Post by WANCHO on Jun 16, 2006 15:44:39 GMT 8
How does an AEG work?
The diagram below shows the 'guts' of an AEG. This is the inside of the Mechbox in all its glory, with all its components still in place.
A: Spring Guide E: Cylinder Head I1: Sector Gear
B: Spring F: Air Nozzle I2: Spur Gear
C: Piston G: Tappet Plate I3: Bevel Gear
D: Cylinder H: Trigger Switch J: Non-Return Latch
In the cutaway diagram above, parts A through to F are responsible for the shooting of the BB. Parts G through to J are part of the reloading mechanism. When it is all working together, this is what happens...
The trigger is pulled by the shooter, which closes an electrical switch (H).
A Ni-Cad or Ni-MH battery pack (similar to those found in Radio Controlled Cars) powers a small motor (located beneath the Mechbox and meshing with the bevel gear (I3)).
The motor turns the bevel gear anti-clockwise, which in turn causes the other two gears to rotate - the spur gear clockwise (I2), the sector gear anti-clockwise (I1).
As the sector gear turns, its visible teeth mesh with the rack on the underside of the piston (C), pulling it back. This compresses the spring (B) and stores the energy required for the shot. At the same time, the small white circular notch (the cam), offset on the face of the sector gear, connects with the rear-section (the tappet) of the tappet plate (G). This pulls the tappet plate and the connected air nozzle (F) backward about a centimetre, allowing a BB to enter the barrel.
As the piston is drawn all the way back, the tappet plate is released, pushing the BB forward into the breech (the BB's starting point in the barrel).
As the sector gear continues to turn, it will run out of teeth that can hold on to the rack on the under-side of the piston. As this happens, the piston is released.
As the piston flies forward under the pressure of the spring (B), it compresses a column of air in the cylinder (D). This air is squeezed through the air nozzle, in to the barrel, propelling the BB forward.
If semi-automatic fire has been selected, the sector gear activates an electrical cut-off as it returns to its starting position. This stops the cycle where it started ready for the next shot. If fully-automatic fire has been selected, this cut-off simply does not engage, allowing this cycle to be repeated over and over until the trigger is released.
Important Note: If shooting in fully-automatic mode, power to the circuit is cut as soon as you remove the trigger. Remember that the internal mechanism could be in any position at this point and the parts could be under considerable strain imposed by the spring. It is recommended that users shoot two semi-automatic shots to make sure the gun is reset correctly, before storing your AEG.
Throughout all of this, the non-return latch (J) stops the mechanism from moving backward. As mentioned above, when using fully-automatic mode, the moment you let go of the trigger could be at any stage during this cyclic process. If the spring is compressed at that moment, it will try and push the piston forward and the rest of the mechanism backward. This could be disastrous for the tappet plate (G).
If the cam pushes the tappet from below, as would happen if the mechanism were operating in reverse, the tappet is likely to snap off, as there is no opportunity for the mechanism to absorb this pressure. This would render the AEG unusable as no BBs would be taken from the magazine while shooting. Replacing the tappet plate is cheap, but not very easy, so this latch is a very important bit of kit to have inside the Mechbox.
Written by AirsoftGuide
www.airsoftguide.co.uk/
The diagram below shows the 'guts' of an AEG. This is the inside of the Mechbox in all its glory, with all its components still in place.
A: Spring Guide E: Cylinder Head I1: Sector Gear
B: Spring F: Air Nozzle I2: Spur Gear
C: Piston G: Tappet Plate I3: Bevel Gear
D: Cylinder H: Trigger Switch J: Non-Return Latch
In the cutaway diagram above, parts A through to F are responsible for the shooting of the BB. Parts G through to J are part of the reloading mechanism. When it is all working together, this is what happens...
The trigger is pulled by the shooter, which closes an electrical switch (H).
A Ni-Cad or Ni-MH battery pack (similar to those found in Radio Controlled Cars) powers a small motor (located beneath the Mechbox and meshing with the bevel gear (I3)).
The motor turns the bevel gear anti-clockwise, which in turn causes the other two gears to rotate - the spur gear clockwise (I2), the sector gear anti-clockwise (I1).
As the sector gear turns, its visible teeth mesh with the rack on the underside of the piston (C), pulling it back. This compresses the spring (B) and stores the energy required for the shot. At the same time, the small white circular notch (the cam), offset on the face of the sector gear, connects with the rear-section (the tappet) of the tappet plate (G). This pulls the tappet plate and the connected air nozzle (F) backward about a centimetre, allowing a BB to enter the barrel.
As the piston is drawn all the way back, the tappet plate is released, pushing the BB forward into the breech (the BB's starting point in the barrel).
As the sector gear continues to turn, it will run out of teeth that can hold on to the rack on the under-side of the piston. As this happens, the piston is released.
As the piston flies forward under the pressure of the spring (B), it compresses a column of air in the cylinder (D). This air is squeezed through the air nozzle, in to the barrel, propelling the BB forward.
If semi-automatic fire has been selected, the sector gear activates an electrical cut-off as it returns to its starting position. This stops the cycle where it started ready for the next shot. If fully-automatic fire has been selected, this cut-off simply does not engage, allowing this cycle to be repeated over and over until the trigger is released.
Important Note: If shooting in fully-automatic mode, power to the circuit is cut as soon as you remove the trigger. Remember that the internal mechanism could be in any position at this point and the parts could be under considerable strain imposed by the spring. It is recommended that users shoot two semi-automatic shots to make sure the gun is reset correctly, before storing your AEG.
Throughout all of this, the non-return latch (J) stops the mechanism from moving backward. As mentioned above, when using fully-automatic mode, the moment you let go of the trigger could be at any stage during this cyclic process. If the spring is compressed at that moment, it will try and push the piston forward and the rest of the mechanism backward. This could be disastrous for the tappet plate (G).
If the cam pushes the tappet from below, as would happen if the mechanism were operating in reverse, the tappet is likely to snap off, as there is no opportunity for the mechanism to absorb this pressure. This would render the AEG unusable as no BBs would be taken from the magazine while shooting. Replacing the tappet plate is cheap, but not very easy, so this latch is a very important bit of kit to have inside the Mechbox.
Written by AirsoftGuide
www.airsoftguide.co.uk/
