shaiqbashir Posted August 18, 2006 Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 Hi guys!well! i want to make a canon that should be able to fire tennis balls upto some height. lets say upto 80 cm above the ground. it should form a projectile of the ball. I want to use it in a robot, i just want ideas on how this cannon can be made!thanks in advance!good bye! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ante Posted August 18, 2006 Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 Hi shaiq,You can use compressed air, carbon monoxide, or perhaps a small amount of propane (cigarette lighter gas) and an igniter.Or, you could go mechanical and do it like we discussed in an earlier thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaiqbashir Posted August 19, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 19, 2006 well! thanks for the help ante!i want to go for the mechanical side only. now in the earlier thread, i remeber that i asked you about an idea of displacing the ball in the tube one by one. BUt this time, i want to fire them to a certain height above the canon in the form of a projectile. Just like a canon fires a shell and it forms a projectile before hitting the target. So, i want to make a firing canon, that can fire a tennis ball to a certain height, What should be the suitable mechanism for that. SHould i use plungers??? but plungers of this much power, i think are difficult to find isnt it..??what should be the alternatives.or should i go for a robotic crane or a robotic arm??i shall be thankful to u for ur earlier reply!Take carez!good Bye Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ante Posted August 19, 2006 Report Share Posted August 19, 2006 Ok, if you must go purely mechanic you must use some power which is equivalent to the work that’s needed to be done. A solenoid (plunger) needs power and I don’t know how much since I don’t have the formula clear. Are you in shortage of power to spend in this project? I suggested the propane / igniter variant since this will consume very little power from the project. I don’t think a robotic arm or similar would be an option here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theatronics Posted August 21, 2006 Report Share Posted August 21, 2006 Remember that a tennis ball in normal use is meant to absorb energy and then return that energy to reverse direction. You do not need a LONG throw to project the ball. A slug from a solenoid moving very quickly will make impact with the ball and compress it. The compression would be the same as if you had thrown the ball on the floor. After motion stops the fall is flattened out. The amount of flattening depends on the energy imparted.Then the ball returns the energy as it pops back into shape and springs from the floor.Force is speed times mass. If you weigh the ball and find a plunger that weighs more then the high speed movement of the solenoid will cause the ball to pop from the tube.80cm should be easy to reach with this type setup, and it will not require a long tube or a complex compressed air system. You might want to put a large bank of caps onboard and then use a high current relay (Like an automotive starter) to dump the energy into the coil. This will give you much more kick in the coil.-Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muhammad Abu Bakar Posted August 22, 2006 Report Share Posted August 22, 2006 Aslam O Alaikum Shaiq,Why not use the centrifugal force of a body rotating in circle. Acutual mechanical may consist of a continuously rotationg arm. Rotating at one end with a hand on the second end. Hand grips the ball till ball's w is sufficiently high and then release the ball. Analogy of the game where a player throws the hammer first by rotating himself in circular motion. I think this way you'll need lesser force to grip the ball while ready to be released than the case in which you apply a force to push the ball. I mean a plunger type grip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theatronics Posted August 22, 2006 Report Share Posted August 22, 2006 Hey, We could combine those ideas!Use a spinning motion to store energy in a weighted batAnd then hit the ball with the bat at the end of the swing.Still one motion. Use a notched tube to hold the ball. TheNotch on the back will guide the bat to the exact point on theBall with every hit. By tilting the tube you can get differentTrajectories.-Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaiqbashir Posted August 22, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2006 Thanks Mr. Muhammad Abu Bakar and Mr. Theatronics!both ideas seem to be pretty good and practical. Now, can u guys explain me ur ideas once more with the help of some diagrams, because i think im still having some confusions in clearly understanding ur ideas.If the centrifigual property is to be utilized, dont u thin that there would be lots of uncertainities in reaching the target, one cm wrong release and the ball will miss the basket. isnt it??how to make it very accurate.i beleive that im not getting ur great ideas clearly. Kindly provide some more explaination and diagrams if possible.I shall be thankful to u for this act of kindness.Good Bye! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theatronics Posted August 23, 2006 Report Share Posted August 23, 2006 Here is a rough sketch of the Bat and Ball Idea.Build the whole thing on a platform. Then tipThe platform to aim. The notch in the tube holdingThe ball will help insure that the bat hits the ballAt the same point each time.-Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rybitski Posted August 24, 2006 Report Share Posted August 24, 2006 This past year my team advacnced to globals in Destination Imagination, we also had to launch tennis balls. Our device was capable of launching a tenis ball a distance of 14 feet and at the 14 foot mark the ball was at least 3 feet in the air. The design was simple, a bench rrinder motor with a wheel attached. The design was similar to that of a pitching machine. I have some detailed photos, but will not upload them tonight... If you are interested in this design let me know and I will post pictures. but in the mean time here are a few: http://rybitski.googlepages.com/dipictures Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaiqbashir Posted August 24, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 24, 2006 @rybitski HI rybitski thanks for the links!your idea looks pretty useful no doubt.please upload the detailed pictures so that i can fully understand what your idea is basicallly.@TheatronicsMany thanks for that detailed pic theatronics.sorry but i still have some confusion in this picture, i want to know the plane of rotation of the bat is it rotating horizontally or vertically. And how the tube would be able to hold the ball, your notch idea is not cleared to me properly. Please please make it cleared!thanks in advance!Good Bye! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rybitski Posted August 26, 2006 Report Share Posted August 26, 2006 http://www1.snapfish.com/share/p=203251156568383057/l=122722149/g=30666963/otsc=SYE/otsi=SALBHere is the link to the album. If it doesn't work let me know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaiqbashir Posted August 27, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 27, 2006 Thanks a lot Mr. rybitski Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rybitski Posted August 27, 2006 Report Share Posted August 27, 2006 I hope that helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.