Good Afternoon, all…
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.
