Floating Arm Trebuchet

Our home-made F.A.T. launching a golfball approx. 400 ft. with 40 lbs. counterweight.
The original F.A.T. was designed by Ron Tom. We've improved on some of the aspects by adding a downward angle on the rear tracks, and putting counterweight on the inside. We also added our own trigger and guide bearing systems.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• fat
• trebuchet
• floating
• catapult
• launch

[TeamCatapult]

interesting, looks a little wobbly tho

[stereomind23]

@TeamCatapult The treb or the video?

[Luddiver]

what do you use as firing mechanism? and same question about the guide bearing system...?

[stereomind23]

The triggers are two Lexan hooks (about 15mm thick) that pivot smoothly out of the way of the axle when the cord is pulled.

The upright bearings are long (about 20-25cm) pieces of flat aluminum bar stock (about 6mm thick, 25mm wide) with slightly rounded edges, that slides inside of the uprights. They have holes drilled in the middle that are just big enough to accept the axle. The axle is kept in place by the uprights themselves.

I will take some pics next time I'm around the treb.

[TeamCatapult]

@kylemwalker I would suggest not to do a steeper angle, have you ever tried to simulate a throw with a physics software? It clearly shows that there is no need for a steep angle like that, my design had a mutch lower angle and we got an efficiancy of 41%.

[kylemwalker]

I considered designing mine with a downward angle on the tracks as well, but it seems like that might cause some of the energy to be lost. has doing that improved your shots?

[smegloza]

slip 1 waterballoon inside another to double the strength for launch

[barahona125]

dude thats awsome. those little things launch so far! Please watch my tebuchet vid. If you see anything I might need to improve please tell me thanks!~ :D

[Limpfittz]

it's very clever as the weight goes down with much more force than it would with a trebutche

[stereomind23]

Sometimes. Although that also depends on what you're chunking. For water baloons, too much counterweight might cause them to burst just from the exit g-force.

remember to make videos!!

also try launching eggs (we've sent a few over 200 feet without making an omelette in mid-air :)