My Paintball Mini-Gun Project

ditpaintball

Right, the paintball mini gun has been done before. Problems include loading the paint and having enough air.

Propane marker has been developed, but can not fire fast due to heat build up.

Combine the two. The original gatlin gun was designed to speed up loading of rounds, ejection of cases and reduce heat build up in barrels by alternating the barrel being used.

For my final year mechanical engineering project i plan to adopt the propane system and using forced convection caused by fans on the rotating barrels to cool the combustion chamber. I am aiming for 40bps. Limited by cycle rate of combustion chamber and loading speeds.

more info: http://www.irish-paintball.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=10719




*****************************************

Problem:
The Scenario Paintball Sector is lacking in a manageable heavy support weapon capable of high rates of fire which can be sustained. Power source ( Air) and ammo feeding (paint loading) being the main issues.

Solution:
A mechanical (not much electronics) paintball gatlin (minigun) with rotating barrel system. The marker must be able to be operated by one person and be able to shoot a case of paint before it needs to be stoped for air or paint.

1. Eliminate the need for HPA or C02 as a source of power. Tippmann have pioneered the use of Propane as a source of fuel to power paintball markers. I plan to use this in my project. I will be aiming for 10,000 shots before a refilling of fuel tank is needed.

Cons
Heat build up. True to one of the main reasons behind the invention of the gat-ling gun, the rotation barrel system was a way to aid in the cooling of the barrels and speed up the feeding and ejection system. The propane combustion system will build up heat during rapid firing and a system of fans on the rotating barrels will induce forced convection cooling of the combustion housing.

Pros
Fuel Efficienty. Where as normal markers are averaging out at 1000 shots per tank fill, i am aiming for a 10,000 shot capacity. Tippmann boost 50,000 with their current design.


2. Ammo Feeding
The innitial design will be for a rate of fire of 40ps. This is to cover the possibility of having to use one of the current fastest loader ( The pulse, 42bps) in cause of my 'Special loading' system is flawed. 40bps means that a case of paint will be shot in 50seconds.

Cons
High rates of fire will mean the need for large paintball storage area, either on marker or on players back.
Chopping will also be an issue with such high rates of loading. The 'Special Loading' system has a built in mechanical anti-chopping device. This ensures feeding of paintballs and takes out the need for electronic anti-chop eyes in the design.
High rates of fire will mean that the use of the marker will be limited. There is a serious risk of over kill and the chance of a players goggles being removed from their mask if hit 20 times in a second. Accuracy is not really a factor of the design how ever

Pros
It would be really cool!

Relevance to mechanical engineering?
Thermodynamics
The amount of heat generated with each shot will have to be calculated and upper limits will have to be assessed. One this is know, this will be the design limit and the amount of forced convection needed can be calculated. The calculations will be based on the amount of heat created by 2000 shots ( a case) in 50seconds. It will then have to be cooled in 60seconds (reloading time) and then start again.

Controls
Setting up the loading system, firing system and ignition system to work in perfect synchronization will be a challenge and probably the hardest part of the project.

Materials Mechanics
The selection of the right materials for strength, weight and thermal properties will be key. All while keeping costs down for the prototype stage.

Fluid Mechanics
A minor part of the project is studying how the paintball will travel down the barrel. This has already been well documented by other people and it not a key issue in this project. All paintballs travel down barrels the same for this project.

Computer modeling
Every component will be drawn and assembled in 3-D before the CNC machines get to work and create the parts needed.

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Ya thats about it. So any suggestions, then please. I have most of the mini gun videos from around the web already so no need to give me links to them.

kdouglas

sounds impressive, you seem to have it really well planned out, would love to see this in action when you get it running

ditpaintball

well it will be at least 9 months before you will see anything real I'm afraid. There will be drawings alright.

kdouglas

well good luck with it anyway, having just finished a fyp i can say it's an experience

o1s1n

Sounds amazing..just don't point the thing at me

liamo333

I am aiming for 40bps.

Wow! Dont paintballs cost like 5c each

Pros
It would be really cool!

LOL:D

How much are you expecting this to cost?

