[Wren Hensgen]

The last time I did this, we used some fairly large (2-7/8ths) bore cylinders to throw the 2014 Aerial Assist ball.

A couple things to keep in mind:

Assuming you're using a decently sized cylinder, it should be a priority for you to keep your hoses to a minimum, and use a solenoid with enough flow rate to handle the shot.

You can latch a cylinder in place (we used a gate latch for this), or brake it, so that the pressure has a moment to build behind the piston. We found that even a quarter second gave us a significantly harder shot. This also gives you an adjustment, varying the charge time by fractions of a second results in different powers and arcs.

It's better to have a solid mechanical stop for the arm of the catapult. Don't slam the cylinder against the end of the travel if you can avoid it.

You'll get a better exhaust rate, and thus, a better throw, if you simply don't retract the cylinder. Leave the top port empty in order to do this legally.


Good luck!