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Wednesday, April 14, 2010

SGN-R1 - Overview!

After weeks of research & development, trial & error and many prototypes... its finally done!

Introducing the SGN-R1!

The SGN-R1 is a foam dart blaster that utilizes a custom-built spring-powered plunger, trigger and modular attachment system.

This blaster design has mechanisms based on the original SNAP plunger and trigger designs by "Carbon" at the NerfHaven forum.

Link to the SNAP plunger and trigger diagrams by Carbon Here.

This overview is intended as a reference for those who are already familiar with modding blasters and who are currently working on similiar spring-powered plunger blaster projects.

It is not a detailed write-up, as i still have lots of improvements and enhancements in the works before finalizing the design.

Overview of the SGN-R1:



























Lots more improvements and enhancements are currently in the works.

Stay tuned!

35 comments:

  1. I've had some fun with JSPB blasters last weekend. And I'm REALLY impressed with these DIY blasters, needless to say it put ALL my Nerf line products to shame.

    I look forward to your final outcome!

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  2. Some useful links:
    -Improved plunger head design-, supposedly more durable, designed by Rork:
    http://nerfhaven.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=18314

    -Snapbow MkV- Rork's awesome snap: http://nerfhaven.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=19030
    and No, I'm not Rork. =P

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  3. MindWarrior,

    Thanks for the links.

    Yup, i'm currently also testing a few other improved plunger assembly designs too, along with new barrel and plunger layouts. :)

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  4. i have been impatient and wondering when you will make posts and now I know where the work has been going. Good Job!

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  5. Coo! I can't wait until a step by step building guide comes!

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  6. Hey, this is pretty cool! I was thinking of getting into homemade blasters myself, and it's always cool to see what others can come up with.

    Just as a curiosity, how's the range on it so far?

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  7. RSDmaxam,

    The current tested range for the SGN-R1 with a 12" PETG Barrel firing my customised SDL CSD foam darts is averaging around 90-100 ft.

    If you are keen on finding out more about its features and how its built (and range tests), i have a much more detailed worklog thread about it over at the NerfSG forum:

    http://nerfsg.freeforums.org/sgn-r1-overview-t1439.html

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  8. This is AWESOME! FINALLY a Blaster making site from SG NERF! I don't trust NerfHaven because random people post it! THANK YOU!

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  9. it looks really cool the plunger tube seems quite small but thats probtably because of the pics where did u get the rubber washers or o-rig that are large enuff for the 1 1/4 pvc? i'd just need that and i can finally build 1 =)and dont tell me to look at the sg erf forums =P

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  10. VersatileChicken,

    The SGN-R1 uses a 30mm ID PVC pipe for the plunger compartment.

    The R2 and R3 versions are currently in the works and will be using 40mm and 50mm ID PVC pipes respectively.

    I get my rubber gasket and washers for the SGN-R1 plunger head at HomeFix stores in SG.

    Though for the R2 and R3 versions, i have now switched to custom making my own specific sized plunger rubber gaskets that are cut from sheets of rubber. I get those rubber sheets from Garlin Rubber in SG.

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  11. my local homefix at homefix does'nt have those since ur a west sider,where is the homefix u got the gaskets from located? as far as i noe the largest homefix is in marina square =)

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  12. another thing is that i notice it does'nt have alot ofplunger space i think u should have tried rorks new design i cant remember where i saw it but it was much more efficient

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  13. VersatileChicken,

    I got the rubber gaskets from HomeFix Jelita, but that was months ago, so it depends on the store stock. You'll just have to scout around for parts that are of suitable sizes.

    As i mentioned, it is not a detailed write-up. Its a quick reference for modders at the NerfSG forums who are already working on their own custom-built blasters. I still have lots of improvements and enhancements in the works before finalising my designs.

    The SGN-R1 is just a working test prototype for basic construction of a custom-built blaster.

    As discussed in the NerfSG forum, i intentionally designed it with a plunger volume around the same as a Longshot plunger so that i can do an initial equalised baseline comparison to gauge the plunger seal and power efficiency.

    I have since created alot more new blasters with much larger plunger volumes and improved plunger head designs, and am currently testing them out.

    Will post updates on them. :)

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  14. last comment on this post how far does it shoot?

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  15. VersatileChicken,

    The current tested range for the SGN-R1 with a 12" PETG Barrel firing my customised CSD foam darts is averaging around 90-100 ft when fired parallel-to-ground (PTG)... similiar to my Brass Breeched Longshots. Fired at a higher 30 degree angle, it can lob to around 110-120ft.

    With a shorter 6" PETG Barrel, the range is much lower at approx. 75-80ft when fired PTG.

    With a longer 18" PETG Barrel, the range is slightly higher at approx. 95-105ft when fired PTG.

    For such blasters with air-tight plunger-to-barrel seals, the barrel length makes a very noticeable difference in overall range and dart velocity.

