Airlab

[Tacitus]

Hi all,

I'd like to announce the launch of our new website, Airlab. We are an airsoft engineering retailer based in the UK, specialising in airsoft upgrade components and services. We want to help airsofters tune and upgrade their guns to reach high performance levels, so we also have the 'Workshop', a section of the website dedicated to guides and instructions for people new to tuning work, specialising in AEGs for now. Right now we only have a few products and articles, but more of everything will be added soon.

We only sell and recommend things which we have personal experience with and trust to be of excellent quality*. Some of our products we design and make ourselves, others are from trusted third parties. We have significant experience tuning airsoft guns and we want to share that expertise with our customers through carefully selected product sales and recommendations, alongside in-depth articles on good workshop practices.

Currently we make Sorbothane pads, high current MOSFETs and self-resetting fuses. We are working on some new, unique products which will be launched soon.

We are also taking pre-orders on TerminusX motors, bushings and pinion gears. TerminusX is a new small scale product developer in the Philippines, producing some of the best airsoft components available today. Airlab is lucky to have exclusive distribution rights for the UK.

Please let me know what you think of the site, and if you have any suggestions at all, including products or articles you would like to see. Of course I'm always keen to talk about airsoft upgrades, so if you have any questions please get in touch.

Thanks,

Lee

Click here to visit the online store​

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*This means we have rigorously tested the products and have personal experience with the services we recommend. We do not, and will never accept payment from others in return for recommendations.

 

[Airsoft-Ed]

Nice site.

Just read through a few of the guides and they're very well written and easy to follow, where appropriate adding photos would be great though, especially with regard to rewiring or taking things apart.

It'd be good to see a few gearbox disassembly guides, with hi-res images and maybe a few guides to show how to change a spring, shim the gears, fit an ASCU (as they replace the anti-reversal latch and I haven't a clue where to start lol).

Really like the site up to now though, I'll favourite it.

 

[Tacitus]

Nice site.
Just read through a few of the guides and they're very well written and easy to follow, where appropriate adding photos would be great though, especially with regard to rewiring or taking things apart.

It'd be good to see a few gearbox disassembly guides, with hi-res images and maybe a few guides to show how to change a spring, shim the gears, fit an ASCU (as they replace the anti-reversal latch and I haven't a clue where to start lol).

Really like the site up to now though, I'll favourite it.

Really glad you like the site.

More photos are on the way. I actually already have a lot more photos of the sorbothane installation instructions waiting to go up, so that will happen first. I like your suggestions for future articles too, covering the basics first makes a lot of sense.

Let me know if you have any other suggestions.

 

[Tacitus]

Sorry things have been a little quiet, most of my time has been devoted to product development. I can't make any announcements yet, but hopefully I'll have something ready to show within a month.

In the meantime I'd like to ask people for feedback on what they think of the site, and if there are any particular products or services they'd like to see made available in the UK. I'm talking to suppliers and deciding which products to stock, but nothing is set in stone yet so suggestions are welcome.

TerminusX motors are still available to pre-order. Based on our tests, they are truly fearsome little beasts! Airlab's powerful MOSFETs, self-resetting fuses and sorbothane pads are in stock and ready to ship.

Thanks,

Lee

 

[Tacitus]

Hi,

I've received an update about TerminusX upgrade components. The deadline for pre-orders is the 6th of May, so there are just under 3 weeks remaining for people to get their orders in before manufacturing starts.

TerminusX Motors are individually crafted, only using the strongest neodymium magnets. This gives them superior magnetic flux, increasing their torque output over other motors, even at the extremely high speeds they are capable of. Being hand made, TerminusX motors have impeccable quality control, ensuring each and every unit performs perfectly. They come in 3 varieties to allow you to precisely tune your AEG as needed.

TerminusX Bushings are made from high speed steel, with a high tungsten carbide content. High speed steel is used in the machining industry to cut other steels because of its immense hardness. This quality makes it the perfect material to withstand extended use in upgraded guns, making them the best choice when tuning an AEG for reliability. Made in 7mm and 8mm.

TerminusX Pinion Gears are made from chromium molybdenum steel, a class of steel with a superb strength to weight ratio. A chrome coating gives it increased durability, lubricity and corrosion resistance. This combination of materials is commonly used in firearm components, and these pinion gears are by far the most advanced available in airsoft. Available for D and O shaped motor shafts.

We also have MOSFETS, self-resetting fuses and sorbothane pads in stock, all made by Airlab.

Click here to visit the online store.

Thanks,

Lee

 

[Tacitus]

Hi all,

R-hops made by HunterSeeker Armory are now available in the UK for the first time.

