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T29’s Shooting Mechanism

August 16th, 2015 Leave a comment Go to comments

Shooting mechanism from my T29 heavy tank’s model, with free instructions available.
This mechanism, which was the key feature of my T29 heavy tank model, was taken from my another creation all the way back from 2008. The instructions include complete shooting unit with motor included and basis for the barrel which can be extended to desired length. Note that there is a transverse axle at the base of the shooting unit which can be used for elevating/depressing it.

The mechanism relies on compressing and releasing a long hard shock absorber, which then fires 3L axles with stop from a single beam acting as an ammo clip. The beam is operated by gravity, moving 1 stud lower each time the shock absorber is pulled back, and its length is technically unlimited – the only thing limiting it in my T29 model was the amount of room under the turret needed for the emptied “ammo clip”.

Two things should be noted:

  • the mechanism can be potentially harmful for the motor that drives it. I managed to damage a PF M motor driving a yellow (hardest) shock absorber in my T29 after operating it for a while. PF L motor should be better suited to operate the mechanism. It is not recommended to use this mechanism with PF M motor.
  • the length of the barrel and smoothness of its inner surfaces affect both range and impact of the projectiles fired through it. It’s recommended to build the sides of the barrel carefully, so that the barrel’s inner width is 1 stud and not less (make sure the tiles are pushed into plates all the way). There is technically no limit to barrel’s length: the barrel in my T29 tank was 40 studs long and a shock absorber of medium hardness could still fire through it. Just keep in mind that even a very carefully built barrel will slow the projectiles to some degree, and it will also be very heavy

Free building instructions for the mechanism are available in the Downloads section.

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  1. Sariel
    March 3rd, 2016 at 19:57 | #1

    @Nick
    No, you can build it yourself.

  2. Nick
    March 3rd, 2016 at 19:45 | #2

    Can i buy one of the cannons from you?

  3. Sariel
    September 14th, 2015 at 19:11 | #3

    @matteo ursini
    I’m using LPub and MLCad.

  4. matteo ursini
    September 14th, 2015 at 14:50 | #4

    Hi Sariel,
    what software do you use to make instructions?
    thanks

  5. Daniel
    September 6th, 2015 at 17:56 | #5

    1.- I’ve built a LEGO “Double Clutch Transmission” (“DCT”), but it still needs a “Gear Selecting Mechanism” and a system to control the clutches.

    A “Double Clutch Transmission” (“DCT”) is a transmission that houses pararel gearboxes, one with the “Odd Numbered Gears” and other one with the”Even Numbered Gears”, each one with its own clutches with a common output.

    It pre-selects the next gear in the other gearbox according to “Engine Speed” and “Overall Speed” and when the next speed is selected it just switches clutches.

    If you”re interested just write me to my “E-mail” to send you a photo of it.

  6. Sariel
    August 24th, 2015 at 12:37 | #6

    @Daniel
    Yes, you can 3D-print driving rings.

  7. Daniel
    August 24th, 2015 at 05:45 | #7

    1.- Would it be possible to make a transmission with various size driving rings by “3D Printing” like cars’ and motorbikes’?

  8. Sariel
    August 20th, 2015 at 19:45 | #8

    @Kelkschiz
    Yes, that’s true.

  9. August 20th, 2015 at 19:02 | #9

    Just a small warning. The stress that this shooting mechanism puts on the motor and gears is pretty high. Also, engaging the motor in the wrong direction is likely to damage either motor or gears. So be careful.

  10. Robin
    August 20th, 2015 at 15:27 | #10

    Very nice, ingenious well done 🙂 i used your design as a basis for a model of my own, currently experimenting with ways to make it more powerful, loving the T29 model btw

  11. jake
    August 19th, 2015 at 16:05 | #11

    weight of the file=work of the hamsters

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