Rew

liamo333 wrote:

Wow! Dont paintballs cost like 5c each

Nah, there alot less when your not buying them from a playing field

ditpaintball

Ya a box of 2000 paintballs costs €30 for the cheap ones.

As for cost.........havent a clue. Since i am keeping it to be as much mechanical as i can and little electronics, i am willing to spend €500 on materials and then what ever labour charges I encour. But that is a rough rough guestimation.

Mark_Sc

im gona start paintballing again before this comes along

CrazyRabbit

In 9 months time, remind me not to play paintball against ditpaintball !

Really sounds cool. Hope if goes well for you.

o1s1n

Once that's completed it will have to be licensed won't it? Reckon you'll have any trouble in that regard?

CrazyRabbit

o1s1n wrote:

Once that's completed it will have to be licensed won't it? Reckon you'll have any trouble in that regard?

DIT : Hello Garda. I'd like a licence to use a mini-gun that fires 40 paintballs a seconds.
Garda : I see. And what are you going to use this for?
DIT: Oh, I'm going to shoot people for fun.
Garda : Wait here while I fetch my handcuffs.

o1s1n

CrazyRabbit wrote:

DIT : Hello Garda. I'd like a licence to use a mini-gun that fires 40 paintballs a seconds.
Garda : I see. And what are you going to use this for?
DIT: Oh, I'm going to shoot people for fun.
Garda : Wait here while I fetch my handcuffs.

:eek: :eek: :eek:

Browndoff

Anything over 600 rpm will just hit the same target too many times!! Fun - but TOO expensive in ammo! If the rate-of-fire is kept to a logical minimum then the cooling problem just goes away!!! Very few military machine-gun designers would WANT to exceed 700rpm. The modern Gatlin-gun was developed for aircraft - NOT for infantry - because of the high SPEED of travel of the aircraft PAST their targets!!! I'm an experienced Engineer and the key to solving problems is to AVOID those where there's little to gain - concentrate on a small and really PORTABLE fuelling system for a PRACTICAL rate-of-fire!

ditpaintball wrote:

Right, the paintball mini gun has been done before. Problems include loading the paint and having enough air.

Propane marker has been developed, but can not fire fast due to heat build up.

Combine the two. The original gatlin gun was designed to speed up loading of rounds, ejection of cases and reduce heat build up in barrels by alternating the barrel being used.

For my final year mechanical engineering project i plan to adopt the propane system and using forced convection caused by fans on the rotating barrels to cool the combustion chamber. I am aiming for 40bps. Limited by cycle rate of combustion chamber and loading speeds.

more info: http://www.irish-paintball.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=10719




*****************************************

Problem:
The Scenario Paintball Sector is lacking in a manageable heavy support weapon capable of high rates of fire which can be sustained. Power source ( Air) and ammo feeding (paint loading) being the main issues.

Solution:
A mechanical (not much electronics) paintball gatlin (minigun) with rotating barrel system. The marker must be able to be operated by one person and be able to shoot a case of paint before it needs to be stoped for air or paint.

1. Eliminate the need for HPA or C02 as a source of power. Tippmann have pioneered the use of Propane as a source of fuel to power paintball markers. I plan to use this in my project. I will be aiming for 10,000 shots before a refilling of fuel tank is needed.

Cons
Heat build up. True to one of the main reasons behind the invention of the gat-ling gun, the rotation barrel system was a way to aid in the cooling of the barrels and speed up the feeding and ejection system. The propane combustion system will build up heat during rapid firing and a system of fans on the rotating barrels will induce forced convection cooling of the combustion housing.

Pros
Fuel Efficienty. Where as normal markers are averaging out at 1000 shots per tank fill, i am aiming for a 10,000 shot capacity. Tippmann boost 50,000 with their current design.


2. Ammo Feeding
The innitial design will be for a rate of fire of 40ps. This is to cover the possibility of having to use one of the current fastest loader ( The pulse, 42bps) in cause of my 'Special loading' system is flawed. 40bps means that a case of paint will be shot in 50seconds.

