[JRandomFreeper]

Hmm, wonder if I could persuade some of my students to build one as a project and still keep my job?

I don't know, but I want to sign up for your class, whatever you're teaching.

/john

[Robert A Cook PE]

Seems like the right way to do it is to start the thing moving (with a spring ?) so the inital movement is assured BEFORE current is applied: the movement reduces the initial current surge when v=0 and simplifies the circuits.

[Slings and Arrows]

Hmm, wonder if I could persuade some of my students to build one as a project and still keep my job?

I don't know, but I want to sign up for your class, whatever you're teaching.

Computer science. This semester, Database System Design. Not much opportunity there.

Maybe I could offer to teach a course on digital circuitry. The rail gun would be a test to demonstrate...embedded controllers. Yeah, that's the ticket...