There is a good simulation program called HGDT that you can download here that can help you optimize your design.Goodtimes42 wrote: Wed Jun 28, 2023 5:47 pmI'm making a maap gas powered cannon that will shoot 2.6" 12 oz. projectiles (soda cans) . I'm trying to figure out the optimal, most efficient barrel length. Do you know how I could figure that out? Also, I'm wondering what the optimal barrel diameter to chamber diameter ratio is. I could only find volume ratios in my searches.
Seeking Expert Design Optimization Guidance
- jackssmirkingrevenge
- Five Star General

- Posts: 26219
- Joined: Thu Mar 15, 2007 11:28 pm
- Has thanked: 581 times
- Been thanked: 347 times
hectmarr wrote:You have to make many weapons, because this field is long and short life
-
Goodtimes42
- Private


- Posts: 3
- Joined: Wed Jun 28, 2023 5:25 pm
- Been thanked: 1 time
Hello Gents,
I am relatively new to this forum and I would really appreciate any guidance you guys may have regarding optimizing my design. The goal of this project is to launch soda cans (2.6" OD /weight: 13 OZ) at the greatest velocity possible. I have been using the HGDT calculator and I think I have come up with some pretty good dimensions for my build. I'm still unsure about a few aspects of the calculator so I would really appreciate it if you could take a look at the attached screen shot and or the HDT file in the zip folder and provide any possible improvement suggestions.
Aspects of calculator that I'm unsure of
- Disk Failure: This is not a hybrid design so i set the disc failure pressure to 0.
- Friction: I wasn't sure what to put in here. Can OD: 2.6" Barrel ID: 2.63"
Thank you in advance. Take care and have yourselves a great day.
I am relatively new to this forum and I would really appreciate any guidance you guys may have regarding optimizing my design. The goal of this project is to launch soda cans (2.6" OD /weight: 13 OZ) at the greatest velocity possible. I have been using the HGDT calculator and I think I have come up with some pretty good dimensions for my build. I'm still unsure about a few aspects of the calculator so I would really appreciate it if you could take a look at the attached screen shot and or the HDT file in the zip folder and provide any possible improvement suggestions.
Aspects of calculator that I'm unsure of
- Disk Failure: This is not a hybrid design so i set the disc failure pressure to 0.
- Friction: I wasn't sure what to put in here. Can OD: 2.6" Barrel ID: 2.63"
Thank you in advance. Take care and have yourselves a great day.
- Attachments
-
- HGDT_Setup Screenshot.PNG (27.03 KiB) Viewed 26014 times
-
HGDT_HDT File.zip- (313 Bytes) Downloaded 636 times
- jackssmirkingrevenge
- Five Star General

- Posts: 26219
- Joined: Thu Mar 15, 2007 11:28 pm
- Has thanked: 581 times
- Been thanked: 347 times
This is correct, also unless you are installing a chamber fan, you can set Chamber Fan Data to zero as well.Goodtimes42 wrote: Sat Jul 01, 2023 6:41 pm- Disk Failure: This is not a hybrid design so i set the disc failure pressure to 0.
If the can diameter is smaller than the barrel OD you can put 1Friction: I wasn't sure what to put in here. Can OD: 2.6" Barrel ID: 2.63"
For Ign Num unless you have multiple spark gaps put 1
Otherwise it looks good!
hectmarr wrote:You have to make many weapons, because this field is long and short life
Create an account or sign in to join the discussion
You need to be a member in order to post a reply
Create an account
Not a member? register to join our community
Members can start their own topics & subscribe to topics
It’s free and only takes a minute
Sign in
-
- Similar Topics
- Replies
- Views
- Last post
-
- 10 Replies
- 2135 Views
-
Last post by c9d
-
- 10 Replies
- 6916 Views
-
Last post by Spud33
-
- 4 Replies
- 1071 Views
-
Last post by Davidvaini
-
- 1 Replies
- 741 Views
-
Last post by A-98
-
- 2 Replies
- 1063 Views
-
Last post by boilingleadbath


