Cannon Project

[Pipeless416]

hey guys, i wanted to share a project that i'm doing in my lab this semester/year. i'm now the graduate assistant in the production lab, which as some of you know, i practically lived in there during my undergrad.. mostly during my exhaust fabrication. now as a grad student, i was given the task of building a replica cannon for ROTC to fire during touchdowns at football games. the cannon they currently use is rented for several hundred per game. it also uses a 10 gauge that fires blanks. this will use the same mechanism. so far i have been working on the carriage for it a little bit, but mostly on the barrel.

here are some pictures of the progress. keep in mind that i basically have a budget of $0, so not everything is going to be accurate. for example, i'm using a donated welding tank for the barrel :blah: . the only thing that is really going to cost money are the wheels, which have been ordered. they are 42" 12 spoke wagon wheels.

http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/9477/photo0631l.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/268/photo0631l.jpg/)

http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/864/photo0651d.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/819/photo0651d.jpg/)

i was getting some major harmonic vibration while turning this.. after some reading, i figured out that its just the nature of the beast while turning something so large and hollow. i'm positive it would have shattered thin glass if there was any near.

http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/720/photo0652o.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/97/photo0652o.jpg/)

just a portion of all the shavings... i removed about 20 lbs!

http://img846.imageshack.us/img846/2628/photo0650v.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/846/photo0650v.jpg/)

facing the front..

[Pipeless416]

i had it rigged into the lathe chuck by threading a pipe into the outlet threads where the unfinished ball is. the other side was drilled to use with the tailstock.

http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/217/photo0653d.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/823/photo0653d.jpg/)

this is the barrel placed into the "carriage." the pivot points still need to be welded on and the carriage walls need to be layed out and cut on a band saw.

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/2342/photo0655g.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/171/photo0655g.jpg/)

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/5243/photo0656y.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/27/photo0656y.jpg/)

and here is the "ball" that goes on the end of the barrel. it's only about half done. it'll basically be shaped like one half of a door knob. when its done. started out as 2" aluminum bar stock.

http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/3464/photo0654j.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/163/photo0654j.jpg/)

and this is the look we're kind of shooting for..minus the barrel which will look nothing like that. anyway, i'll be updating this periodically as i make progress. let me know what you think.

[kt1148]

Looks interesting! Can't wait to see the finished product.

[Ruby Soho]

keep updating, im already interested!

[fastredrider44]

What kind of finish do you plan on doing? Please do it right so it lasts a very long time. Looks like a good project! I miss being in a machine shop everyday.:(

[gncc025]

i built one of those in college. mine was scaled down quite a bit though. i made it all nice and shiny but realized it just doesnt look right on a cannon. should have blued it lol

[Honda#4]

Lookin good Mike, can't wait to see it done.

[CJM]

Very cool!

[slightlybent47]

It may be too late but you might have put some water in the tank when you turned it and that may have cut down on the vibration.
If your going for that authentic look you may want to give it that hammer foraged look instead of a fine machined look.
So if I am to understand rite the cannon is just for looks and the 10 gage shot shell is the blank that actually fires?

[Pipeless416]

Originally posted by slightlybent47
It may be too late but you might have put some water in the tank when you turned it and that may have cut down on the vibration.
If your going for that authentic look you may want to give it that hammer foraged look instead of a fine machined look.
So if I am to understand rite the cannon is just for looks and the 10 gage shot shell is the blank that actually fires?

correct, the barrel is just for looks. i'm actually planning to have stickers made that say EIU Panther Battalion that i will put on both sides of the cannon before painting. it'll be painted black, and then the stickers will be pulled off and the entire thing will be clear coated. i considered adding some water to the tank, but by the time it got that bad i was almost done. definitely interesting to read about though.

[HondaPohl]

Looks like a fun project. Good way to learn how to run a Lathe.

[Pipeless416]

Originally posted by HondaPohl
Looks like a fun project. Good way to learn how to run a Lathe.

thanks and it should be.. ps- as a graduate assistant i help teach machining :) ;) they just decided to add this to my list of things to do on the side.

[slightlybent47]

I’ve always wanted to build a real working cannon but I never get the chance to do it.
I envisioned one that is built so well you cant blow it up.lol
My friend has a machine shop and they do work for the oil field industry and he has plenty of material to work with.
He has a forging that is scrap and is 8’ long and it has a 2” hole in it with 7” thick sidewalls. If done rite I could make one out of that and with the sidewalls being so thick I think it would be safe for most any load you could put in it.
I would make it a muzzle loader because it would be easer to make then a breach loader.
I could take it to my ranch and have a lot of fun with it.

