1. Range needs to be 300?X the arm length deep. More, if the projectile can bounce and keeps going.
2. How wide?
3. Will people wander through the range?
4. How much room behind? Do projectiles or trebuchet parts ever get thrown that way? How far?
5. Block spectators out of the area the sling will whip through (traffic cones? Posts and cords? A moat?)
6. When trebuchets, er, rapidly disassemble themselves, how far and in what directions do bits generally go?
7. Any need for PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)?

Thanks in advance!

Thanks for your help!

Thanks for the help,

BeardedOne

Anyway, here's the plan so far. We are using pre-treated 4x4s for the frame, the base is 5' by 10', 12' high at the axle with a 16' sling arm. We found a good piece of 1 1/2 inch steel pipe that's 6', so we have enough to either cut down or keep some extra, depending, that we will be using for the axle. We will be using a 55 gallon drum filled with water for the counterweight.

What we are trying to figure out is the idea of using bearings for the axle to reduce the friction. Either by fitting a pipe around the axle at the sling arm and putting bearings in it, or fitting pipe around the ends of the axle and having the bearings there.

Our biggest question is, if we use bearings on the ends of the axle will the weight make it malfunction? Or if we put the bearings at the sling arm?

This is our first shot at making one of this size, we have made a small tabletop trebuchet but it doesn't compare to what this thing will be!

If anyone reads this, I really appreciate it.

Dominick

I am hoping that this forum can best answer a question from a newbie. It's a bit unusual. I am designing professional pitching horseshoes and want to create a piece of equipment that will test launch each design as if it were pitched by an individual between 27 and 30 feet. I have been experimenting a bit with moving around the center of gravity of the designed horseshoes by adding and subtracting weight from various locations around the perimeter of the horseshoe. I want to be able to create a device that would simulate a person pitching the horseshoe underhanded. It seems that my simplest solution would involve a spring of strength necessary to pitch the shoe with a trigger release at the appropriate location.

I need to buy the necessary spring, but, don't know how to calculate the strength necessary and convey the request to a spring company. I would assume a launch angle between 30 and 45 degrees. Weight: 2-1/2 pounds. Release point: About 3 feet above the ground. Any help appreciated.

image

http://forum.istorija.net/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=3931&mid=61246#M61246

Just some quick specs…

The competition requires throwing a gallon milk jug full of water (8.35lbs) 45-60 yards. Trebuchets only, no catapults. Scores are based off of how close we are to hitting a "castle wall". Our actual competition is this weekend.
We built a HCW trebuchet out of 2x4's and 2x6's and are using 300-400lbs of counterweight.

Thank you for your time and resources….
~Levi

Conor

Basically, I built a copy (sorry, its too cool!) of your Golf Ball Beast over the past three weeks. I have the frame done, but one major setback I am having is the throwing end. I have an arm, the counterweight arm, primary and secondary triggers, but i can never get the arm to stop its forward motion after it has flung. I'm hoping it will be as simple as adding a projectile, but I don't know. I guess I am just horrible at tuning.

My tuning method thus far has been to rotate between the holes I have drilled in the arm and the counterweight arm, trying to get that perfect combination, but to no avail. Any tips and or pointers?

Thanks!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UNmxO_l2ig

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jyINsWxvqk

We are also looking at other suggestions at trebuchets. (F2K Series disqualified)

Thanks!