Former SpaceX engineer, James Roland Jones has built a working Plasma Gun
In Hermosa Beach, CA, 33 year old James Roland Jones has built a working plasma gun, which he intends to sell on his web site. Ā The former SpaceX engineer, and employee of Elon Musk, has put his ingenuity to the test to see if he can accomplish something that has never been done. Ā The first prototypes are complete, and the site is live and accepting orders, but what sparked such a unique idea?
Where did you come up with this idea?
In 2018, I ended up getting one of Elon Muskās flamethrowers for the Boring Company. Ā The flamethrower was certainly a fun toy, and whenever friends would visit, we would inevitably get out the flamethrower. Ā After a while, I got tired of playing with the flamethrower, and wanted to make something even cooler. Ā I had seen people on YouTube make āplasma gunsā online, but all their guns looked like they had been made from a home improvement store. Ā I knew I could make something better.
How long did it take you to make the first version?
It took me a while to find the right supplies and materials to handle the temperatures the gun produced. Ā Unlike the flamethrower, I wasnāt just modifying a roofing torch, I was starting from scratch. Ā I tried to use existing products at first, but nothing really looked right, and could handle the heat of the MAP gas. Ā I melted a few designs at first, but after about 3 months I had something that worked. Ā It needed a lot of refinement, and still did not have the sleek style I was going for. Ā Then I discovered 3D printing, and this changed the game for me. Ā I started designing custom sections, and eventually I redesigned the whole thing. Ā I took some of my experience at SpaceX and simplified the design as best as I could. Ā I also optimized the top portion to get the loudest bang and best plasma ball expelled out the front.
Is the plasma gun available to buy now?
I have a working prototype that I am selling as I get orders. I set up a website; realplasmagun.com, and people can order from there. Ā The current design works well, but I need to lower my cost on the current design, Iām selling it for a minimal profit now. Ā I hope to scale up the idea and get it so I can sell a lot more than I can now. Ā
The project was a lot of fun, and great to put my engineering skills to good use. Ā The plasma gun is certainly more fun than the flamethrower, and people are always shocked to see it in action. Ā Itās visually stunning, and very loud! Ā Iām happy with my final product, and it will be tough to make something cooler than this.
As a former SpaceX engineer, James Roland Jones knows it takes a lot to launch a successful product. Ā Working for one of the top engineering titans in the world, Elon Musk, James Roland Jones was able to absorb some of the methodologies that make SpaceX successful. Ā Many of the design decisions were the same approach to design that SpaceX uses today. Ā It may not be rocket science but making plasma guns is certainly a blast!
