The Ping Pong Projector
Client Company -
Hobby Spectacle, Inc.
Consumer Target -
Society
Designer -
Nathanael DeKastle and Sam Potter
Problem Statement -
A leading hobby company is looking to improve an existing launcher design. The device must launch a projectile using the materials provided. The device must be adjustable so that projectile launches can be precise at varying distances. The winning design will receive cash for a patent that can be mass-produced as a kit and sold to the public. Members from the company will be present during the launching phase of the process.
Design Statement -
Improve an existing design, then build and test a device that will launch a projectile varying distances with precision and accuracy.
The Constraints
1. Must be constructed using the materials outlined by the instructor.
2. Must be adjustable to different angles including: 10, 20, 30, 40, 45, 50, 60, 70, 80 degrees.
3. Must have the same initial velocity at any adjusted angle.
Must launch a projectile at least 15 ft.
2. Must be adjustable to different angles including: 10, 20, 30, 40, 45, 50, 60, 70, 80 degrees.
3. Must have the same initial velocity at any adjusted angle.
Must launch a projectile at least 15 ft.
How Our Design Started
We started out our design with a simple crossbow concept idea, with a motor that is hooked up to a small gear that is turning a large gear to create more ease of lifting the arm for adjusting the angle. We had a long arm with a rubber band hooked up to poles at the end of the arm for tentioning the rubber band with. And we had a track on the arm that the ping pong ball ran on for launching.
|
How We Changed the Design
First, we changed the fact that there are now arms outstretched from the end of the launch arm to increase tension ability and so that the rubber band wouldn't get caught in the track. Then we added a scissor lift for more mechanical advantage because the launch arm was too heavy for the motor to lift with the gear concept. Then the next thing we added was a track on the arm and added a bumper that ran along the track with stoppers for the ping pong so the bumper hits the ping pong ball increasing distance and accuracy by reducing curve of the ball.
|
Our Final Design
Our design delivers a robust, powerful and accurate design. Only our design delivers this degree of accuracy and range. The Ping Pong Projector is a one of a kind ball launcher. We have made marks along the launch arm for optimized speeds.
Equations
We use this equation to measure the hypotenuse of the triangle of the total distance. It is used for the x in all the other equations. We can use this equation if we know the length in the x direction and the height in the y direction.
We use this equation to figure out the initial velocity of the launch. This is helpfull to calculate the distance the ball will travel. We can use this equation if we know the constant of gravity, the delta x and the angle of firing.
We use this equation to figure out the angle we need to use for firing. If we know the delta x and the constant of gravity, and the initial velocity.
Data
For Power 1 we calculated that the average speed in m/s is 3.989 m/s. This means you can make short shots with accuracy.
With power setting 2 we calculated that the average initial velocity of the ball is 6.534 m/s. This means you can accurately calculate the angle for a given range between 3.97 meters down to 2.65 meters.
For power 3 we calculated the average initial velocity as 8.257 m/s. This means you can accurately calculate the degree of angle you need to launch it with a range of 6.35 meters down to 6.03 meters.