987 Kicker Destruction

[=Martin=Taylor=]

We had a part of our kicker going flying 15 feet into the air yesterday and land like a javelin in the nearby grass.

Careful when dealing with stored energy!

[wilmo]

We had a similar situation here on 868. We punched a HVAC vent back up into the ceiling testing our prototype. A few ceiling tiles also gave their lives for the cause.

[JB987]

Originally Posted by =Martin=Taylor=

We had a part of our kicker going flying 15 feet into the air yesterday and land like a javelin in the nearby grass.

Careful when dealing with stored energy!

You are absolutely right about care needed to insure safety while testing launching mechanisms. We were careful to make sure nobody was near front of mock up launcher until swing arm was locked in place. Tight elastic bands/tubing help limit out of perimeter swing arm extension too...

[Akash Rastogi]

And watch those fingers!

[Karibou]

Goodbye clock. Is Elgin next on the casualty list? [:

That's a lot of power, I'm interested in seeing how you guys are doing this. Pneumatics? Springs?

We managed to hit the light the other day (despite the shop's insanely high ceiling). Thankfully, it was already broken...

[falconmaster]

Originally Posted by John G

those slow motion videos didn't do good for me. I just saw the kicker start, and then I saw it in basically it's finished position. It might be my computer, but I think it was the video.

When they shot the video the arm moved so fast that the camera could not capture the frames.....

[waialua359]

That's gotta be two spring. right Joe?
Specifically the pneumatics only as the release mechanism.
With that much speed (force) and a relatively small mechanical advantage, it must be.

[Nurnburger]

Originally Posted by =Martin=Taylor=

We had a part of our kicker going flying 15 feet into the air yesterday and land like a javelin in the nearby grass.

Careful when dealing with stored energy!

I ran outside when I heard "OOOOOOOOOOOHHHHH!" and "Let's not tell the mentors about this."

[Jeffy]

Notice how the "foot", the part that strikes the ball, is always parallel to the ground? That is exactly how they teach you to chip a soccer ball.
This thing is awesome.

[JB987]

[quote=waialua359;900882]That's gotta be two spring. right Joe?
Specifically the pneumatics only as the release mechanism.
With that much speed (force) and a relatively small mechanical advantage, it must be.[/QUOTE

Just Lowes flat black bungee or surgical tubing snugly wrapped at bottom of arm with nearby frame

[jmanela]

robot win.

[Nica F.]

Just give me a heads up as to where you guys compete so I don't volunteer for field reset... don't want your next video description to say "Goodbye Nica"

[dtengineering]

Originally Posted by Nurnburger

I ran outside when I heard "OOOOOOOOOOOHHHHH!" and "Let's not tell the mentors about this."

Yeah, they'd be disappointed that they'd missed seeing it in person!

Jason

[Akash Rastogi]

Originally Posted by Nurnburger

I ran outside when I heard "OOOOOOOOOOOHHHHH!" and "Let's not tell the mentors about this."

Similar story.

I was in the woodshop, I heard a loud "THUMP" followed by a "....tile still there? *everyone looks up and then down*"

*facepalm*

[Vael999]

This is probably more my fault than anything, but at least its a cool camera angle

http://www.youtube.com/user/FRCTeam9.../2/XiiAZ06Ieeo