Oh this looks promising!

[Xavious]

For those that don't know, I love high tech weaponry (especially that found in sci-fi works), and this looks very promising. Known as the Gauss Rifle (Or Coil Gun, or Gauss Gun) it relies on electromagnetic energy to push the projectile down the barrel. Seemingly harmless at first, but this weapon can really pack a punch.

Here's a few interesting links I found showing what this weapon is capable and (to the dismay of those who know me) designs on how to build simple models.

http://www.wonkolabs.com/?page_id=22
http://www.thinkbotics.com/military.htm

Assuming I ever get to the point I focus some time into this project I'll post some pictures.

Edit: It never occurred to me that I forget to mention the code name of this project until now. Using my naming scheme of making names more complex than they need to be so I end up with a cool acronym, the current version of this project is the Electromagnetic Ferromagnetic Projectile Driver Mark II (E.F.P.D. Mk II)

[SilverStar]

Your purpose is those that do not know i love high tech weaponry especially that found in sci-fi works and this looks very promising.

[Alcatraz]

I didn't think it would be long before this tech was explored and researched. It does look promising, but I might hold off judgement until after Xav runs some field tests.

[SilverStar]

And why not?

[locksmyth]

Looks interesting. Let us know how it goes.

[SilverStar]

OK let's do know how it goes.

[tiamot]

Yep, I wanna see pics. As far as I'm concerned, building such things is an art form in and of itself!

[SilverStar]

I think I smell something wierd.

[wraith-sama]

Xav! I'll race you to complete one!

[SilverStar]

Congratulations.

[Alcatraz]

He hasn't won yet!

[SilverStar]

I get it. it has not won yet.

[cheater388]

One step closer to Half-Life 4.

[Xavious]

Well, well, well... nearly one year later and look whats finally happened







As seen in the pictures, I've got a 2foot piece of copper tubing, 1/2 inch diameter. The top picture shows the induction coil around he pipe. The coil is composed of stranded 24 gauge wire and has 28 turns around the pipe. In the bottom pic is a mock-up capacitor bank. Those are the capacitors I will be using but they are not wired yet.

The way this gun will work is that the capacitors will store a charge as current runs through the circuit. When there is a flow of electricity, the wires in a circuit will emit a small magnetic field. This particular circuit will be wired so that I can fully charge the capacitors while the inductor coil will not be part of a closed circuit. This can be achieved by using a switch so that the battery is left out of the closed circuit and the inductor coil is in a closed circuit. When the capacitors are fully charged I can flip a switch and that charge stored will suddenly be discharged through the inductor coil. This very large surge will create a relatively large magnetic force inside the barrel. Inside the barrel will be a ferro-magnetic projectile. Theoretically, the projectile should travel away from the magnetic field at relatively high speeds.

[Alkadual]

Theoretically, the projectile should travel away from the magnetic field at relatively high speeds.

The projectile will actually travel toward the center of the magnetic field. The field is kept on long enough to pull the projectile towards the center of the coil and then shuts off, ideally the coil will stay energized long enough for the projectile to reach the center of the coil before shutting off. Once the field shuts off there is nothing to stop the projectile from passing the center and flying out the other end of the coil.

You may want to look for a capacitor with a larger capacitance value. It would take up less physical space then a bank of caps connected in parallel.