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The R-hop is an accuracy upgrade which has caused a revolution in the airsoft tuning world, enabling airsofters to easily attain peak accuracy and range. It replaces the hop up mound with an extended concave contact patch, providing several advantages:

• Improves accuracy
  
• Increases range
  
• Allows use of heavier ammo
  
• Improves nozzle/bucking airseal
  

The R-hop applies smooth acceleration and even backspin resulting in a more stable, flatter BB trajectory. Due to the increased surface area and high friction material, even extremely heavy ammo can be used. It improves airseal by separating the mound from the bucking lips, enabling you to choose a bucking based solely on airseal performance without sacrificing backspin.

The R-hop comes in several varieties. The Z-kit is the easiest and quickest to install, requiring much less work than the original R-hop, without compromising performance. More information is on the product page.

Thanks,

Lee

Click here to visit the online store.​

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[Tacitus]

Z-kits are sold out, but more are on their way and should arrive within 10 working days, probably much sooner. Please feel free to order in the meantime!

 

[Tacitus]

ETA on the next batch is this Friday (4th May). Those wishing to reserve R-hops are welcome to place pre-orders. Thanks

 

[Tacitus]

No R-hops today, hopefully tomorrow. I'll keep this thread updated. Thanks

 

[Tacitus]

Hi,

The deadline for TerminusX pre-orders is this Sunday (6th) at midnight! Orders can be placed via the website: Airlab. TerminusX make some awesome products, but only in limited runs so this will be your last chance to get hold of them for the time being.

Motors:

Merlin - Speed

Thunder - Balanced

Omega - Torque

High Speed Steel/Tungsten Carbide Alloy Bushings:

7mm

8mm

Chromium Molybdenum, Hard Chrome coated Pinion Gears:

D Shape

O Shape

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Click here to visit the online store.

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[Tacitus]

Hi,

R-hops made by HunterSeeker Armory are now back in stock!

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Thanks,

Lee

Click here to visit the online store.​

​

 

[Tacitus]

At midnight tonight the pre-order window closes for TerminusX motors, bushings and pinion gears! Orders can be placed on the website.

I will also be taking pre-order for the new gearsets, pistons and ER-hop compatible stainless steel barrels. Please PM me or use the contact page on my site to register your interest for these new products.

Thanks,

Lee

 

[Tacitus]

R-hops are back in stock, earlier than expected. :lol:

Thanks,

Lee

 

[ScoobySnacks]

Hi Lee.

Had a look through the site, the guides are clear and well written, and easy to follow. I have a couple of questions though.

What exactly is sorbothane? Where does it go, what does it do and why should we fit it to our guns? I'm in the process of restoring a couple of slightly abused aeg's, but haven't had much experience with electric firing systems so this is new to me.

What are the benefits of a MOSFET (and what exactly do they do?) I know what a MOSFET is in terms of an electronic circuit, but I think the airsoft MOSFET contains a few more elements than just a small op-amp, and does a few more things.

Do you have a RW location that customers can visit? I have a few problems that I'm not sure how to describe, so it would be great to be able to demonstrate them to someone who might know how to fix them.

Cheers

Scoobs.

 

[Tacitus]

Hi Lee.
Had a look through the site, the guides are clear and well written, and easy to follow. I have a couple of questions though.

What exactly is sorbothane? Where does it go, what does it do and why should we fit it to our guns? I'm in the process of restoring a couple of slightly abused aeg's, but haven't had much experience with electric firing systems so this is new to me.

What are the benefits of a MOSFET (and what exactly do they do?) I know what a MOSFET is in terms of an electronic circuit, but I think the airsoft MOSFET contains a few more elements than just a small op-amp, and does a few more things.

Do you have a RW location that customers can visit? I have a few problems that I'm not sure how to describe, so it would be great to be able to demonstrate them to someone who might know how to fix them.

Cheers

Scoobs.

Glad you like the guides. I'm planning to add pictures to make them all a bit clearer.

Sorbothane is a trademarked name for a specific type of soft polyurethane. It has very good shock absorption and vibration dampening properties and is commonly used by audiophiles/sound engineers to isolate speakers, and also as insoles for runners. It retains its shape perfectly, and it can be cast easily so a lot of different products are possible.

