pic: 2530 Shooter Final Prototype
 

Re: pic: 2530 Shooter Final Prototype
 

The scale of this picture confuses me. Is that a regular-sized tennis ball?

Re: pic: 2530 Shooter Final Prototype
 

Not sure if I fully understand this design. Do the two shorter cylinders at the end extend first and reach an equilibrium state with the center cylinder, which then extends at an accelerated rate because of the force applied by the other two cylinders?

Re: pic: 2530 Shooter Final Prototype
 

This picture is in reference to this thread. The linked video is helpful in trying to understand the design
It looks like the housing of the long cylinder, and the rods of the two shorter cylinders, are all threaded into the underside of the white plastic plate. The rod of the long cylinder is free to move through the white plastic plate, and it ends inside the tennis ball. When the shooter is triggered, all cylinders extend simultaneously. Relative to the floor, the tennis ball moves at a velocity equal to (white plastic plate w/r/t floor)+(tennis ball w/r/t white plastic plate).

Re: pic: 2530 Shooter Final Prototype
 

I'm thinking the short cylinders are NOT threaded into the plastic plate. All 3 cylinders start pushing at the same time and the short ones just end b4 the long one. The short ones provide the extra boost needed to get the load moving and the long one provides some speed at the end. Kinda like the shuttle.