Nerf Vulcan Modification Project

 by Zinventor
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In this Instructable, I will be documenting the modifications I make to my new NERF Vulcan EBF - 25 fully automatic Nerf gun.

Many of these modifications are NOT REVERSIBLE , and, if done wrong, will result in irreparable damage to the gun.

Also, i know it's kind of obvious, but performing ANY of these modifications will immediately void the warranty, so don't complain that the store refused to take beck your broken gun! - Note, Some people have commented that Wallmart took back their broken guns after failed mods. THIS IS NOT NORMAL! Toy companies do not follow the maker's creed of "If you can't open it, you don't own it!"

I will also point out key parts that I think should be made of metal, along with CAD drawings of said parts.

All the images in this instructable are available in high quality (so you can actually see what I'm talking about). Just click the boxed "i" in the top left of the image, and click "Original File"!

And, as always, wear safety glasses when playing with modified NERF guns, the darts won't have much of a problem giving you a black eye!

DO NOT MOD A NERF GUN WITH BATTERIES IN IT! 9 volts isn't a lot, until you add current!

The steps are numbered in the following manner:

M # P #, Name
meaning: Mod # Part #, Name (if first part)

Like what you see? Flattr me! http://flattr.com/thing/181861/Nerf-Vulcan-Modification-Project
 
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Step 1: Pre Mod Stats

Here are the stats on the gun, Pre-Mod:

Flight Distance:
Averages:
Initial 50.27777778'
Bounce 5.861111111'
Total 56.13888889'

Looking at these numbers, the gun did really well pre-mod, better than any other Nerf gun I've used.


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waffleman2.0 says: Aug 24, 2011. 9:50 AM
I have a used vulcan, and it isnt shooting as far as it is supposed to. Will changing the batteries help? Thanks
Zinventor (author) in reply to waffleman2.0Aug 5, 2012. 10:45 AM
Wow it's been a while since i've logged on, sorry, but yes, replacing batteries will help a lot on firing speed.

Distance won't change, since regardless of speed it's still pulling the bolt back the same ammount, but at some point the motor won't be able to get the bolt all the way back. Try putting in new batteries and it should work better!
melder3 says: Apr 28, 2012. 5:34 AM
A much easier and cleaner way of doing this is to use a small pair of wire cutters and simply snip the pieces of plastic holding the pegs in place. Two quick snips on each peg and you are done. It took me less than 5 minutes to remove all of the ones from my belt.
GASSYPOOTS says: Mar 23, 2012. 1:53 PM
can u do it with stampede?
Da Nerf Beast says: Jan 23, 2012. 7:01 AM
Cool Mod! I did not take the AR out of mine I actually Modded it to run on a
9.6 Volt RC Battery And it worked really well! So I got a new Vulcan and I thinl i am going to Take out all the AR's then mod it to run on a RC Battery? Sounds Legit right?
Lightning1287 says: Dec 10, 2011. 11:27 AM
So, I have a Vulcan, and it's NOT that easy to take off the feed cover. I took out the two hinges screws and it wouldn't come off. Is there something special needed? Because something is holding both sides in.
ashrat in reply to Lightning1287Dec 17, 2011. 8:54 PM
Yes there is a round orange bit which the screw is inside (both sides).

I attached a picture below, if you haven't got it yet (I know its been a week since you posted).

