A compulsator is a compensated pulsed alternator. Basically this is an alternator designed to produce fast, high power, low rise time pulses by providing an impedance compensation system. The alternator produces an alternating voltage signal across the rotor coil terminals in response to being rotated through the magnetic field set-up in the stator. In addition, a conduction shell is mounted in the air gap between the stator and rotor, with a compensating coil mounted to it. So, the major components of a compulsator are: mechanical rotational input, stator with field coils, rotor with armature coils, shield with compensating coils, and lastly a switching system. The switching system allows the AC voltage signal generated in the rotor to be tapped and directed into the load (rails and projectile) at the desired time and thus desired voltage initiating a current pulse and then disconnecting the load from the rotor circuit stopping the pulse.
Any ideas on how I can build such a thing without a lot of expense?