Pneu-Dart has fortified its plastic dart body by transitioning over to clear polycarbonate resin. Equipped with a color coded polypropylene Type C or Type P tail, the new PolyCarb dart is ballistically equal and structurally superior. (Poly dart only available in 0.5cc – 1.5cc darts.)
Responding to justifiable concerns over the company’s plastic dart body’s performance, the following information is intended to provide insight to our work efforts thus far and more importantly our commitment to push for product evolution.
History
In late September of 2008, the company initially received a number of calls concerning 1.5cc Type C darts splitting upon impact. This concern was later found to be consistent will all plastic dart bodies (0.5cc, 1cc & 1.5cc) in both Type C and Type P configurations. At the onset, Pneu-Dart issued a disclaimer to each subsequent consumer both verbally and in writing notifying them the expressed rate of side-wall failure. It’s imperative to note; at no time did the company outsource, change vendors, change molding techniques, nor alter the design of the product. In addition, the company tests all dart types weekly, and at no time did the company experience results similar to those expressed by a number of valued customers.
Action
On October 2, 2008 an overnight package containing resin samples and returned dart bodies were delivered to an independent testing facility. Accompanying this effort, the company sent written notification to the resin manufacturer and the color compounding company requesting assistance. Soon after receiving written notice, both vendors responded promptly and scheduled site visitations. While waiting for what ultimately turned out to be inconclusive test results from the independent lab, the company elected to proactively begin testing on what amounted to be six (6) different recommended resins. Each resin required a minimum of 10 business days to complete each set of tests. In turn, not withstanding holidays, sixty (60) business days would transpire yielding valuable insight but no definitive answers. The most telling test for any dart produced was the effect on barrel drag. Several of the recommended resins withstood pressure testing but none provided consistent drag coefficients to that of the current resin. Granted the company could elect to force each consumer to alter their power control settings, point of aim, and quite possibly upgrade their power controls altogether. None of which the company felt were viable options. It was suggested (on more than one occasion) the company should construct the dart of heavy aluminum tubing. Opposed to the imposition of projecting a projectile of increased mass, the company has elected to modify the design of all 0.5cc, 1cc and 1.5cc plastic body darts by engaging color coded tails of the current resin type with a dart body constructed of translucent and virtually indestructible resin. Complimenting this design will be a florescent orange plunger which can be seen from afar to confirm deployment.
Destined not to leave any stone unturned, the company has sought input from the Plastic Manufacturing Center of Penn State College of Technology. Through the assistance of Penn State College of Technology, a clear plan of attack had been developed and has been initiated.
In closing, we have now been shipping polycarbonate darts since 2009. Our entire staff extends a sincere thank you for all those supporting us in our continued commitment to the industry.
Sincerely,
Blair D. Soars
President