Team 314 Launcher

[RonnieS]

This is our final design review launcher, there is still evaluations being done but this video does a good job of showing our half court-in sweet spot. Hope you enjoy!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWRYRpHFIaE

Here is the link for Intake and Shooter video, roughly 19 feet away.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1coTKRfynA

[Ether]

Originally Posted by Ronnie314

This is our final design review launcher, there is still evaluations being done but this video does a good job of showing our half court-in sweet spot. Hope you enjoy!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWRYRpHFIaE

How do you plan to pull back, hold, and release it ??

[RonnieS]

Originally Posted by Ether

How do you plan to pull back, hold, and release it ??

We have a gen 1 shifter that I took the high gear out of and milled the teeth (3 of them)down to a flat face so that when the high gear transfers from low (winching the catapult back) to high (releasing into a free spin) where the dog has nothing to grab and the shaft releases to the direction of tension making the ball fly. On the output shaft there is an external ratcheting mechanism so that the tensions is released from the motors as it is drawn back. Also, we adjust our hard stop so we can get different angle shots such as a blop shot for a good truss toss.

[ohrly?]

What are you using as a spring? Do you find the initial angle of the spring makes a difference?

[jblay]

Great prototype, how far were you guys from the goal in those first couple of shots? Looked like half field.

[Mr. Lim]

Impressive!

Are you guys changing any of your parameters between the different shot ranges?

It looks like it really is a "sweet spot" where everything stays the same: retract length, hardstop length, tension, etc.

[Physicguy]

What was your effective range on that launcher? It seemed like you could still score really close to the goal.

[sdcantrell56]

This is a really impressive catapult. Basically what we are looking for as well. Good job!

[RonnieS]

Originally Posted by jblay

Great prototype, how far were you guys from the goal in those first couple of shots? Looked like half field.

It starts off at half field, directly under the truss. We then move it forward. We can score in a 21 ft radius from the from of the goal with the same hard stop point and spring tension and release point. We are only going to change hard stop for the purpose of a "soft shot" for good truss catchable pass.

[RonnieS]

Originally Posted by Physicguy

What was your effective range on that launcher? It seemed like you could still score really close to the goal.

We can be as close as 3 feet away with the same sweet spot as half court

[RonnieS]

Originally Posted by Mr. Lim

Impressive!

Are you guys changing any of your parameters between the different shot ranges?

It looks like it really is a "sweet spot" where everything stays the same: retract length, hardstop length, tension, etc.

Exact same tension and release point. Our hard stop doubles as hard stop and release point adjuster.

[Colin Small]

Originally Posted by Ronnie314

We have a gen 1 shifter that I took the high gear out of and milled the teeth (3 of them)down to a flat face so that when the high gear transfers from low (winching the catapult back) to high (releasing into a free spin) where the dog has nothing to grab and the shaft releases to the direction of tension making the ball fly. On the output shaft there is an external ratcheting mechanism so that the tensions is released from the motors as it is drawn back. Also, we adjust our hard stop so we can get different angle shots such as a blop shot for a good truss toss.

I'm not quite sure what what you mean. Is it that you have it timed so that the gear isn't engaged (because of the three shaved teeth) when you want to poll the dog out? I'm confused....

[WaterClaw]

Originally Posted by Ronnie314

This is our final design review launcher, there is still evaluations being done but this video does a good job of showing our half court-in sweet spot. Hope you enjoy!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWRYRpHFIaE

Too inaccurate for my full appreciation.

[IKE]

Very impressive catapult. I look forward to seeing what you guys have together in robot form in just a few weeks.

[RonnieS]

Originally Posted by WaterClaw

Too inaccurate for my full appreciation.

I do not know if this is sarcastic or not but 98% accuracy from anywhere inside the truss to goal area is pretty good in my book for a PROTOTYPE...The one miss was from not pulling back to the same spot attempting to see if less tension on the same dead stop point would give us more of a line drive rather then a tad bit of loft. And clearly shown, the less tension was not enough to make a half court shot...it was very valuable data for our team and proto testing. Again, this is not attacking just clarifying just in case it was not sarcastic. Thanks.