Axon is the name of a prototype concept marker that I was looking to build back in 2006-2008. This was my first design for a refined hammer/valve stacked-tube system, and one of my first projects that involved designing a new frame/body/etc. At the time of creating this, I hadn't previously designed many complete marker packages; the results were interestingly primitive but extremely functional, and would suite a mid-range price window. I planned to prototype this in 2007-2009 but never got around to it for reasons described later.
Here's a brief list of the proposed characteristics:
· Integrated pneumatics LPR for solenoid
· Balanced firing valve - low actuation force, low solenoid pressure, low air consumption
· Lightweight ram - no heavyweight hammer, low recoil
· Air pseudo-shutoff valve - could be used to shutoff air inlet, depending on the configuration
· Extremely high-volume solenoid - unique design, higher flowing than anything available at the time, eliminates the need for QEVs
· OLED display in frame
· Internal wire placement for anti-chop eyes
· Optimized airflow through valve and bolt
· Short-length body, shorter than Intimidators, then-Egos, etc.
· Standard stacked-tube marker features - quickstrip bolt, low maintenance valve, high cycling rate, high efficiency, etc.
Sounds pretty good on paper, so why didn't I prototype it? Well at the time I was lightly working with Vanguard who was about to release their Creed ARV marker. Those markers are more or less finished versions of my Axon, so there really wasn't much reason in building this design unless I wanted a scratch-build project. Unfortunately the Creed marker is no longer made, but Eclipse has advanced the hammer/valve marker design into new areas and it would be very difficult to enter that section of the market due to the success of markers like the Eclipse Etek.
Below are a few concept models I developed including generic parts for comparison. Also visible in these pictures is my double foregrip regulator which has two regulators built into one, and one of my earlier designs for an adjustable bottomline tank system.
Animations: fast animation; slow animation
