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Well my friends and I bought some fireworks and set them off for fun but we thought that they didn't go high enough. So we decided to build something to make them go higher. What we came up with is an air cannon. We codenamed the project
Firework Automatic Intelligent Launcher (F.A.I.L)
The air cannon is operated by using pressurized air and a sprinkler valve as control. The purpose of the cannon is to give the firework and extra boost of height before it ignites and shoots itself.Here is a picture of the final air cannon.
Firework Automatic Intelligent Launcher (F.A.I.L)
The air cannon is operated by using pressurized air and a sprinkler valve as control. The purpose of the cannon is to give the firework and extra boost of height before it ignites and shoots itself.Here is a picture of the final air cannon.
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Signing UpStep 1Planning
Here is a plan of the air cannon. However due to the unavailability of some parts , we didn't use the exact same pieces shown here. The actual materials used are shown in the next step.
The cannon is composed of mainly 2 parts : The barrel and the air tanks. The barrel is made from and 5 feet long 2 inch abs plastic tube and some adapters to reduce one of it's end to 3/4 inch to be able to connect to the valve
The air tanks is made of 4 inch pvc tube and a t-connector. The t-connected is also connected to some adapters to reduce it to 3/4 inch. In our cannon we added an air gauge. However you don't really need it as most pumps have internal air gauge. Additionally, the extra air gauge in the cannon leads to more chances of air leaking. The less parts you have,the better.
The 2 parts are connected together by a sprinkler valve, which acts as the controller
The cannon is composed of mainly 2 parts : The barrel and the air tanks. The barrel is made from and 5 feet long 2 inch abs plastic tube and some adapters to reduce one of it's end to 3/4 inch to be able to connect to the valve
The air tanks is made of 4 inch pvc tube and a t-connector. The t-connected is also connected to some adapters to reduce it to 3/4 inch. In our cannon we added an air gauge. However you don't really need it as most pumps have internal air gauge. Additionally, the extra air gauge in the cannon leads to more chances of air leaking. The less parts you have,the better.
The 2 parts are connected together by a sprinkler valve, which acts as the controller
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Regarding improving the stabily of the firework:
- dispense with the rock at the bottom. The rock creates a new center of gravity that is off center and probably contribbutes to the spin problem.
- fins would prob work, but an easier solution to to attach a long streamer or streamers (cut from a garbage bag?) to the bottom end. This will have the same effect as fins, but much easier to do, and not as complicated at trying to get the fins matched in size and truly in line with the long axis of the firework.
Let us know if you do modifications.
Also, while nose cone is generally a good idea, it must be truly centered or it will contribute to the spin (tumbling) problem.
I would suggest simplifying: no nosecone, with streamers. If that works, add a nosecone to see the effect.
nicely done.
Also, while the nosecone is a good idea, make very sure it is truly centered on the firework. If not, would contribute to the spin ("tumbling") that you have observed..