannon like this, and a very easy thing you could do is mold a rubber bullet, with a magnet at the end. to do this find something that fits good in your barrel, like a AA batterie and wrap it in tinfoil, remove the batter and you should have a hollow tube, put your magnet on the bottom and fill it with hot glue, then stick a small stick in the back of the glue and let it cool. you will then have what looks like a lollipop kind of, on the end of the sticks, glue on some little fins of poster board.
also put the end of the sting in the glue
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[sputnick]

I think the magnetic round idea would not work, I would think they are far too fragile to be launched out of a marble cannon, you would just get a magnetic dust spray and no real connection.

As for something with just a spool attached, why not go with a harpoon gun approach? make a harpoon that extends beyond the muzzle of the gun, this also allows for there to be a larger GRAPPLING HOOK on the end of it, since there is no need to fit it in the barrel.

Then just place a spool or coil of rope in a container below it, and attach one end to the base of the head of the harpoon.

[rp181]

You can do a over under design, But put a tee. The bottom to the chamber/valve, side to barrel, and other side to a spool.

[twizi]

i agree with sputnick ps the harpoon way is so much easier

http://www.coolest-gadgets.com/20080214 ... y-reality/

[brplatz]

Here is mine
http://www.spudfiles.com/forums/harpoon-gun-t16033.html

[covey12]

I think the magnetic round idea would not work, I would think they are far too fragile to be launched out of a marble cannon, you would just get a magnetic dust spray and no real connection.

As for something with just a spool attached, why not go with a harpoon gun approach? make a harpoon that extends beyond the muzzle of the gun, this also allows for there to be a larger GRAPPLING HOOK on the end of it, since there is no need to fit it in the barrel.

Then just place a spool or coil of rope in a container below it, and attach one end to the base of the head of the harpoon.

i have made that exact dart i showed, just with no magnet and it works very well with my 3/4 inch cannon

[AegisAvenger]

Just wanted to do a teeny update!!

Last night I started making a round.

It is a depleted 12 gram C02 cartridge with a small brass hook installed into the pinhole on the cartridge. (the pinhole left in the cartridge after using it).

I've wrapped the other end with a bit of electrical tape (snugger fit), and fired it out of a pvc barrel very successfully at about 40 psi.

I'm trying to adapt my above cannon with the correct barrel size, but if that doesn't work out, I'll build a whole new gun, complete with a spindle that will hold (steel?) wire, attached to the round.

So far, I've tried attaching 30lb test fishing line to the round, but it snaps instantly every time I fire it!!

Will put up pictures and video once I've figure out the next part of the puzzle, which is what I'm going to use as the "grapple".

I'm toying with the idea of using a small carbide drill bit as a tip.

I fired one of those into a block of wood once and couldn't get it out haha.

Thanks for the replies!!

[Hotwired]

I get this impression you've got a large surplus of metal strips about 1" wide around the place

Also, about the fishing line, if you're trying to launch the projectile and the line has to be pulled off a reel which also has to turn... then yes it will snap every time. The reel just cannot spin up fast enough to feed the line when a dart going at a few hundred mph suddenly runs out of slack and yanks on the line.

If it was a harpoon and the line was already fairly tight between the reel and the attatchment point the reel would be spinning up as the harpoon accelerated out of the launcher so no problems.

[daxspudder]

regarding the line snapping, just hope that if it doesnt snap, that the reel works, cause if not youll likely be shooting yourself... From experience, test from behind cover...

[sputnick]

Well, I am working on a harpoon for my simple launcher, and I am just planning on having a roll of climbing rope coiled in such a way as to unroll from both sides and just go straight after a while.

I think I need to redo the hooks though, because since I was able to bend them into shape at the tips of the hooks, if I get a ledge that catches the tip of the hook instead of say, a pipe that catches inside the curve of the hook, I'm essentially screwed. So what type of material would you guys suggest? my last attempt was with steel rod about 7-8mm thick, would you suggest thicker stock or a different cross section? like say square or flat stock?

Anywho, maybe once the launcher is done I can start a thread, and not feel bad about hijacking this one

[AegisAvenger]

I'm going to try to get my hands on thin steel wire. My biggest problem right now is that the length of wire from the spool to the round inside the barrel is resulting in WAY too much slack. It tugs the wire way too hard, which snaps it.

I did this quick draw up to show you all what I'm doing right now.



I did two test firings yesterday straight up into the air and I literally lost one of the rounds because it flew SO high.

The next thing I want to figure out it what I should use for a "tip"
.. I wish I could put some sort of ampule on the end that would break on impact, and fill it with really sticky epoxy or something.

By the way... did I mention I'm using a Plastic Pellegrino bottle as an air tank?? 60 psi every time with no problem?? hahaha. (I'll eventually convert to a fire extinguisher tank when I build a serious version)

Thanks for all the input and concern!! And Sputnick no worries about hijacking, yours sounds pretty cool!!

[psycix]

Instead of rolling the wire on a roll, simply have it hang loosely on a pin, which points the same way as the barrel.
Then the wire can be pulled of more easily and faster, without having a roll to spin like crazy.
You can also put a bunch of wire in the barrel, in front of the projectile.

[covey12]

Just wanted to do a teeny update!!

Last night I started making a round.

It is a depleted 12 gram C02 cartridge with a small brass hook installed into the pinhole on the cartridge. (the pinhole left in the cartridge after using it).

I've wrapped the other end with a bit of electrical tape (snugger fit), and fired it out of a pvc barrel very successfully at about 40 psi.

I'm trying to adapt my above cannon with the correct barrel size, but if that doesn't work out, I'll build a whole new gun, complete with a spindle that will hold (steel?) wire, attached to the round.

So far, I've tried attaching 30lb test fishing line to the round, but it snaps instantly every time I fire it!!

Will put up pictures and video once I've figure out the next part of the puzzle, which is what I'm going to use as the "grapple".

I'm toying with the idea of using a small carbide drill bit as a tip.

I fired one of those into a block of wood once and couldn't get it out haha.

Thanks for the replies!!

dont use the regular fishing line, go to walmart or dicks and get some gorilla line, it is braided line that goes up to 120lb test, that should definitley hold up, and will unwind way better than steel

[Lentamentalisk]

Or, you can just use the handle of a fishing poll, with reel already attached. They use a very clever mechanism, that you can never hope to manufacture your self, so why not just take advantage of their handywork? There is a reason you don't go fishing with a roll of fishing line taped to a stick. I am talking of course about fly fishing. I don't know about the other poles, but I would assume they function the same way.