Fully automatic tennis ball cannon

pictures:
http://picasaweb.google.com/chupa0/Cannon?authkey=Gv1sRgCOCQtYiG8f-WOA&fe...


Check out my other 2 videos for a shot down the feed system and hitting a jug of water.


A fully automatic tennis ball cannon built by myself. It uses 4 pneumatic cylinders to load the balls from a hopper and a regular old sprinkler system valve to dump the air in the tank. I built a sequencer using an AVR micro-controller to control the valve manifold.


These shots were at 60PSI. I have the ability to go up to 140PSI (the max my compressor will put out). The system is rated for 250 PSI but I don't think ill ever have the ability to try it at that pressure.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• tennis
• cannon
• potato
• launcher
• ball
• dog
• fetch
• AVR
• atmel

[chupa808]

It shoots harder than you can throw. By a long shot

[jlstalman1980]

My son loves this thing so I now have to build it as a father son project. Can you give more information on the barrel loading device. How did you attach the cylinder to the PVC pipe for your air supply, and what is the "piston" made of ? I will be using a PLC for the sequence so any help on the timing vales would be great also. This is a great project and Im looking forward to it.

[chupa808]

@jlstalman1980 The piston is the only part that's custom machined. It’s a piece of round PVC tubing stock turned down to fit as tight as possible in the barrel yet still slide with little effort.

[StopMotionMind]

It (DEFINITELY) appears as if you haven't modifed your sprinkler valve to accomodate for this use. Make the pilot valve larger, that'll get rid of the honking noise.

[chupa808]

@StopMotionMind  i love the sound though!

[Nickhansen1992]

the balls all appear to spray water when they hit the wall, is this part of the cannon or from when they landed in the pool before?

[chupa808]

It works a lot better when the barrel is wet. I will dunk the balls in water before loading them into the hopper. Or in some cases just dump some water right down the barrel.

It helps a lot when cramming a 2.7" dia ball into a 2.5" pipe.

[Fragite]

cannon: *psst-pfff-tsssss-honk-click-p­ssss*poof*psst-pfff-tsssss-hon­k-click-pssss*poof*psst-pfff-t­sssss-honk-click-pssss*

me: *throw*pick up*throw*pick up*throw*

[JAYSTER9711]

sounds kinda like a song when the mechanism is firing up. thums up if u agree!

[SuperSpaucy123]

More like semi auto.

[younggangster22]

look out its a cat launcher (WARNING they will scratch your face)

[Aleexmaan]

Now find a dog

[chargers705]

If I had a baseball bat at the other end...

[Orchdorktilldeath]

I want to know ow to make one

[DaMagicConchShell]

i can hit a tennis ballsack harder than that........

[dp2pl8]

DUBSTEP GUN!!!



[jorlin11]

really good!  and i think you used a plc! true?