FlyWheel Prototype Help

[gbalcita]

Consider the distance the ball "rolls" along the guide while in contact with the wheel. The longer the distance the more energy lost to "rolling drag". Try reducing the contact time/distance. Also, you are pulling the ball up. Is there a way to feed the ball such that it is pushed/pulled from left to right vs. from bottom to rightalmost level to the wheel

During this rolling stage the ball looses a lots of energy/momentum. I think the drill's power rating compensated for the lost momentum and the banebot motors lost a lot of the momentum to the "rolling effect".

If the wheel was slipping against the ball then more compression should transfer more power. If you increase compression I recommend reducing contact time (noted above) to minimize energy loss. If the ball was not slipping, then more compression will result in no benefit or increased "rolling drag" along the guide.

Hope this helps.

[dellagd]

Try switching out the wheels to ones with more friction.

Are there skid marks on the ball? You arn't getting any spped increase because the increased speed is just reducing the amount the wheel can grip the ball. These factors just cancel so the ball kind of hits a point where it wont go any faster and go a greater distance.

I mean, just think about it. If the wheel is going faster, then it would have to grab more the pull the ball with it (Since the ball has inertia and resists the acceleration) All the wheels force is being imparted via friction, and you have reached the max amount of force the wheel can impart with the amount of friction you currently have.

Compression would help. Try those wheels that have that orange rubber blunt-spikey stuff on it. Lets see what those do to the ball before you even add more compression

[TEAMROCK2000]

try cutting a little bit of the end of the board part its hitting the board last u dont want that u want it touching the wheel last.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by TEAMROCK2000

try cutting a little bit of the end of the board part its hitting the board last u dont want that u want it touching the wheel last.

Speaking from experience, that isn't entirely the case. You probably actually want them to break contact at almost exactly the same time. But, I have seen at least a couple of long-range shooters that used a low wheel and a high release point to shoot--the ball went up a somewhat parabolic ramp.

Having the ball release off a backplate isn't a bad thing if you do it right--you just change the speed and angle and spin by having it go off the plate last as opposed to releasing off the wheel last. Oh, and releasing off the wheel last may have its own problems, like reducing spin.

It's all in the setup.