Mythbuster Air Cannons

[mark.f]

Yes, I know they've built them already.

Looking through the sneak-peak photos for next season of Mythbusters, and saw the photo below.

Can't really tell what type of valve they use, but the shop air hoses obviously give away the general fact.

Coaxial maybe?

[Gun Freak]

Looks like there could be a spring loaded ball valve on it.

[mark.f]

Actually, if you look really closely, it looks like the bottom side of of a sprinkler valve, which the hidden compartment seems to suggest (room for the pilot).

Don't know though. It seems that after how far we've come in terms of bandwidth, people still post photos 640x480 or less.

[clemsonguy1125]

Definatly a sprinkler valve, looks like possibly a switch as a trigger with electronics concealed.

[mark.f]

Guess I'll have to start watching again. That looks suspiciously like DWV towards the rear as well.

[Technician1002]

Too bad they keep building air cannons with no proper air chamber and a fast high flow valve. Maybe someone should introduce them to this site.

A couple of years ago, they did make one decent cannon using a commercial valve and chamber from Martin Engineering. I think that one was used to launch a car.

[mark.f]

They certainly have the equipment to do amazing things, there's just no demand for it.

[saefroch]

Don't know though. It seems that after how far we've come in terms of bandwidth, people still post photos 640x480 or less.

Last time I tried to post a high-resolution photo, I got complaints from users that it took too long to load (which is very true, especially when there are multiple pictures on a page).

I think the reason they don't have QDV cannons or even piston valves is because they don't see the performance benefit as worth the extra cost to build, since they can probably just crank up the pressure to compensate, without paying for parts and labor.

[mark.f]

If you use the uploader, the server generates a smaller view from your larger photo.

You can also do it with tinypic by appending _th to your file name (before the extension) to load a thumbnail.

[Hotwired]

It's a sprinkler valve, you can see the necking in of the space between the two connections for chamber and barrel and its the right size for a sprinkler.

What it's triggered by is likely to be electronic since pneumatic triggering requires modding and is of no apparent use in this scenario - appears to be a basket of corks there...

I doubt they'll be using any significant pressure either for the same reason.

[jor2daje]

I think that picture is actually from the "slap sense into someowhen episode when they test hand eye coordination to see how effective slapping someone is at making them recover from shock. if I remember the guns where not terribly impressive when firing the corks that they loaded them with. I'll try to find the episode and watch it again cause its been a while.

edit: quick google showed the episode is called "Operation Valkyrie" if anyone wants to check it out.

[boyntonstu]

I think that picture is actually from the "slap sense into someowhen episode when they test hand eye coordination to see how effective slapping someone is at making them recover from shock. if I remember the guns where not terribly impressive when firing the corks that they loaded them with. I'll try to find the episode and watch it again cause its been a while.

edit: quick google showed the episode is called "Operation Valkyrie" if anyone wants to check it out.

"...how effective slapping someone is at making them recover from shock."

Be careful, be very careful on Spudfiles.

Rules and Mods!

You don't see my cork comment, do you?


It was against the 'rules".

Rule#2: Discussion of shooting anything at any person and/or animal is prohibited, and may result in a permanent banning of your account.
a.The exception to this rule is for proper use of legal airsoft and/or paintball markers.

It had more to do with then just a cork!

Edited by jrrdw.

[jor2daje]

They slapped the presenters then had them attempt to shoot targets with a those cork guns. If they hit more targets after being slapped then their coordination was better.

[boyntonstu]

They slapped the presenters then had them attempt to shoot targets with a those cork guns. If they hit more targets after being slapped then their coordination was better.

Were they slap happy?

[Labtecpower]

@the Mythbusters cannons:

The guns and cannons they have made (without explosives) are very unimpressive. With such a nice machine shop you would expect a lot more

Edited by jrrdw.