OVERVIEW
The aim of this project was to produce a catapult capable of throwing a 50g projectile distances of 1m, 2m, 3m, 4m, 5m into a bin of approximate size 20cm x 20xm. I was part of a group of four students and we all sketched designs, discussed ideas, produced a CAD model prototyped and made the catapult. At the end of the project, all groups competed in a competition of accuracy.
Design and construction We used Fusion360 for the CAD design and then used this to accurately make the components in the lab (see right). We chose MDF as our main material as it is strong and easy to work with. All MDF parts were joined using half joints which made it very strong. The arm was made from metal box section and had a vacuum formed cup to hold the 50g projectile. Adjustability We were allowed up to four elastic bands and to adjust throwing distance, we moved the position of each elastic band up and down the arm. We were able to produce reliable throws into the bin during competition. Poster Finally, we had to produce a poster showing the design process and justification for our design. We also included calculations and an evaluation of our final design. |