Good luck with your project.

[bens250ex]

Originally posted by gncc025
i built one of those in college. mine was scaled down quite a bit though. i made it all nice and shiny but realized it just doesnt look right on a cannon. should have blued it lol


where did you go to school?

[gncc025]

Originally posted by bens250ex
where did you go to school?


NEMCC in booneville

[bens250ex]

ahh ok what program did you do? i am in industrial technology as MS State

[gncc025]

I got an associates in tool & die. good you didnt go to NE its not worth the time...

You thinking about getting a job at the new Toyota plant when you get out?

[bens250ex]

Originally posted by gncc025
I got an associates in tool & die. good you didnt go to NE its not worth the time...

You thinking about getting a job at the new Toyota plant when you get out?

I have thought about it but dont know i really want to work in that kind of production. I am really looking at Wise metals and another iron pipe company. I might consider annel or Hol-Mac. I will be graduating in may so i will have get on the ball here soon.

Where do you work?

[gncc025]

Originally posted by bens250ex
I have thought about it but dont know i really want to work in that kind of production. I am really looking at Wise metals and another iron pipe company. I might consider annel or Hol-Mac. I will be graduating in may so i will have get on the ball here soon.

Where do you work?


I was gonna say if you were looking into Toyota, ive heard they have a high turnover rate right now. Thats why i haven't applied there.

I work at Caterpillar in corinth right now. Its a decent job. pays the bills ya kno:ermm:

[bens250ex]

i know what you mean, are you from corinth?

[gncc025]

nah i live in walnut. its about 60 miles east of memphis. if you blink u miss it lol. where u from?

[bens250ex]

i have been through walnut, i am from olive branch. So not to far from you.

[Pipeless416]

well, after a little bit of work i've had a step back and forward. the step back is from turning the top section down to mate better with the ball on the end. apparently its not solid steel and i went right though it. now i have it tacked back on, but i need to fill the gap that was formed.

http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/9641/photo0663c.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/820/photo0663c.jpg/)

http://img810.imageshack.us/img810/1098/photo0662a.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/810/photo0662a.jpg/)

http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/6408/photo0667c.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/708/photo0667c.jpg/)

i'm pretty much done with the ball.. i'll thread it once i can find the correct die that i'm missing :o

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/255/photo0669d.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/443/photo0669d.jpg/)

wheels came in today! this is the only part that will take money.

http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/1619/photo0676001.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/43/photo0676001.jpg/)

42" diameter

http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/917/photo0677001.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/5/photo0677001.jpg/)

[Pipeless416]

couple more updates.. the sides of the carriage have been cut.

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/8225/photo0687c.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/84/photo0687c.jpg/)

the barrel got some bondo! i'll be letting it dry over break and then hopefully it'll be really nice looking when its all sanded.

here's after the fist layer.

http://img560.imageshack.us/img560/1803/photo0716.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/560/photo0716.jpg/)

and here's how it sits for the time being.

http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/2239/photo0717q.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/402/photo0717q.jpg/)

[Pipeless416]

bumping this thread from the dead.. we were test firing today :devil:

this is my professor/boss firing the second shot. we put about 7 through it and it is so freaking loud. my phone started blowing up with text messages from people all over campus. it still has some little odds and ends left, but they're all cosmetic.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/LVBADGgO-V0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[CJM]

Very cool, betcha people panicked when they heard it lol.

[Pipeless416]

Originally posted by CJM
Very cool, betcha people panicked when they heard it lol.

my phone blew up with text messages as soon as the first shot was fired haha. apparently people on the other side of campus could hear it loud and clear. people just about pooed themselves that were walking by and not paying attention.

[atvnut22]

i know its already too late, but for future reference when turning something so large with a thin wall, you can wrap it with leather. we use 3 and 5 foot straps when turning large brass bushings. we can get almost no ringing even with as little as a quater inch wall.

[Pipeless416]

Originally posted by atvnut22
i know its already too late, but for future reference when turning something so large with a thin wall, you can wrap it with leather. we use 3 and 5 foot straps when turning large brass bushings. we can get almost no ringing even with as little as a quater inch wall.

thanks for the advice! i actually had plenty of leather strapping sitting next to it since i was making new belts for some of the other lathes. if only i would have known haha.