TEAM 1448 Build Progress

[Garrett.d.w]

Originally Posted by Bwalker

Great look model. This season really is flying by. What type of shooting mechanism are you using to fire?

I don't have a finished model of that, but I can offer you a concept.
The design itself is based on the 2008 robot built by Simbotics. I modified it to fit the smaller track balls as well as allow us to aim it. What it boils down to is a roller claw with a plunger. The roller aquires the ball, we then swing the claw up to firing position where we release a plunger (tensioned with surgical tubing) that punches the ball into the air.

Here is a video of Simbotics in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYNEAL_dK6I#t=2
Here is a reference drawing that our prototype is based off of.


And a render of a half finished digital prototype for the plunger mechanism.

[Bwalker]

Thats definitely pretty ingenious. From your drawing your plunger is powered by a motor quickly spinning the plunger out if I've looked at it correctly?

[Garrett.d.w]

Originally Posted by Bwalker

Thats definitely pretty ingenious. From your drawing your plunger is powered by a motor quickly spinning the plunger out if I've looked at it correctly?

Thank you
I should have been more clear with the second rendering. There are two carriges that run on the 80/20 beams. The front one is connected to a PVC plunger and is held to the front of the track with surgical tubing. The second carriage is connected to the lead screw. The second carriage is powered forward after each shot, where it latches on to the first carriage using a pair of pistons and then draws the whole thing back. Its like cocking a crossbow. When we want to shoot the latches release and let the plunger (and first carriage) fly forward and punch the ball into the air.

What is not shown in the rendering is the surgical tubing, the plates that attach the plunger to the first carriage, and the plates that attach the lead screw to the second carriage.