Help constructing an arm mounted ball launcher?

[Talaaya]

I'm trying to think of the best way to go about building a ball launcher that can be fitted to my arm. I've been toying with several ideas and scrounging the internet for possible solutions, but with little luck. Here's what I've come up with so far:

- has to be as slim as possible
- needs to be as short as possible
- hopefully it can be triggered by the same arm it's on, but not a big deal if i have to use my other hand
- ammo will be something like nerf balls or ping pong balls
- will be reloaded via the front of the cannon
- should probably be spring loaded. i can't see an easy way to do air compression because of the pumping action required
- doesn't have to be very powerful, minimum probably about 10 feet. It's just for show.
- I've thought about modding an existing product or building my own, and I'm leaning toward building my own since pretty much every one I've found uses air compression or fires in a way that wouldn't work for me.

So my question is: does anyone have any suggestions as to how I should go about doing this?

 

[Labcoatguy]

Modifying a slingshot is probably the easiest way to go about it. Figure out a way to include a trigger mechanism and enclose the launcher in some sort of tube so it doesn't flop about.

 

[narf]

You already have two arm-mounted ball launchers.

Spoiler

https://pic.armedcats.net/n/na/narf/2010/09/25/hands_of_god_and_adam-400.jpg

 

[Firecat]

Does it have to function like a cannon or gun, or could it be something that works like an arm-action pitching machine. Similar to this...

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zx5driwxdYw[/youtube]

 

[Talaaya]

You already have two arm-mounted ball launchers.

Spoiler

https://pic.armedcats.net/n/na/narf/2010/09/25/hands_of_god_and_adam-400.jpg

har har -_-

lol, ok fine I'll just tell you why I'm making this...

Spoiler

If the launcher doesn't work out, as an alternative I'll just put a light in there.

 

[Cobol74]

Those things they use in Jai Alai perhaps?

 

[Labcoatguy]

Or, find something by Nerf and use that as a basis.

 

[Crazyjeeper]

How about some sort of large diameter PVC pipe with a spring in it and some sort of trigger/locking mechanism.

Something like this (yay MS paint).

https://pic.armedcats.net/c/cr/crazyjeeper/2010/09/25/gun.jpg

 

[Talaaya]

How about some sort of large diameter PVC pipe with a spring in it and some sort of trigger/locking mechanism.

Something like this (yay MS paint).

https://pic.armedcats.net/c/cr/crazyjeeper/2010/09/25/gun.jpg

Yeah that's like what I was thinking, but what about triggering it? And not just that but also making it workable inside the housing of samus' cannon along with my arm. I see two possible options: 1) it's triggered via a button on the exterior of the housing by my other hand, or 2) making the mechanism work in some way that i can trigger it from inside the housing with my hand. How would I go about making either of those mechanisms?

 

[Clockwerk]

Use something similar to a door latch... so a piece of metal that is angled on the front side and flat in the back, allowing the "pusher" park of the cannon to lock in place. Then just have some sort of trigger that releases that latch. To load the gun you would just use something like a cannon rammer and then just make a place in the cannon to hide the rammer.

 

[Crazyjeeper]

How much space do you have to work with within the arm housing?

 

[Clockwerk]

What I'm thinking is something similar to what you would find on an action figure, but the projectile would be 2 separate parts in this application. Like this Boba Fett figure. Just make the second half of the missile the push plate that is attached to the spring.

 

[racingfan1]

Is there any way to use compressed CO2 like in a paintball marker?

 

[Lupin_IV]

There is a particular Nerf gun that pretty much fits the application already; unfortunately, it's been discontinued and become hard to find.
https://pic.armedcats.net/l/lu/lupin_iv/2010/09/25/nerf_atom_blaster.jpg

Is there any way to use compressed CO2 like in a paintball marker?

That was actually my first thought as well.

 

[Viper007Bond]

Oh no, my sister is becoming a cosplayer.

*starts planning an intervention*

 

[Talaaya]

Pfft, I'm not making it to pretend I'm Samus. A costume doesn't get any more epic than something like the Varia suit! I plan on wearing it for Halloween next year, probably PAX too.

I'm also not a fan of the idea of cosplay, although whatever floats your boat!

 

[KaJuN]

har har -_-

lol, ok fine I'll just tell you why I'm making this...

Spoiler

If the launcher doesn't work out, as an alternative I'll just put a light in there.

That's going to make for a sweet Master Chief costume!

 

[bone]

watch taxi driver, should give you some ideas

 

[SpitfireMK461]

Is there any way to use compressed CO2 like in a paintball marker?

That's what I would suggest. Could probably buy a cheap paintball marker and tear it down to fit.

 

[warden]

Potato cannon!