Smart Parts Impulse

The Smart Parts Impulse is a family of electronic paintball markers introduced by American equipment manufacturer Smart Parts in 2000. The original Impulse used an open-bolt, stacked-tube electropneumatic operating system and was developed as a less expensive alternative to the company's Shocker Sport.[1][2]

The Impulse became associated with tournament paintball during the early 2000s and was offered in numerous customised and private-label configurations. Smart Parts introduced a substantially redesigned Impulse in 2009, shortly before the company's financial difficulties ended production.[1][3]

History

Introduction (2000)

Smart Parts developed the Impulse as an alternative to the Shocker Sport, which used a different pneumatic operating system.

The new marker incorporated a stacked-tube body with an electronically controlled solenoid, pneumatic ram and poppet-type valve.

Adam Gardner, a co-founder of Smart Parts, is identified in technical histories as a principal figure in the Impulse's development.[1]

The Impulse offered electronic firing controls, an adjustable trigger and compatibility with aftermarket components. It became part of Smart Parts' growing range of electronic tournament equipment.

Vision system (2001)

In early 2001, Smart Parts introduced the Vision anti-chop eye system for the Impulse.

Vision used an electronic sensor to detect whether a paintball was correctly positioned in the breech before permitting the marker to fire.

The system was intended to reduce paintball breakage caused by firing before the loading cycle had been completed.

Some early Impulses required modification to accommodate the system, while later bodies incorporated the necessary openings for its installation.[1]

Cricket electronics (2002)

Smart Parts introduced the Cricket electronic control board in early 2002.

The revised board replaced the earlier electronics and changed how users adjusted the marker's firing characteristics.

The Cricket system incorporated changes to dwell adjustment and anti-chop eye operation.

The original Impulse also supported an extensive aftermarket, including replacement bolts, valves, regulators, trigger frames and electronic boards.[1]

Private-label Impulses

During the early 2000s, paintball equipment companies and tournament teams offered customised Impulse markers.

These editions commonly incorporated distinctive body milling, finishes and selected aftermarket components.

Documented private-label versions included:

Adrenalin Impulse
Strange Vision Impulse
Nasty Impulse
Toxic Impulse
Rat Impulse
Eclipse Impulse
Shocktech SFL Impulse
Dark Impulse
Evil Impulse

The different editions reflected the wider custom-marker industry that developed around electronic tournament paintball during this period.[1][4]

Related Nerve marker

Smart Parts subsequently developed the Nerve, a premium electronic marker using a related stacked-tube, ram-driven operating system.

The Nerve incorporated a smaller body and additional standard components, including a low-pressure regulator.

Although related to the Impulse, it was marketed as a separate marker rather than a numbered Impulse generation.[1]

Redesigned Impulse (2009)

Smart Parts introduced an extensively redesigned Impulse in 2009.

Commonly known as the 09 Impulse, the new marker retained a ram-driven poppet-valve operating principle but differed substantially from the original Impulse in its construction and internal components.

The marker featured a compact body, internal air-transfer arrangements and components related to the DLX Luxe platform.

Smart Parts publicly unveiled the marker in May 2009 and released it at the PSP Chicago Open in June.

It was marketed at approximately US$1,000.[3]

The company's financial difficulties later in 2009 curtailed the marker's production and after-sales support.

The 09 Impulse is therefore considerably less common than the original Impulse family. A technical history estimates that approximately 900–1,100 examples were sold, although this figure is not an independently confirmed production total.[3]

Later use of the Impulse name

A new marker using the JT Impulse name appeared in 2013.

Although it reused the historic name, the JT model was mechanically distinct from the 2009 Smart Parts Impulse.

Its development followed the acquisition of Smart Parts intellectual property by KEE Action Sports. The later marker was sold under the JT USA brand.[3]

Operating system

Original Impulse

The original Impulse used an open-bolt, stacked-tube electropneumatic mechanism.

Its principal components included:

Electronic trigger and control board.
Solenoid controlling pneumatic operation.
Rammer operating the bolt and valve mechanism.
Poppet-type firing valve.
Inline pressure regulator.
Optional Vision anti-chop eye system.

The marker used compressed gas to propel paintballs, while the electronic controls managed the firing cycle.

The original design differed from the closed-bolt pneumatic system used by the Shocker Sport.[1][2]

2009 Impulse

The 2009 redesign retained a ram-driven operating principle but used a substantially different internal arrangement.

Its construction incorporated a modular body and components related to Smart Parts' contemporary high-end marker development.

The earlier and later Impulse designs should not be treated as mechanically interchangeable platforms.[3]

Models and variants

Model or variant	Introduction	Notes
Impulse	2000	Original stacked-tube electronic marker
Vision Impulse	2001	Incorporated electronic anti-chop eye technology
Cricket-equipped Impulse	2002	Revised electronic control board
Private-label Impulses	Early 2000s	Custom bodies and components produced by various companies
09 Impulse	2009	Substantially redesigned high-end electronic marker

Tournament use

The Impulse became established in tournament paintball during the early 2000s.

Its electronic firing system, customisable components and availability in private-label configurations made it suitable for the tournament equipment market.

The marker competed alongside contemporary electronic platforms including the WDP Angel, Automag, Bob Long Intimidator and Shocker.

The range was also associated with a substantial aftermarket industry supplying upgrades and customised components.[1][4]

References

External links