The $0 Coil Gun

We've all been there, you see something cool online, you want to figure out how is done but no one seems to want to help you. So you look up videos on Youtube and all that you find are even better and even military grade coil guns. http://blip.tv/file/3059790 But nothing that's really going to help you with your project or your simple coil gun. So finally if you're like me, you come to Instructables.com where you pretty much find everything you want in a simple search. This is my attempt at teaching you a basic simple to do, Coil Gun Hope ya'll like it. Bellow is a video of the whole process, if you don't feel like watching the video and want to get started on the Instructable instead, go to the next slide Either Way Have Fun :)

Step 1: Supplies

You really don't need much for this project, and it really cost about $5.00

You will need to find a disposable camera, any type of camera works. Usually if you go Walgreens and ask for a recycled camera that you will be using for a project they give you some for free. In the video you see us go through 50 cameras that we get for free from Walgreens. The more capacitors that you have, the stronger your coil gun will work so keep that in mind.

Next you need to find a plastic tubing, anything that is not conductive. A pen tube works best for this type of project. But youre looking for anything that is non-conductive.

Also you need to buy magnetic enamel coated copper wire. This will conduct the electricity to the tube.

And lastly you will need a Button Switch

and a Battery :) And that's about it :)

Comments

[kingpudge]

Do u have to use duck tape

[ihaveguitarskills!]

also, do you charge the gun?

[ihaveguitarskills!]

what are the full risks of making this. if im accidentaly electrocuted, wut are the outcomes( will i end up in a hospital). and finally wut voltage should i use.

[willyofspace]

ok so i followed this ible to the wire (well expect the wire its 24gauge does that change anything? lol) i have my circuit board all rigged up to a coil around a pen tube with duct tape which goes to a switch and the switch goes back to the capacitator (sorry if its confusing). I know the circuit board is fine because i have shocked myself multiple times, but the electricity wont flow through the wires :(

Help PLEASE!!

[theexpert]

i know it has been a long time but make sure the actual button on the circuit has been pressed

[tallen14]

Is it possible to use a light switch instead of a button?

[HM-Innovations]

yes sir :)

[tynow]

do u need all the circutry from the camera, or just the capacitor? i have a computer i took apart and there is all sorts of capacitors on that, what voltage do you need for this? what batteries? im full of questions

[theexpert]

none matter all you need is transformers and then captitors on the other end so if you wired it battery switch transformer capatitor switch coil it would work

[tynow]

what would the transformer look like?

[theexpert]

the transformer is the little brick looking thing next to the led that lights up once the flash is charged that is manly what makes a double a battery charge a 330v captitor

[bhuty]

does the led on the circuit come on when its ready to fire?

[theexpert]

yes

[bhuty]

is it possible to take the LED off and reattach with wires so the circuit board and the LED were in two locations, for example on the rifle the circuit board was in the stock and the LED was at the front?

[theexpert]

yes it is

[theexpert]

i made this and is worked but later i tryed to make it into a box and use a 9 volt battery and for some reason it wont work is it the 9 volt battery? the circut has worked before

[HM-Innovations]

the 9v current is probably to high for the circuits and you probably blew the capacitor on the small camera charger.

[theexpert]

ok thank you that really helps ill post a picture of it once i get it working

[imillspaugh]

Okay, so I got mine all built, and I was wondering, when you only use one camera, How far is it supposed to shoot? Because mine Just has an occasional spark, and moves a centimeter at a time.....

[theexpert]

that will happen if you use one camera you should probly use about five i did and it shot it about 5 feet at a height of 2 1/2 feet high

[kschmidt2]

nice tut, very informative, a wiring diagram would also be useful.

[simpo067]

Safety tip chaps!!
After initially discharging the capacitor short the connections together to prevent the charge building up again, keep it this way until you are ready to connect it into your new circuit. Whilst this charge won't be as big as normal it can still come as a shock (pun intended) dependant on the Faradic value of the capacitor.

[tynow]

(pun intended) lol

[Emsaid]

would it matter if the capacitors were different voltage?

[glouphrie]

do you use the camera charging circuit to charge the capacitors? if so how long does it take? and if not, how are you charging them?

[HM-Innovations]

Yes, about 10 minutes

[bears0]

don't touch the things you put the meter on otherwise you will get a nasty shock.

[Maxaxle]

Nice and simple.

[theexpert]

i don't know why im posting it here and ill probably post a question on this two can i take wire and run current into it with nothing at the other end and it store electricity

[HM-Innovations]

No, you need to have a Capacitor. or a battery

[theexpert]

i see the logic in that but im was just thinking if electricity enters and then cant exit i feel ike it would stay in the wire

[HM-Innovations]

nah, it exits the wire any way possible.

[theexpert]

oh and one thing is you may want to add some pics of the finished board and connections since i had a hard time finding it out

[Emsaid]

so the tube doesnt have to be metal?

[whiskymonster]

a steel barrel wont work at all.
aluminium, copper, brass, anything non magnetic will work, but it bleeds away your magnetic flux, and seriously drops your efficiency, maybe 50% or more.
find a nice peice of plastic tube, it works gooood!

[Pale_Flyer]

DO NOT MAKE IT METAL!

[theexpert]

it can be metal just not magnetic because if it is magnetic it will destroy anything electronic with the radius of idk but probably a cellphone in a pocket that's why i always keep computer etc etc in a rubber coated box if its near my station plus its metal in the middle taking the magnetic charge but certainly keep electronics away from this mini emp is the tube is magnetic

[Pale_Flyer]

i said not to make it metal, because then the coil will want to either a.) grab an end of the tube, or b.) center the tube in the coil. and put the coil a little furthur up the tube so the projecile will actually be pulled for the full duration. as it is in this, the coil will reach full magenetic potential right about when the projectile will be entering the coil. which is too late, b/c the projecile will actually be slowed down by the coil after it passes through b/c the magnetic energy is not instant off/on.off. there is some "warm up" and "cool down" while the charge builds, and disipates. actually, a peice of iron tube in between the coil and the "barrel" may increase the energy of the projectile a bit as well.

[theexpert]

well as i said before you wont have this problem if it is non magnetic

[ishmal1103]

I've made all the correct connections and set everything up. When I hit the charge button, I don't hear a humming sound. And when I press the switch nothing happens