Solenoid Valve
For the first time in an Eclipse gun we are using a true Direct-Acting solenoid. What this means in terms of performance is that the solenoid pulse is far more consistent, far faster, and far more accurate than a more conventional pilot-operated solenoid valve.
Most solenoid valves used in paintball work off a Pilot system. They rely on air pressure supplied by the LPR to drive the spool inside the solenoid valve backwards and forwards. Any deviation in LPR pressure will ultimately effect the speed, duration and accuracy of the actuation of the spool. And because the actuation of the solenoid valve spool is what determines the actuation of the rammer and the valve, you can see that any variation in the pulse from the solenoid valve will ultimately effect velocity, accuracy and cycle speed.
However, in a direct-acting solenoid valve the action of the spool is controlled solely by the electromagnetic coil, and a return spring. So no matter what the pressure and recharge rate of the HP or LPR supply, the solenoid spool will always actuate fully, extremely accurately, and for exactly the same duration every time, giving the whole firing cycle the very best platform from which to achieve the highest possible velocity consistency. And consistency gives accuracy!
But the performance benefits do not stop there. Because the solenoid valves electro-magnetic plunger acts directly onto the spool, and the spool is then returned to its start position by a spring, it means that the actuation of the spool is faster in both the energising and de-energising parts of the cycle. That means the solenoid, and hence the air supply to both sides of the rammer is quicker than a more conventional pilot-operated valve.
The reason direct-acting solenoid valves are not widely used in paintball is because they inherently use more electrical power. It is electromagnetic force doing all the work to drive the spool rather than air power in other valves. But by utilizing a completely new method of actuating and driving the solenoid, Eclipse have managed to get the same long battery life out of this new direct-acting solenoid as you could expect out of the lesser performing pilot-operated solenoid valve. The new electronics allow more accurate and efficient drive of the solenoid coil over a far wider range of supply voltage from the battery. We have managed to achieve the impossible by getting big performance gains at the cost of no additional power usage.
Circuit Board
Electronically the Ego7 also offers another paintball first. Over the last 2 years we have noted the split between players who prefer an optical trigger switch, and those that prefer the more conventional and comforting click that you only get from a micro-switch. Rather than asking one group or another to have to buy an upgrade board just in order to get their preferred trigger actuation mechanism (and have to lose the functionality and ease-of-use of the Ego LCD at the same time) we thought it was only fair that the Ego7 included BOTH trigger actuation systems as standard on the board. The Ego7 can be configured to run off either the optical switch OR the micro-switch. Simply select the desired trigger operation in the software and set your trigger accordingly. The electronics will then automatically set the corresponding level and type of Debounce for the system selected.
Multiple Preset ramps modes, plus fully customizable Ramp modes with either adjustable cap up to 25 BPS or Fully Uncapped are standard. NPPL, PSP, Millennium modes are preset to make sure you are fully league compliant, or adjust and customise any mode to suit your requirements. Of course ROF indicators, shot counter and game timer are also there, and navigation is made even easier with the inclusion of fully animated Gifs to guide you along.
Trigger
With the addition of a dual-triggering system comes an all-new dual ball-raced trigger mechanism. Unlike most bearing trigger designs where the bearing is simply glued into the trigger, the Ego7 utilizes a separate bearing carrier mounted into the frame, and like previous Egos, the trigger pin clamps directly to the trigger. This gives a very wide axial spread of the side-to-side pivoting action of the trigger, leaving no slop, just a silky smooth action.
The new trigger combines a magnetic return for those using the optical trigger switch, or a choice of micro-switch spring and magnet for those wanting the click of the switch. And obviously switch activation, pre and post trigger travel and magnetic return strength are all adjustable directly in the face of the trigger. No need to drop the gun apart to make any adjustments.
Frame
The new frame now flows and moulds with fluid lines to the bottom of the main body. This not only allows for smaller, tighter packaging of the internals, but also allows the top of the hand to move up, closer to the axial line of the barrel and bolt. This makes the gun feel much more pointy as the hand comes closer to the sighting-line of the barrel. The new trigger guard is large enough for either two very big, fat fingers, or for the now widely-used three-finger technique. And to further add to the ease of shooting the 07, the trigger has been moved back in the frame and the grip made shorter from the back edge to the trigger. This combined with a much-requested slimmer grip, and gives a much more comfortable and ergonomic feel than both the 05 and 06 Egos.