I used a Phillips screw driver and just lifted it upwards.
belt1.jpg
Lightning1287 in reply to ashratDec 22, 2011. 11:05 AM
Thanks
waffleman2.0 says: Aug 24, 2011. 9:51 AM
It isnt shoot as far And fast as it i supposed to.
Legoman200119 says: Jul 28, 2011. 3:12 PM
Im going to buy two slightly used nerf vulcans from a friend, can you reverse the polarity of on of the belt motors and do some cosmetic changes to make one of the guns belt feed from the opposite direction and still work.
Lego
Zinventor (author) in reply to Legoman200119Jul 29, 2011. 3:12 PM
Sadly that won't work... The firing mechanism works by reciprocating motion, and the belt advance will only work in the correct direction. I ruined my first Vulcan when the belt got pulled backwards, and broke the ratchet mechanism...
MasterDraco in reply to Legoman200119Jul 29, 2011. 2:07 PM
That would probably reverse the entire firing mechanism, so it would feed backwards but it wouldn't fire.
Zinventor (author) in reply to MasterDracoAug 5, 2012. 10:47 AM
sadly no, the feed mechanism is a One Way ratchet that works by pulling an angled lever past teeth on the belt holder, regardless of which way the motor turns, that part will still pull the belt in the same direction.
jedijaxson in reply to MasterDracoAug 6, 2011. 6:49 PM
Lol MasterDraco, your avatar is from a movie I watched :D I liked that movie!
zcbaker in reply to jedijaxsonSep 5, 2011. 12:43 PM
I agree. I am hoping for a sequel, maybe that giant dragon didn't actually die for a possibility.
jedijaxson in reply to zcbakerSep 6, 2011. 8:32 AM
Ya... that'll be cool (And the dragons are still pets?)!
zcbaker in reply to jedijaxsonSep 8, 2011. 8:11 PM
Not trying to be rude but that's kind of a DUH!! thing.
jedijaxson in reply to zcbakerSep 18, 2011. 5:18 PM
Lol... of course they will be pets XD
zcbaker in reply to jedijaxsonSep 18, 2011. 6:50 PM
I just thought of something, what if one of the dragons gained the ability to speak? What do you think?
MasterDraco in reply to zcbakerOct 19, 2011. 4:15 AM
Lol, haven't I?
cleage001 says: Nov 13, 2010. 2:12 PM
how can i get the piston disassembled? dad said that solvent ruins plastic and hot water might work
cleage001 in reply to cleage001Nov 25, 2010. 2:20 PM
edit: i dont wanna do it anymore and ruined auto-blasting. i wanna fix it!!!
Pizzapie500 in reply to cleage001Nov 30, 2010. 10:52 AM
That happened to me to. Put the air restrictor back in.
cleage001 in reply to Pizzapie500Jan 2, 2011. 10:52 AM
i didn't even managed to get it out! i tried putting the piston back in but it just makes a noise like "vrrrrrrrrrboomvrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrboom" but does not blast! it's a machine gun and not a sniper rifle! i wanna mow down enemies!
Pizzapie500 in reply to cleage001Jan 2, 2011. 3:47 PM
??? I don't understand
cleage001 in reply to Pizzapie500Jan 4, 2011. 8:20 AM
it makes the original noise, but the follower wheel does not pull the belt, nor does it fire...
Pizzapie500 in reply to cleage001Jan 4, 2011. 1:44 PM
Hmm, maybe you screwed it too tight?
Maybe you wired it wrong so that the wire is stopping the wheel from moving?
cleage001 in reply to Pizzapie500Jan 7, 2011. 9:32 AM
Oh. my. god. That makes all sense! Thanks a lot. I'm just 13 and wasn't able to think through it.
zchieco in reply to cleage001Jun 13, 2011. 4:32 PM
Hey what happened with yours? I'm having the same problem
cleage001 in reply to zchiecoJun 14, 2011. 9:04 AM
a wire was stuck and the electric current wasn't flowing
cproo12 in reply to cleage001May 22, 2011. 7:34 AM
dude im only TEN and i could think it through.
aj0my0lizard in reply to cleage001Feb 28, 2011. 7:10 PM
OOOOOKKKKAAAAYYY
nbagf says: Jun 13, 2011. 3:07 PM
found a motor that would be almost perfect for an upgrade :)  http://www.allelectronics.com/make-a-store/item/DCM-345/12-24_VDC_MOTOR/-/1.html
Eoxan says: Apr 8, 2011. 2:53 AM
my piston wont open. i have taken the screws out and tryed levering it out but it wont budge.
lwilton651 says: Dec 21, 2009. 3:59 PM
awesome project  i just though id imput some wisdom.

motor

The stock motor is 32mm long, 27.6mm in diameter, and has a shaft diameter of 2.4mm.
To replace the motor with a better one u need  the size of it.
380 size is generally 28mm dia. 35-40mm length.
while 370 is 24mm dia. 35-40mm length.

gears

to strengthen the gearing and things use delrin. delrin is a composite plastic that is stronger than average placic without being to heavy.

batteries
ni-mh are probably the best choice of battery for this you can get them for rc cars. Li-po is the other option it is lighter and more powerful, but it is much more expensive and can explode if u dont use it right.

All the things listed are designed for application with rc vehicles.
Zinventor (author) in reply to lwilton651Dec 23, 2009. 10:15 PM
Thanks!

do not have access to any delrin, but i do have a good amount of steel, and am quire proficient on a mill i have made at least a dozen gears for various projects without using a tooth-cutter... its tricky, but possible.

i also have some old laptop batteries... (lipo) that should work quite nicely.

-Z
taowyman in reply to ZinventorApr 1, 2011. 2:09 PM
hey what do you think is the hardest nerf gun to mod is
travis_bickle in reply to ZinventorNov 22, 2010. 10:26 AM
old laptop batteries are lithium-ion, not lipo :)
Zinventor (author) in reply to travis_bickleNov 22, 2010. 11:08 AM
Correction: SOME old laptop batteries ale Li-Ion, SOME are Li-Polymer... the ones that was planning on using were Li-Poly... However, I've kinda abandoned the project for now, as I'm in college and have limited time...
frc robotics in reply to ZinventorNov 11, 2010. 8:16 PM
my dad and i have been unable to make nice gears using a cnc mill. could you tell me how you do it?
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