Kickstarter has been a favorite for some, allowing entrepreneurs to delve into advanced concepts and projects that would otherwise remain on the drawing board. This week we caught one by William Mace (no, not the actor, that’s William H. Macy), who is aiming to simplify the way you might mix epoxys, resins or other liquids. Now, if your imagination isn’t already moving, this could be useful for a number of applications, including spraying insulation, Polyurethane foam, Poly Urea, mold making and casting materials. The idea came to Mace while living aboard a small boat. He went through his share of frustrations attempting to cast and mold custom parts. The Dra-gun Cordless 3D Meter Mix Gun seemed like a great solution.
Dra-gun Cordless 3D Meter Mix Gun Features
When mixing resins or other two-part chemicals for any application, you’re dealing with a complex and often difficult process. You are required to deal with getting the proper ratios, mixing, application and disposal. Mace apparently had enough – and invented the Dra-gun. The Dra-gun Cordless 3D Meter Mix Gun is a power drill-mounted system that mixes the liquids in a user-configured ratio, and allows you to apply it evenly. The tool also has one more added benefit in that it virtually eliminates waste. Knowing that he’d need to be flexible, the Dra-Gun can draw liquids from external containers, or from quick-release onboard bottles that can vary in size from 16 to 32 ounces.
But that’s not the best part. The Dra-gun Cordless 3D Meter Mix Gun mounts to just about any half-inch corded or cordless drill and the entire assembly weighs just 3 pounds. The unit itself is pretty simple, but ingenious. It has two variable-displacement pumps that are both powered by the drill. Fire up the drill and each of the pumps draws liquids. Since the liquids are separated until they are brought together in the mix nozzle, the system stays fairly clean. By varying the draw rate of each pump, you can vary the mix ratio from 1:100 to 1:1.
Because everything is kept separate until the final spray stage, clean-up is simplified through the use of a biodegradable, reusable bio-diesel-based liquid. Since unused liquids are still separated and stored in their respective containers, those can be reused at a later date and you eliminate much of the waste experienced in more traditional mixing methods.
Mace’s ideas for the tool include:
- Small parts fabrication
- Truck bed lining
- Spray foam insulation application
- Hobbies
- Artwork (think “Jackson Pollock”)
Mace has been making these Dra-gun Cordless 3D Meter Mix Guns on a one-off basis, but his Kickstarter fund would allow him to scale up production considerably and also lower costs. If you can’t wait for the commercial version of this tool, a pledge of at least $992 will get you one (drill not included) when the project is fully funded. Unfortunately, with only around 20 days left, it doesn’t look like this project will be fully funded in time.