Cons
High rates of fire will mean the need for large paintball storage area, either on marker or on players back.
Chopping will also be an issue with such high rates of loading. The 'Special Loading' system has a built in mechanical anti-chopping device. This ensures feeding of paintballs and takes out the need for electronic anti-chop eyes in the design.
High rates of fire will mean that the use of the marker will be limited. There is a serious risk of over kill and the chance of a players goggles being removed from their mask if hit 20 times in a second. Accuracy is not really a factor of the design how ever

Pros
It would be really cool!

Relevance to mechanical engineering?
Thermodynamics
The amount of heat generated with each shot will have to be calculated and upper limits will have to be assessed. One this is know, this will be the design limit and the amount of forced convection needed can be calculated. The calculations will be based on the amount of heat created by 2000 shots ( a case) in 50seconds. It will then have to be cooled in 60seconds (reloading time) and then start again.

Controls
Setting up the loading system, firing system and ignition system to work in perfect synchronization will be a challenge and probably the hardest part of the project.

Materials Mechanics
The selection of the right materials for strength, weight and thermal properties will be key. All while keeping costs down for the prototype stage.

Fluid Mechanics
A minor part of the project is studying how the paintball will travel down the barrel. This has already been well documented by other people and it not a key issue in this project. All paintballs travel down barrels the same for this project.

Computer modeling
Every component will be drawn and assembled in 3-D before the CNC machines get to work and create the parts needed.

**************************************************************************



Ya thats about it. So any suggestions, then please. I have most of the mini gun videos from around the web already so no need to give me links to them.

ED E

Well, he could strafe a huge area with one hefty swing. Also, I'm guessing that would be maximium speed right? The when he begins firing it will be slower wont it?

liamo333

Browndoff wrote:

Anything over 600 rpm will just hit the same target too many times!! Fun - but TOO expensive in ammo! If the rate-of-fire is kept to a logical minimum then the cooling problem just goes away!!! Very few military machine-gun designers would WANT to exceed 700rpm. The modern Gatlin-gun was developed for aircraft - NOT for infantry - because of the high SPEED of travel of the aircraft PAST their targets!!! I'm an experienced Engineer and the key to solving problems is to AVOID those where there's little to gain - concentrate on a small and really PORTABLE fuelling system for a PRACTICAL rate-of-fire!

I dont think he is doing this for serious paintballing though i may be wrong. I think he is doing it for:

For my final year mechanical engineering project i plan to adopt the propane system and using forced convection caused by fans on the rotating barrels to cool the combustion chamber. I am aiming for 40bps. Limited by cycle rate of combustion chamber and loading speeds.

and

Pros
It would be really cool!

Wossack

geez, just had another read of this... combustion chamber? didnt think you were going to be igniting the propane! suddenly got a whole lot more interesting... how long have you got? would have thought its far too complex for a final year project though...

ditpaintball

Browndoff, 600rpm. More like 300rpm would be the max speed.

40 bps / 8 barrels = 5 revolutions per second or 300rpm.

Yes Modern day mini guns were originally designed for aircraft such as the A-10 thunder bolt. It my brief i identify my problem as the need for a heavy support weapon i.e. heavy machine gun. 40bps is just above a tournament grade marker as it is which would pump out 30bps full auto.

Either way, 40bps for this propane system may be a little over ambitious. (yes ignite the propane, see propane marker here http://tippmann.com/forum/wwf77a/forum_posts.asp?TID=152092&KW=c%2D3).

Take a 4 cylinder car engine at 3000rpm. That is only 15 cycles a second per cylinder, and i am trying to get 40. So i may have to have a firing mechanism in each barrel or just reduce the speed of the whole marker to suite the single firing mechanism.

The original propane marker, Tippmann C-3
You tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAo18LKNd0w

liamo333 wrote:

I dont think he is doing this for serious paintballing though i may be wrong. I think he is doing it for:

and

Correct. Full automatic is illegal in most paintball fields anyway. As for the cost of ammo, for testing i would be using re-balls (re usable paintballs) so that will keep costs down.

And for the gardi, i would seek a license for it, IF it worked.

tonyj_mc

wheather or not it is illegal to use, the idea is a bloody good one, fingers crossed you can get it working