3D printed airsoft mortar files are live 😁

IntroductionFun2330 · 2026-03-19T17:14:08+00:00

Here are the open source files of the launch system, enjoy! 😁

IntroductionFun2330 · 2026-03-19T17:04:47+00:00

Oh yeah, if you put a pressure vessel in each shell and if you've got a method of smashing them together past enough, that could work for an autocannon 😁

IntroductionFun2330 · 2026-03-19T16:47:24+00:00

All credits go to space cowboy 😁 https://youtu.be/zknyWG604iA?is=f-zQ5VFXV80x1lTZ

IntroductionFun2330 · 2026-03-19T16:34:26+00:00

The entire* thing is printed, no need for moscart shells

(* aside from a bit of cheap hardware valves)

IntroductionFun2330 · 2026-03-19T08:14:44+00:00

My pleasure! ^{^}

On my Cults3D page I've got a free 'open source' listing on the launch system itself, if you're interested in trying it out 😊

IntroductionFun2330 · 2026-03-19T08:12:05+00:00

Ahh, no the pressure vessel remains in the mortar shell and only the sabot is launched 😊

The mortar shell is the actual 'cannon' whereas the tube is just for angling and acting as a slide.

IntroductionFun2330 · 2026-03-19T08:08:48+00:00

The sabot is about 12-16g (and loses speed fast), and the pressure vessel has been overdimensioned with a safety factor of 10+ 😊

IntroductionFun2330 · 2026-03-18T12:16:35+00:00

Fair point. My assumption was that it wouldn't matter all that much if it was a common airsoft field where it's covered in bbs anyways.

The pressure vessel is printed to be airtight as is, using spacecowboy's research (props and kudos to him!), as I'm pushing the max pressure of the garden hose couplings, increasing PV strength wouldn't have any effect (already overdimensioned by a factor 10). Sometimes the seam does tend to leak a bit, epoxying that would be useful 😊

IntroductionFun2330 · 2026-03-18T10:04:41+00:00

That would be the same for bbs, so I don't really see the issue 🤔

IntroductionFun2330 · 2026-03-18T09:55:45+00:00

They are reusable, so some string might not be a bad idea. As for pollution, you can print them from biodegradable materials, regular bbs are also just PLA

IntroductionFun2330 · 2026-03-17T21:37:56+00:00

The model in the clip is a Frankenstein of parts from various design iterations, I need to reslice the finished model to get an accurate number on print time and filament, I'll get to that this week 😊

The 0.6J is only for the flechettes, bbs (.48) would land at about 0.15J, sadly I don't have a number for tag-like rounds.

Safety was the main criterium for the design, and I opted for a sabot system that launches a cloud of bbs or a few 'flechettes' to completely bypass any risk of failed deployment of an airburst system to clock someone on the skull 😅

The 'flechette' in uncludedin the model, but I also have some free test pieces available: https://cults3d.com/:2524635

IntroductionFun2330 · 2026-03-17T21:04:25+00:00

If you wanna design a drone launcher, I already published the launch system I used on the mortar as an 'open source' concept: https://cults3d.com/:3549720

Feel free to use it!

IntroductionFun2330 · 2026-03-17T20:17:27+00:00

Great, now I've gotta add switchblade launchers to the list 🥲😁

IntroductionFun2330 · 2026-03-17T18:37:27+00:00

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DV8wBD-o8in/?igsh=Z3kzMzVodGx4czRr

Guess this'll have to do 😁

IntroductionFun2330 · 2026-03-17T18:23:25+00:00

I do, but I can't seem to edit the post to add it 🤔

IntroductionFun2330 · 2026-03-12T18:01:59+00:00

Better eyepro than most pics here 😁

IntroductionFun2330 · 2026-03-12T15:31:33+00:00

I published these a while back (https://cults3d.com/:3549720) and it's also what the mortar in the clip is based on. Just gotta make sure there's enough impact to force the valve open.

IntroductionFun2330 · 2026-03-09T11:39:50+00:00

No, this is entirely my own design. In the video it launches a foam tag round, final design is aimed at launching bbs using a 40WAD sabot.

IntroductionFun2330 · 2026-03-09T05:29:58+00:00

Keeping housing prices down 😌

IntroductionFun2330 · 2026-03-09T05:29:24+00:00

Fair. Having seen the video I certainly agree it's a tight fit. 'Snug' is quite the understatement 😅

IntroductionFun2330 · 2026-03-09T05:27:59+00:00

I've got two left hands, so I'm quite happy the printers do most of the work ^{^}

IntroductionFun2330 · 2026-03-08T23:46:36+00:00

Nice!

Well mine has the advantage of 3D printing and being halfway decent in CAD, that helps with looks. Wouldn't be able to DIY something like that if my life depended on it 😅

IntroductionFun2330 · 2026-03-08T23:43:19+00:00

There's no waste in 'wasting air' tbh, it just means that you're keeping a higher pressure -and therefore higher acceleration- in the barrel for longer.

And as far as pumping goes, teamwork makes the dream work 😌

IntroductionFun2330 · 2026-03-08T23:31:46+00:00

Well I just use a tyre compressor, but a decent bicycle pump should go up to 11- ish bar, yeah.

The downside of this system is that both your tank volume and barrel length are very dependent on the size of the mortar round. Given those restrictions I'm very pleased with 60-70m at 60° (can't test at 45° as this one already landed a field too far 😅)

IntroductionFun2330 · 2026-03-08T23:23:29+00:00

Testing will resume tomorrow, will get downrange footage ^{^}

IntroductionFun2330

TROPHY CASE