Very Fast Soda Cans Hitting Things - Work in Progress

Mick West

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We are all familiar with the classic example of a weak thing breaking a strong thing - the ping-pong ball being shot through a ping-pong paddle at very high speeds.
ping-pong-ball-going-through-a-paddle-this-is-at-frames-per-second-118849.gif
Source video here.

This is useful (to a degree) for illustrating things like how aluminum planes can break though the steel and glass facade of a building.

But I was wondering if the same thing might be possible with my favorite stand-in object: the aluminum soda can.

I've done a couple of very preliminary experiments using bungee cords and a "sled" with a can on it.

Metabunk 2018-05-22 15-19-51.jpg
Two bungie cords to launch it. One to slow it down (allowing the can to continue ), and a "trigger" of a cable tie.
Metabunk 2018-05-22 15-20-56.jpg

Result is a high speed soda can that hits a target at failrt high speed.
IMG_2692a.gif
Calculating from the video, it goes at about 2/5 its length in 1/240th of a second, so 2/5*.12/(1/240) = 11.5 m/s or 25 mph.

This, of course, is not very fast. The "slow" version of the compressed air ping-pong ball gun goes at 400 mph.

I'm not sure if I'll proceed much more with this, as it would get dangerous fairly quickly. But I though I'd ask for suggestions. Is a vacuum tube the only way to go?
 
Best affordable (for sufficiently expensive definitions of affordable, you could probably do something for under $200 if you wait for Harbor Freight to have a parking lot sale) setup I could imagine would be with a compressor.

The fastest way to get all of the air out of a compressor I figured out trying to make an air cannon (with some success) in college was to replace the drain cock at the bottom with a ball valve, run the compressor until it shuts off and open the ball valve, it'll decompress much faster without a regulator or other hardware. In our attempt, we ended up drilling a new hole in the compressor tank (I've since learned this was an epically bad idea!) and added a 1/2" ball valve (deciding the 3/8" valve on the drain cock outlet wasn't irresponsible enough already), running a hose from that to a 1/4" PVC pipe and fired marbles into a brick wall. The brick chipped a couple times, and the marbles exploded into an incredibly fine glass dust.

This way you get acceleration all along the pipe, bungee cords will deliver less and less tension as they contract, in the image you can see they've already gone limp and the can is just coasting on momentum already.
 
Hmm, I would not have thought a vacuum cleaner would have enough suck. Interesting.

Soda can is 2.6" inches across. In theory some nominal 2.5" PVC pipes are just over 2.6" Inner Diameter (ID), like Class 200 2.5". Maybe time to visit Home Depot.
 
Soda can is 2.6" inches across. In theory some nominal 2.5" PVC pipes are just over 2.6" Inner Diameter
why not use a slim/sleek can, like those for energy-drinks? they usually have a diameter of around 2". would help to keep the diameter for the pipe as small as possible.

and another thought; would be messy for sure, but instead of a foam-layer for max efficiency to seal the possible gap between pipe and can maybe just oil or some sort of grease/fat? hm, maybe not so good for the vacuumcleaner...
 
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why not use a slim/sleek can, like those for energy-drinks? they usually have a diameter of around 2". would help to keep the diameter for the pipe as small as possible.
Because I have a free supply of empty diet coke cans and those energy drinks are expensive!
Also the smaller cans seem to have stronger walls, with the smaller diameter.
 
Have you considered a propane or aerosol based launcher ?

There are many designs for hand held launchers on the web (not recommended) however, depending on how you build the rig I think it could be quite safe (or at least as safe as bungee cord). I would recommend you go to an uninhabited area for testing.
I would first create a safe area protected by a large mass as a control point and I would don personal protective equipment. Pin the launcher to the ground and then cover with sandbags. Remotely inject gas and then disconnect before using a piezo ignition system to ignite. It would be a fun way to reduce volume when recycling.
 
Have you considered a propane or aerosol based launcher ?

There are many designs for hand held launchers on the web (not recommended) however, depending on how you build the rig I think it could be quite safe (or at least as safe as bungee cord). I would recommend you go to an uninhabited area for testing.
I would first create a safe area protected by a large mass as a control point and I would don personal protective equipment. Pin the launcher to the ground and then cover with sandbags. Remotely inject gas and then disconnect before using a piezo ignition system to ignite. It would be a fun way to reduce volume when recycling.

That does sound like fun. A problem in these parts is the super high fire risk, which has put a stop to my thermite experiments. I do have some space out back to experiment, but I think I shall wait until the fire risk has passed before I mess with flammable gasses (or really anything high energy).
 
That does sound like fun. A problem in these parts is the super high fire risk, which has put a stop to my thermite experiments. I do have some space out back to experiment, but I think I shall wait until the fire risk has passed before I mess with flammable gasses (or really anything high energy).
Necroposting (sorry!) But if you're still looking into ways to launch cans quickly, there's a tire technicians tool called a Cheetah https://www.homedepot.com/p/Steel-Core-5-Gal-Air-Tank-Tire-Bead-Seater-40010/301119995 which already has the air tank and quick dump valve. You could adapt a larger pipe on place of the nozzle. Of course, you'd still need an air compressor to fill it.
 
This is useful (to a degree) for illustrating things like how aluminum planes can break though the steel and glass facade of a building.

I am sorry if I am coming into this way late, Mick; Is the goal to figure out the best way to try to blast an aluminum can through stuff by itself, or to simulate the can as a stand in for the Aluminum plane test?

I would say to consider the can's mass too. In the discussion about the aluminum plane piercing much stronger concrete, then I would think the can's mass to the concrete's mass is not comparable.

If you are just trying to pound a can through some Sh*t, then more power to you! God Speed!!
 
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