Team 7 - Design Process

Our initial design for the launcher was a 5-bar quick return mechanism. This design for the main mechanism remained relatively unchanged throughout the entire process of the project. However, what did change over time was what task the mechanism would actually perform.

First, the idea was for the mechanism to pull a spring back that would launch the ball through the barrel. This idea involved using a push platform to both pull the spring back and push the ball forward. We would have used a trigger mechanism to hold the platform in place before pulling it to unleash it. A hook would have been connected to the top slider to pull that platform back. It would have descended at an angle in order to eventually slip off of the platform to free it. Eventually, we realized that our motor would not be strong enough to pull a majority of the springs available for purchase. The ones that it could pull would not have enough force to launch the ball. So our plans changed.

The second and final idea we had for the mechanism maintained the main mechanism design. This time, however, we decided that we would use the push platform to instead push the ball into a spinning wheel/gear to launch it. We would create a barrel with a slot for the rotating gear and a hole at the top to let balls fall inside. The push platform would have to not only be able to push the ball but be able to prevent other balls from falling into the barrel while one is already inside. The push platform would be connected to the slider.