Topic: 100 NERF dart dual-drum magazine
I just got my NERF Hyperfire today...and was disappointed how quickly it emptied its 25 dart drum.
Since I previously looked at the benefits of making a 3D printable 35-dart drum, I have decided to try again with two 50-dart modules that combine for a total capacity of 100. With the Hyperfire (5 darts/second), that should give 20 seconds of firing time instead of 5.
Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drum_magazine
Since this isn't offered by NERF (yet), it's totally reasonable to put in the effort to design this thing, even though it will be quite a challenge.
My current plan is to use a Fibonacci spiral to maximize the usage of internal drum space, thus making it as compact as possible (and therefore more compatible/faster to print). Each module will be a separate piece that will be joined to a central feeder, which will alternate intake while guiding the darts into the blaster's chamber. The shape of these pieces will be ideal for a Cartesian printer, since they are bigger in the XY coordinates than in the Z coordinate.
Besides the springs and standard metric hardware, I also plan on keeping the clear panel on the back that is found on the stock NERF drums. To do this, I will build and use a vacuum former with a 3D printed positive and a sheet of transparent plastic, which then gets cut, drilled, and screwed onto the corresponding module.
Just like the stock drums, I will also try to add a jam clearing/manual unloading mechanism, which may also include access to the spring for tensioning/replacement.
If anyone else is interested, I am open to ideas and will gladly accept any help I can get.
My printer is 240x240x170mm, so have enough print area for any reasonable prototypes.
Dual-extruder MaxMicron Prusa Mendel: RAMPS 1.4 w/ Repetier Firmware+Full Graphic LCD Controller, stock hotends, 3Dator extruders w/ MK8 gears, insulated enclosure w/ 2 heat lamps, RPi 2B w/ Repetier Server.
0.1-0.2mm layer height, heated bed w/ PEI surface, inductive-sensor autolevel, 0.5mm to 0.2mm nozzle diameters.