In airsoft, it's used to absorb excess energy when the piston slams into the cylinder head at the end of the firing cycle. AEG pistons are powered with a simple spring which just propels the piston forward. It's a simple and very effective system, but once the piston has done its job and pushed all the air out of the cylinder, the only thing stopping it is the rubber pad on the cylinder head (unless you have an air brake, which throws up some new problems and isn't suitable for full-auto). The problem is that the rubber pad is way too hard, meaning that instead of absorbing energy, it transfers energy through the cylinder head and into the gearbox shell where it can cause damage. This is especially true in V2 gearboxes which are weaker at the front corners of the cylinder window - the front of the gearbox can crack off in unprotected AEGs. Sorbothane is the perfect material to replace the hard rubber pad because it's highly shock absorbent, but keeps its shape and won't deform over time. It uses the excess energy from the piston to deform, so the energy is absorbed and converted to a small amount of heat. Nowhere near enough heat to actually get hot though! So with sorbo the gearbox will never crack.

Sorbothane also corrects the angle of engagement, which is crucial for the longevity of the piston. There's a lot more information on the Sorbothane Pad product page under the 'More Information' heading.

MOSFETs are useful because AEGs can draw a huge amount of power. This is a problem because the vast majority of AEGs don't come with any electronics installed (and the ones that do are generally quite poor - although I'm sure someone out there would disagree). Anyway, so all that power has to travel through the trigger contacts, which can cause arcing (sparks). This arcing leaves a burnt carbon deposit on the contacts, increasing electrical resistance over time, eventually getting so bad that the gun's performance is seriously reduced or halted altogether. Arcing can also get the plastic trigger assembly so hot it melts. A MOSFET bypasses the trigger contacts, sending power directly to the motor. The trigger contacts are only used to carry a signal which (instantly) tells the MOSFET when to fire the gun. So with a MOSFET installed, there's no trigger switch arcing, which allows the trigger switch to last indefinitely.

MOSFETs are also more efficient due to the reduced electrical resistance, so a slight rate of fire boost and improvement in battery life can sometimes be gained depending on your previous setup.

MOSFETs in airsoft vary wildly from simple electronic transistors to fully computerised fire control units. My MOSFETs are designed to be simple but very powerful and therefore highly reliable in all guns, even highly upgraded AEGs which draw a lot more power. There's more information on the MOSFET product page.

I hope that was at least sort of useful! I'm sorry if some of it was too basic or too complex, I don't know how much you know already... Either way please let me know if you have any questions!

There's no physical shop yet, everything is done by mail order. You'd be welcome to visit though, we'd just need to arrange it in advance.

 

[Tacitus]

Wow I haven't done a proper update in ages.

There's a LOT of new products in stock. Lonex internals + flash mags (cheaper than anywhere else as far as I'm aware). Siegetek gears - no introduction necessary! HSA Barrel Lockdown Kits - really nice, easy to install accuracy upgrade. Also TerminusX 8mm Bushings, but there's only 1 set left in stock :/

 

[ScoobySnacks]

Thanks Taciturn, good answers, well explained.

So the MOSFET might be as simple as an op-amp, taking the signal from the trigger switch and allowing a much larger current to pass. A bit like the relays in a car. I've read about all sorts of different things that are claimed for MOSFETs, but what you've said makes sense.

My background is aero engineering, so I know a fair bit about electrics and electronics, but not much about how it's implemented in an AEG.

What sort of area of the country are you guys based in?

Cheers

Matt

 

[Tacitus]

Sorry about the delay in responding. I don't think my notifications were turned on :/

Anyway yeah a MOSFET is a lot like a solid state relay. I'll be stocking the new BTC Chimera soon which has about as many bells and whistles as you can fit onto a 'MOSFET'. Although at this point the term MOSFET should really be replaced with something like 'electronic fire control unit'. It has a microprocessor so it's basically a computer with powerful solid state switches. I was a beta tester for the Chimera, and it's an impressive bit of kit. I'm taking pre-orders now, ahead of the launch which should happen within a month. I'll post up a pic soon, but in the meantime the details are on my website.

 

[sl1k]

Would just like to say it's fantastic to have a retailer of performance parts for the more experienced techs and general performance freaks! (Such as I)

Had a really good experience getting sorbo pads, AOE adjusted to perfection! Will be ordering the IR hop soon when I get my new prommy barrel.

If I can make a suggestion, I think it would be great if you was to offer a swiss cheese service of the Lonex pistons you have, I know a few people who'd order some straight away (like myself as a drill is about the only tool I don't have atm.)

 

[Tacitus]

Thanks! The new sorbo pads are slightly thicker to compensate for spring pre-compression. I need to update the photo on my website...

Pre-swiss cheesed pistons are certainly doable. But it would probably add another £15 on top of the price of the piston and I'm not sure if people would be willing to pay that much. What do you think?