Working autoloading Cannon (Print-In-Place)

This is the working cannon, with an added autoloading mechanism. It has a spring to shoot cannon balls. Use the hinge to aim precisely. Print as many cannon balls (included) as you need. Print it as a toy for your kids or present it to friends as a gift.

Bugfix 25.7.2022: loopers found that the “pip_cannon_VN_autoloader_CannonOnly.stl” and “pip_cannon_VO_autoloader_cannonPlusBase.stl” had the plunger not all the way down. I replaced the two with fixed STLs now. Thanks!

Autoloading mechanism

The autoloading mechanism can hold 2 cannon balls. Each time you pull on the spring, one ball will fall into place. Once you let go, the ball will shoot out. Then reload the second ball by again pulling on the spring. 

But make sure you angle the cannon slightly up, otherwise all balls will fall out in one go when you pull on the cannon:

Printing

• Print it without supports and as oriented in the STL. (The cannon and front of the carriage should point down towards the print bed.)
• The cannon is fully print-in-place: No assembly required, just remove the cannon from the print bed and fire away! (The hinge and piston might need some initial movement to get going.)
• The cannon is designed for easy printing, so bed adhesion should not be an issue.
• The spring (inside the cannon) is 3D printed, and works well also if you print in PLA. There is a hinge included for aiming. It might need some initial movement to get going.

Usage

Use the cannon as a permanent display on your desk, ready to fidget or defend yourself whenever needed.

Thanks

Thanks to jonng for his idea to create also an autoloading huge version, and for the great picture of the print being examined by his cat.

Thanks to nadanoob99 to point out the issue of priming the cannon which lead to this design.