Okay so here is a newbi question for everyone. I would like to try and fire all three triple stern guns using one servo. I just can't seem to figure it out. Help would be most welcome.
Assuming 3 discrete cannons, and a fast gun setup, there are two good ways: Option 1: one solenoid valve for each (or one for all three if you get a big enough valve, although that can make the whole thing fussier) where all three valves are operated at the same time. Option two. One Mav 3 feeds gas to an actuator on top of a mav 2 for each cannon. I believe the actuators are part number MPA-3 from clippard I have had the best luck using separate lines for each cannon with a separate accumulator tank. Your results may vary.
I just bought some triple sterns from BC, but sadly, have no idea. I would reccomend them however as it'll make your life easier.
okay thanks guys, I also just managed to find my missed placed BC Cannon plans so that helps tremendously.
If you use solinoids, its pretty easy! You can use either a micro switch to all of them or a team delta board for all three. The expansion tanks are a good idea to make sure that all have sufficient reserve gas to fire, so the first one firing doesn't drop the pressure too far and the following guns fire weakly or not at all due to the presure drop. Marty Hayes
I've seen an effective approach using a block of plastic wood to hold three mav2's in a row. A metal bar with holes for each valve stem goes over and then a single metal geared high torque servo is used to push on the bar which pushes all three mav2's at once. The system is a pain to tweek but that might be solved by putting clamps on the output hoses of the guns you don't want to fire. If you are very interested in this, I think I still have the block of plastic wood. The captain of that ship wanted help reconfiguring her and I ended up with some spare parts. The question is where did they end up.
I've seen an effective approach using a block of plastic wood to hold three mav2's in a row. A metal bar with holes for each valve stem goes over and then a single metal geared high torque servo is used to push on the bar which pushes all three mav2's at once. The system is a pain to tweek but that might be solved by putting clamps on the output hoses of the guns you don't want to fire. If you are very interested in this, I think I still have the block of plastic wood. The captain of that ship wanted help reconfiguring her and I ended up with some spare parts. The question is where did they end up.
i know the big gun guys seem to use a single mav-3 firing valve connect that up to a few t junctions one to each acctuator and use the servo to push the button. there may be a slight discrepancy in the firing timing but it would be in nano seconds and hence not really that bad.
I have all the fittings and parts to use the servo to trigger a mav-3 and from there trigger the three mav-2s. I guess my question now is, if I were to use accumulators for each cannon what is a good size and roughly what timing does that cut my firing down to? Or, is just nixxing the accumulators all together workable?
Accumulators have to be before the valves. What I have done on a dual and seen on tripples is that the accumulator is a long tank made out of 3/4" copper pipe. Gas flows into one end and there are barbettes comming out of it going to each MAV2. This way the accumulator doubles as a splitter.
