This is one of twelve that I have added, I added it right after "Doom Ray" in the xml.

   <Weapon>
      <Name>MainBeamCannon</Name>
      <DisplayName>Main Beam Cannon</DisplayName>
      <Class>B</Class>
      <Type>5</Type>
      <Size>1</Size>
      <SizeMod>1</SizeMod>
      <Cost>0</Cost>
      <Damage>50</Damage>
      <Model>Plasma2</Model>
      <Thumbnail>Plasma2</Thumbnail>
      <Category>Beam</Category>
      <Tech_Requirement></Tech_Requirement>
      <Animation>WFX_DoomRay01.x</Animation>
      <Explosion>explosion01.png</Explosion>
      <AttackSound>battle_doomray_attack</AttackSound>
      <ExplosionSound0>battle_explosion_small</ExplosionSound0>
      <ExplosionSound1>battle_explosion_small_2</ExplosionSound1>
      <ExplosionSound2>battle_explosion_small</ExplosionSound2>
      <DeflectSound>battle_shield_deflect_3</DeflectSound>
      <ScaleWidthPercent>100</ScaleWidthPercent>
      <FrameCount>63</FrameCount>
      <LaunchFrame>3</LaunchFrame>
      <ImpactFrame>59</ImpactFrame>
   </Weapon>

Well I didn't actually full out write these, I just copied the best one and changed variables. In that one's case I took the doom ray copied it and changed it. I only changed the cost, damage, size, sizemod, tech requirements, and the names, left everything else the same. Would positioning have anything to do with it? Like should it be placed at the begining of the beam weapons or at the end because of the tech requirements i wasn't sure.

On a side note, I changed one of the Hulls, would that be causing my problem? And also, is there a way to make it so that these modified components would only be used by my custom race?

OK, well thank you for your time, I'll figure out what I'm doing wrong eventually.

Not exactly..... there are components with no requirements, but they have no requirement tag at all. Try removing it.