The current industry standard Dovetail rail that is used to connect the ASA to the frame has consistently proved to be the weakest link for every manufacturer out there when it comes to the durability of the system used to mount the tanks to the guns. So for that reason we have shunned the flawed design of the dovetail in favour of a T-Slot design. By using a T-shaped slide rail, as opposed to the double V of the old fashioned dovetail, the ASA-To-Frame interface has been drastically strengthened. There should be no way that a well executed dive into a bunker should dislodge the ASA now, but even if you feel you have to go and use a different ASA there is still standard mounting holes in the frame to fit your own inferior rail and ASA. But why would you want to replace it when the 07 OOPS has one of the lightest actions under gas pressure, includes a downstream dump facility, and when combined with the 07 frame has over 1.5" of fore-and-aft slide adjustment to suite virtually any length of arm and size of player?
Internals
Internally there are also some radical changes. The main difference here is the complete removal of the old rammer housing. Take a look at the rear body of the Ego7 and you will notice that it is so slim that it is, in fact, thinner than the already slimmed down frame. Using new manufacturing techniques the rammer shaft (now also shorter) runs directly in the body without a sleeve, and the new swivel QEV mounts to the bottom of the body. By removing the housing we have removed unwanted metal, and reduced the number of seals required.
And because of the way the rammer now sits in the body, we have also been able to lighten the weight of the rammer, as well as reduce the pressure needed to cycle it, and the force it is driven backwards with. Combined with a shorter, lighter bolt, the reciprocating mass has been reduced. In doing so we have managed to reduce the kick induced by the bolt and rammer cycling back and forth.
The valve guide is now much smaller, both in diameter and length, and combined with the vastly improved size of the valve chamber, the porting of the new valve guide helps lower the operating pressure to well below 250psi. This makes the new 07 the lowest operating pressure Ego ever produced. Lowering the operating pressure generates 3 noticeable benefits. It not only reduces the pressure of the gas on the paintball, and hence allow the shooting of more fragile paint, it also allows the shot to be a lot quieter and the kick to be significantly less.
In order to cope with the enlarged air passages and internal volume, the valve retaining screw has also been modified, so that the transfer port between the valve and the bolt chambers could also be increased to increase flow.
Up front there are still more changes. The FRM is now integrated into the light weight body. This makes for a lower gun profile, fewer seals, improved reliability and more sturdy construction. The small Torpedo between the FRM and LPR body is there to direct the LP air from the LPR to the solenoid, and is instrumental in providing a body solution that has NO Loctitied blanking plugs and NO glued in screws.
The Inline regulator is also improved. Now a swivel design as standard, the new reg incorporates a new piston design that means the main seal is locked into place. There is now no way that the seal can become detached from the piston, no matter what daily abuse is thrown at it. Again, this is a step to improve the performance and reliability of the Ego7.
In the upper tube there is the new Cure bolt, cut to blend seamlessly with the rear of the body, and provide relief from breaks caused by over-zealous force-feed loaders and fragile tournament grade paint. The Cure bolt has been proving its worth through the second half of last season with all the Eclipse sponsored teams switching to them in order to shoot the most fragile paint going. Now a standard feature in the 07, it will really come into it’s own in the colder winter months where other guns and bolts have been known to struggle.
Barrel
So not just a whole new gun for 07, but an all-new Shaft II barrel. Using a micro-honed finish and a 2 piece design, we have kept the popular and unique reverse-thread front-to-back attachment of the old Shaft, but beefed up the mating threads to allow far superior concentricity between the 2 sections. Available as standard on the 07 you will find the new Shaft II in 2-Piece, 14" and 0.693" bore guise. New milling also helps to make this one of the lightest barrels on the market.
Weight
So what about the weight? Well, let’s just say, you thought the SL66 was light, right? Well the 07 blows that out of the water. Side-by-side with a standard Maniac Ego 06, the new Ego weighs over 8 OUNCES LESS.
Lighter, less kick, quieter signature, more compact, fewer seals, more reliable, more performance, more features, tighter profile, better looks, more adjustability, reduced operating pressure, improved grip ergonomics, easier maintenance etc, etc, etc.
The Ego7 is not just a new milling job, it’s a revelation.
