I’m curious.
I figure a typical Nerf dart shooter works as so:
- A dart with a plastic cap and a hollow center
- Putting the dart in a thin cylinder, with the cap facing out
- Pulling back a larger cylinder that fits around the thin cylinder, where the larger cylinder is capped at one end
- Suddenly releasing the larger cylinder, so that it will be propelled forward
- The air between the two cylinders is compressed, and forced into the cavity inside the dart
- The compressed air forces the dart out of the thin cylinder
I think this is doable with 3D printed parts and a rubber band.
Yes, why not …
I think the critical issue would be the smoothness of the bore of the barrel (small cylinder) both inside and outside. The smoothness and fit of the inside of the chamber (large cylinder).
You might also need some guide rails for the chamber and possibly a one way valve on the chamber to let air in, unless you cock the gun before loading.
An alternative way would be to construct something along the lines of a syringe attached to the barrel. this gives you only one critical sealing face, the inside of the chamber and you could use the rubber piston off a syringe on your own piston rod.
Dna
You know, that’s an interesting idea. So, why reinvent the wheel? Perhaps we could use an actual big fat syringe?
FYI, here’s a diagram and a post explaining the inner workings of a Nerf zapper:
http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/tilted-weaponry/119076-how-make-nerf-gun-shoot-60-10-tutorial.html
I had the same idea. I’ve got a few early stabs at a design, and I made a thread at nerfhaven about it forever ago (http://nerfhaven.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=20308) but I kinda lost interest. I think making something similar to the clothespin trigger style of mechanism, but it never went anywhere.
But looking back at my post when I saw this article, I realized someone else had actually made one successfully: http://nerfhaven.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=20819 . I think he also posted the files too, but I have yet to download them. What really excites me about a makerbottable nerf gun is the possible innovation and development from a basic design, as well as the ability to mass produce them for nerf wars.
@Will: I’ve downloaded those files, pulled out the STL’s, and then uploaded them to Thingiverse. Here’s the link: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:7245