Search found 1297 matches

by Insomniac
Thu Nov 08, 2012 1:00 am
Forum: Off-Topic Hobbies
Topic: Political Compass Test
Replies: 31
Views: 9431

Political Compass Test

Just thought I'd do a little experiment... Another forum I frequent had a topic where people were posting where they sat on the 'political compass'. It's a short online quiz which tries to plot your political stances on an XY plane. Remarkably, nearly everyone was landing in the same spot. So I got ...
by Insomniac
Fri Oct 26, 2012 10:33 pm
Forum: Hybrid Cannons
Topic: [Pictures] Why a PVC hybrid is a bad idea
Replies: 26
Views: 7679

I have HGDT It said I would have a peak pressure of 185 psi... Pipe was schedule 80 (the thick stuff) PVC I don't know what dwv is but this was pressure rated stuff. from some engineering charts I read 4" schedule 80 is good for 1100 psi burst pressure and 200 psi working pressure. I presumed this ...
by Insomniac
Tue Oct 09, 2012 1:10 am
Forum: Off-Topic Hobbies
Topic: Flight Simulators.
Replies: 7
Views: 4363

I remember playing the old Falcon 4.0 (What FreeFalcon and the likes are based on) and it was quite realistic. You couldn't flip every switch, but there there were plenty you could. Landings were tough and refuelling was a nightmare if you hadn't practiced a lot. If FreeFalcon's as good then I imagi...
by Insomniac
Sat Oct 06, 2012 10:26 pm
Forum: Off-Topic Hobbies
Topic: Where is the spud files iPhone app?
Replies: 20
Views: 4579

D_Hall, that may have been a little blunt given his post count... @*##*: This is a site basically driven by the community, so contributions and tools (such as the Wiki, GGDT, HGGDT etc) are created by the users who want them. D_Hall is the one behind GGDT and HGGDT. So if you want them on your phone...
by Insomniac
Sun Sep 30, 2012 5:25 am
Forum: General How-To & Discussion
Topic: CD launcher
Replies: 15
Views: 4579

I think a mechanical launcher would be better than a pneumatic one. Or a mechanical mechanism powered by a pneumatic cylinder.

An even more obvious solution is a pair of spinning wheels, similar to the Mythbuster's card throwing machine.
by Insomniac
Sat Sep 29, 2012 6:45 am
Forum: General How-To & Discussion
Topic: CD launcher
Replies: 15
Views: 4579

You'd need an exceptionally high pressure to get decent performance. You've got a lot of surface area which will be contributing to friciton, and very little which will contribute to the launch. Some sort of sabot would be wise.
by Insomniac
Sat Sep 15, 2012 3:21 am
Forum: Off-Topic Hobbies
Topic: Sounding Rocket Experiments
Replies: 5
Views: 2007

This may be a completely ignorant/stupid idea (I just thought of it while answering Nature's call. :wink: )... But how about using cyclonic separation to collect atmospheric dust? Something along the lines of a Dyson bagless vacuum cleaner, but using ram air from the atmosphere instead of a mechanic...
by Insomniac
Mon Apr 30, 2012 8:14 am
Forum: General How-To & Discussion
Topic: Hybridly Formed Penetrator
Replies: 25
Views: 4484

I think to get even close to this working with a hybrid, you'd need a very thin sheet and some form of conical barrel to slowly form the penetrator. I'm thinking, put a plastic burst disc behind a very ductile metal disc (maybe with a small amount of buffer material between them), then a conical bar...
by Insomniac
Sun Apr 22, 2012 3:51 am
Forum: Ammo & Parts
Topic: Long Range Ammo idea
Replies: 33
Views: 8995

True. A conventional layout WOULD work, but I can't help thinking that an annular wing would be much easier to get flying well. But these are all guesstimates pulled out of my arse, so I could well be wrong.
by Insomniac
Sat Apr 21, 2012 10:25 pm
Forum: Ammo & Parts
Topic: Long Range Ammo idea
Replies: 33
Views: 8995

When you say 'catapult gliders', do you mean ones that are launched to apogee with the wings folded, then glide to earth? That's a bit of a different situation than we have here, as the slow glide speed of your gliders means that the wings and surfaces don't need to be as solidly attached when in th...
by Insomniac
Fri Apr 20, 2012 2:03 am
Forum: Ammo & Parts
Topic: Long Range Ammo idea
Replies: 33
Views: 8995

Yeah. The problem I see with a passive glider design, is that it will likely turn, loop or roll unless *very* well designed and trimmed. At high speeds, any folding wing will have to be very well engineered to reduce stress. Trimming it for level flight at high speed will also require a bit of trial...
by Insomniac
Thu Apr 19, 2012 11:34 pm
Forum: Ammo & Parts
Topic: Long Range Ammo idea
Replies: 33
Views: 8995

I think you are approaching this slightly the wrong way. We all know how to create a stable dart, as it is quite aerodynamically simple. Get the CG a good distance in front of the CP, and it'll fly straight. Seeing as this is an aerofoil based design, I think this approach is doomed to fail. I think...
by Insomniac
Sun Mar 18, 2012 5:55 am
Forum: Ammo & Parts
Topic: The Offcial Machinist Thread: Revised 01/04/2014
Replies: 1097
Views: 309761

Yes, all drain cleaners I've ever seen are NaOH. Some oven cleaners are as well, though there are 'non-caustic' types which do not contain it.
by Insomniac
Fri Mar 16, 2012 12:38 am
Forum: General How-To & Discussion
Topic: Is your spud gun visible from space?
Replies: 32
Views: 6292

Just a note, in the video description it should be "its" and not "it's". And re-watching the video... I'm blown away that the bright flash is just from the sabot hitting the catcher. I was sure it was muzzle blast upon first watching it, and completely missed the fact it starts after the muzzle brak...
by Insomniac
Thu Mar 15, 2012 4:11 am
Forum: Pneumatic Cannons
Topic: Squash Ball Piston?
Replies: 10
Views: 2867

They are hollow. I get the feeling it will deform and attempt to squeeze into the barrel.