How do I build a coilgun?

Question

I'm seeing a million sites by devoted hobbyists and I thought it would be interesting to make one for myself. The problem with the web sites? they only say what people want to do w/ them. Not how to build the working model.

Answer 1

A knowledge of magnetics and electronics helps. It is a Tube may be plastic (Material not affected by Electricity or Magnetics) this the Barrel. A Bullet made of a Magnetic material is placed at one end. You place Electromagnetic coils along the outside of the Barrel. These are separate from each other and the more you have the faster the Bullet will accelerate. Say you have Four Coils. The first is turned on and pulls the bullet forward. When the bullet reaches the first coil it is switched off and the second coil turned on accelerating the bullet and pulling it forward, then repeated the process until the Bullet is out of the Tube. The switching of Coils on and off would need to be tuned and regulated to provide a smooth run for the Bullet and keep speeding it up. Also, the Stronger your Coils the faster the bullet will move.

Answer 2

a real coilgun makes use of distinctive coils and pulses the flexibility to them with timing that maximizes velocity, additionally reversing polarity so as that the gorgeous tension variations to repulsive after the projectile passes a coil. .

Answer 3

I tried building this one for my high school project and failed miserably...:-p
Has all the instructions

http://www.oz.net/~coilgun/mark2/home.htm

Answer 4

Try this one:
http://www.anothercoilgunsite.com

Answer 5

http://www.coilgun.eclipse.co.uk/coilgun_basics_1.html

Try this one.