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The spinneret mechanism in the web-shooter is machined from stainless steel, except for the turbine
component which is machined out of a block of teflon and the two turbine bearings which are made of
amber and artificial sapphire. The wristlets and web fluid cartridges are mainly nickle-plated anealed
brass. The wristlets have sharp steel nipples which pierce the bronze caps when the cartridges are
tightly wedged into their positions. The hand-wound solenoid needle valve is actuated by a palm switch
that is protected by a band of spring steel which requires a 65 pound pressure to trigger. The switch is
situated high on the palm to avoid most unwanted firings. The small battery compartment is protected
by a rubber seal. The effect of the very small turbine pump vanes is to compress (shear) the web fluid
and then force it, under pressure, through the spinneret holes which cold-draws it (stretches it: the
process wherein nylon gains a four-fold increase in tensile strength), then extrudes it through the air
where it solidifies. As the web fluid exits the spinneret holes, it is attracted to itself electrostatically
and thus can form complex shapes. The spinneret holes have three sets of adjustable, staggered
openings around the turbine which permit a single web line, a more complex, spun web line, and a
thick stream. The web line's tensile strength is estimated to be 120 pounds per square millimeter of
cross section. The 300 p.s.i. pressure in each cartridge is sufficient to force a stream of the complex
web pattern an estimated 60 feet (significantly farther if shot in a ballistic parabolic arc). |
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