How to build a simple Plasma Rifle aka Electrothermal Rifle

Step 2 Construction tips

If the bb seems to just be rolling out or not even leaving the barrel, shorten the length of the pen till it shoots farthest.
Basically the whole point is to short circuit the capacitors across the steel wool inside of the barrel. For a low power cannon, the electrodes can simply be 2 wires stuck into the back of the barrel. Higher power cannons will require stronger construction techniques. Beyond a couple joules, wires cant really be used as the electrodes because they will begin to vaporize along with the steel wool. In a larger version i used 2 stainless steel rods approximately 3/16" thick. i ground the bottom of the rods to a nearly flat surface, then i drilled a 3/16" hole through a block of teflon that transects a .3" hole for the aluminum barrel. I sealed the breach with a lexan plate and a neoprene gasket. the 2 steel rods were inserted into their respective holes and were connected to 8 gauge copper wires running directly to the capacitor bank.

Comments

[TheDoci]

I trid to bould a bit mor powerful version of that and it dosent work it discharges the 200 µF 330V caps but it dosent vaporiz the steal wool. can you pleas help me? Its a cool project!!! But it dosent work for me :( it just dosent work so pleas help me!!!!!!!!!!!!

[hajaslan]

if i was you i would put a bit of flashh cotton infront of the wool so wen the wool heats up it ignites the flash cotton and that becomes your actual propoltation or watever u wana call it.. lol

[mattinator16]

try using aluminum.

[Hightechk]

or uranium/ plutonium lol
kidding

[luig]

actually that sounds like a great idea, both metals are chemically very reactive, however they are toxic and unless u have plans to poison the area u fire in, dont use it but still a good idea for extremes.