1kJ Mini-RailGun & 3kJ RailGun

Here you will find the design, computer animations, stress analysis and other useful information on the design of the railgun. All of the intricate plastic parts in each of the later revisions were modeled using Inventor Professional 2011 and will be printed in ABS plastic using a Dimension 3D printer.

Mini-RailGun ANNOTATED SKETCH

COMPUTER ANIMATIONS

Mini-RailGun REVISION #1

Back Right View

Back Left View

Back Left View

Front Left View

Front Right View

Left View

Back and Front Views

Mini-RailGun REVISION #2

Back Right View

Back Left View

Front Left View

Left View

Back and Front Views

 

Mini-RailGun STRESS TEST

(55,000 N = 12,365lbs/rail outward)

This test demonstrates the failure points in the design under the massive electromagnetic forces, however, the design would never reach such a point of failure as the force of 55,000N is only applied for approximately 1mS or less.

Back Right View

Front Left View

Left View

Back and Front Views

Mini-RailGun REVISION #3

Back Right View

Back Left View

Front Left View

Left View

Top View

RailGun REVISION #1

Back Left View

Back Right View

Front Right View

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Theoretical specifications neglecting capacitance, friction, air resistance and temperature:

• Projectile: 8.3 Gram, 1″ x 0.75″ x 0.25″ Aluminum Alloy 6063 Slug
• Current = 400,000 A
• Force = 1280 N
• Acceleration = 154,217 m/s^2
• Velocity(12″ gun, 1kJ) = 281m/s = 922fps = 0.83 Mach
• Velocity(24″ gun, 3kJ) = 416m/s = 1,365fps = 1.22 Mach

Theoretical specifications accounting for a rough approximation of friction but not capacitance,  air resistance and temperature:

• Projectile: 8.3 Gram, 1″ x 0.75″ x 0.25″ Aluminum Alloy 6063 Slug
• Current = 400,000 A
• Force = 1280 N
• Acceleration = 131,084 m/s^2
• Velocity(12″ gun, 1kJ) = 258m/s = 846fps = 0.76 Mach
• Velocity(24″ gun, 3kJ) = 383m/s = 1257fps = 1.13 Mach

Theoretical efficiency accounting for a rough approximation of friction but not capacitance, air resistance and temperature:

– 12″ Gun:

• Input (Capacitive Energy): 960J
• Output (Kinetic Energy): 276J
• Efficiency = 29%

– 24″ Gun:

• Input (Capacitive Energy): 2880J
• Output (Kinetic Energy): 609J
• Efficiency = 21%