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  16. Ok my FINAL question and then i will shut up where do u range test uur guns without a bunch of people gathering to see what your doing? its anoying i havent got like a yard stick or smthing like that and rolling out a tape measure is a pain =)

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  17. VersatileChicken,

    I usually test my modded blasters at the lowest level of my basement carpark, the conditions are ideal because there are long stretches of flat concrete ground, no people around, no cars and no cross winds to affect range results.

    I have also test fired my modded blasters at the upper levels of large multi-story carparks where there are no cars and people too. But the open environment tends to have cross winds which can affect the range results.

    I use an industrial 50m/150ft spool-type measuring tape to mark the distance points.

    For quick test fires, i sometimes just measure the width of a car park lot (ie. 2.5m each), then count the number of car park lots to where my darts land, then multiply the results and convert them to metres or ft. Its a less accurate measurement, but good for range estimates.

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  18. Have u come up with any new homemades?sadly the June holidays passed really quickly and i was not able to build a SNAP and i have PSLE this year so cant work on it until its over *sigh*)= but i'll finally be FREE once its over so thank god for that =)

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  19. VersatileChicken,

    Well, there is a bunch of new designs i'm working on, takes time to prototype and improve on them though. Its a never ending process of research and development. :)

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  20. cool so what designs have you thought of so far? i usually brain storm a bunch of ideas at school =P i have ideas for a homemade SM5k tank and stuff mainly because its a rare blaster

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  21. VersatileChicken,

    Other than versions with larger plunger volumes, i'm also tinkering with versions using multiple spring-plunger setups, ie. triple spring-plunger designs which only need to prime once but can fire 3 seperate shots in semi-auto or full blast depending on trigger pull.

    I've also been working on stronger trigger catch designs. So far, i'm testing hybrid designs of the layered catch plate system and catch pin design, seems to work, but definitely requires further R&D. :)

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  22. Are You gonna post a vid on youtube? if you are your probrably gonna be the 1st singaporean on youtube to post about a homemade made by yourself =)

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  23. VersatileChicken,

    Maybe soon, once the designs i'm working on move past the prototype stage to finalised versions. :)

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  24. Can you give a little update on your sgn-r3?
    Or are you stuck with the desing?

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  25. joeri83,

    Yup, i've been working on the R3 design (50mm plunger ID), and many other interesting design prototypes too.

    So far, i've testing out various catch systems and the catch design i've found most reliable for larger plunger and stronger spring loads is the catch plate design (similiar to the +bow catch mechanism).

    I'll post up some updates and designs once i finish more trial tests on the design prototypes, i'm currently focusing on making them easy-to-build, yet safe and reliable for Nerf games.

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  26. lucasnerf,

    The SGN-R1 is based on the SNAP blaster design by Carbon from the NerfHaven forum, you can read his various build threads posted there for more info on how such blasters are built.

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  27. Dear SG, iwould really like to know the dimensions of the UPVC, such as the plunger tube, plunger head and trigger guard.I would also like to know what you use for the trigger it self.Did you use just and "L" bracket? or a clothespin? And if it is a clothespin,is it plastic or wooden? I would really appreciate if you would reply as I am planing to build one starting this coming Wednesday. Thanks! =)

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  28. VersatileChicken,

    The PVC pipes and joints i use are all SingaPlastics brand. The plunger tube is 30mm PVC pipe, the reducers are 30mm to 20mm spec. The plunger rod, handle and head are 13mm PVC pipe, T-joint and end-cap (with a 30mm diameter rubber gasket).

    There is also an adaptor ring made of 20mm and 16mm pipe in the rear reducer as a guide for the plunger rod (same for the front for the barrel). The shoulder stock and trigger section are all 20mm PVC pipes and joints.

    The trigger is a metal L-bracket bolted onto a basic SNAP clothes pin trigger system, i just use a simple wooden clothes pin (you can also use plastic ones too).

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  29. So,the plunger tube is 30mm inner or outer diameter?because 13mm UPVC endcaps fit with alot of room to jiggle in 30mm inner diameter upvc,are you sure its 13mm?

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  30. VersatileChicken,

    The plunger tube is 30mm ID pipe (note that PVC pipe labels rarely correspond to their actual dimensions, always measure to confirm).

    Look at the 7th photo, there is a 30mm OD rubber gasket (from hardware shops) attached to the 13mm end-cap, that is the part that seals with the 30mm ID plunger tube.

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  31. Im really sorry if Im bothering you with my questions but Im just a little confused,is the plunger head endcap 16mm or 13mm?and what does the reducer on the plunger rod reduce to?

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  32. VersatileChicken,

    Sorry for the confusion, the new plunger heads i use are nowadays in my newer catch ring trigger designs are all 13mm end-caps... but the one in the R1 is using the original SNAP clothes pin trigger system, so it's a 16mm end-cap connected to a 16mm to 13mm reducer (so that there is a gap in-between for the metal rod to catch).

    I've not made clothespin triggers for so long that i actually forgot how i built them. :)

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