T-shirt Launcher
 

Hey guys so basically this is the year our team wants to go from meh to great. Our first objective was naturally sponors. We had 0 sponsors in the beginning of the season and now we have 4. The unforunate thing is we have money now but we need mentors and sponsors with machining facilities ad stuff of that nature.

So to attract those kind of sponsors we need to make something cool and something that can be used for event. We are also sponsored by cablevision now which owns madison square garden. Sooooo naturally t-shirt cannon is the idea that comes to mind.

we have a drive train from I think 2010 that we are going to outfit with the new control system or just redo the wiring. Its just a standard kop chassi which is fine. The issue is the cannon itself.

I saw a thread a while back with someone saying they would give a parts list. we have a bit of phenumatic experience and have supplies its just the speciallty stuff and how it works.

It also cant completely break the bank. We have some money (1,100) and we were going to spend it all on supplies but we can get away with 750 in supplies leaving $350 for parts for the t-shirt cannon.

thanks - Sam

Re: T-shirt Launcher
 

You can make a really cheap and easy setup using a sprinkler valve. That's what we've been doing since we first built a t-shirt cannon. Basically you would store compressed air in a tank and then run a house to a sprinkler valve which would be attached to the back end of the barrel. The valve is triggered electrically.

Re: T-shirt Launcher
 

Whatever you end up building, please only use parts rated for AIR pressure. This means no PVC pipe or lawn sprinkler valves.

Re: T-shirt Launcher
 

have you had any issues with it breaking as I see mixed reviews already. Also ive hear pvc could be dangerous so what do you recommend as the barrel.

Would the setup be Compressor, storage tank (probally something cheap and dirty from harbor freight, and then to the sprinkler valve.

Or would it be pump large storage tank solenoid to regular storage tank..

Sorry for being such a noob just want to make sure I know what to do myself before I design and lead the build.

Re: T-shirt Launcher
 

We built a t-shirt cannon last season to get practice for build season

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btgNmKMj8qg

We used a harbor freight 5 gallon air tank, made accumulator tanks out of abs pipe, used sprinkler valves, and reused electronics from old seasons.

If you have questions, feel free to ask

May be asking a lot of questions if we fully go through with it. How much did it cost. We would probably do something lower end. I'm thinking no tilt adjust and only one cannon. It's funny that was the second time I watched the video haha I watched it first for inspiration.

Also what are the special parts you actually had to go out an buy like stuff most people don't have laying around.

Thanks

Re: T-shirt Launcher
 

We've never had issues with the barrel, valve, or hose through 5 years of use.

Re: T-shirt Launcher
 

+1. A pneumatic explosion is not something you want to have to deal with. At the worst, somebody could be injured or killed, and at the least, your program could face very serious review or be shut down. This stuff is too serious to be decided by whether sprinkler valves and PVC are cheaper than legitimate pneumatic components.

I would recommend copper or brass piping for any pneumatic operations dealing with such large volumes of air due to the fact that it is actually rated for air pressure and less likely to shatter if it does fail.

I feel you for sure but I just want to make sure we aren't going to triple. Our spending to buy into a myth

Re: T-shirt Launcher
 

The one we built was in the neighborhood of $5000 just for parts. But we started from scratch. The custom sheet metal chassis, paint job, and specialty designed adapter block to go from the solenoid to the barrel was donated, everything else we bought.

We are using twin scuba tanks. The pneumatic system was designed by a colleague who is a PE in piping design. We have several safety rated devices (Burst discs) in the lines so that we don't over pressurize the system.

Re: T-shirt Launcher
 

It isn't a myth though. PVC isn't rated for air pressure and when it fails it does so spectacularly. It will work fine for a while, you just won't know when that while will end. And when that time comes, the result will at the least let blood come out of someone. The worst case scenario is much, much worse.

We shoot about 100 feet with something like 20psi. Pvc will not burst at 20psi. Look into 12v air horn solenoids instead of sprinkler valve both work well

Re: T-shirt Launcher
 

There's always a hot dog shooter. Definitely not PVC level, as Philly Phanatic can get them into the upper seats and needs a license to shoot. Story and video here.

Now I want a hot dog!

Re: T-shirt Launcher
 

Please, Please, Please do NOT use PVC for any pneumatics, including the barrel. It's failure mode is catastrophic.

We're building a t-shirt cannon as well and we are using a copper tube for our barrel.

Re: T-shirt Launcher
 

PVC is NOT rated , nor designed for air pressure. It doesn't matter what pressure it is at, pressurized gas in PVC is dangerous. This warning is from Charlotte's Pipe safety manual.

Please be safe, use proper materials.