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Catapult questions...
Posted: Sun Jun 04, 2006 9:06 pm
by D-Roc
I don't know why but I feel like making a giant catapult...
Should it be powered by a:
a) Tension spring
b) Weight
Which would have a more power? For the tension spring I'll use a 80-100 pound heavy duty tension spring. For the weight I'll use a 100-150 pound barbell weight....
Posted: Sun Jun 04, 2006 9:17 pm
by ProfessorAmadeus
make a big trebuchet. those are awesome and simple to build.
Posted: Sun Jun 04, 2006 9:19 pm
by saladtossser
weights, for the classical look and feel
Posted: Sun Jun 04, 2006 10:20 pm
by A-98
hmmm you know you can buy kits online, if anything else you could just get inspiration
Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 12:58 am
by sgort87
Catapults are specifically spring-loaded. Trebuchets are counterweighted.
Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 1:22 am
by Benny
i reacon you should go with sspring.
Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 5:10 am
by jrrdw
Springs will be hard to cock/wind, i think you will have better luck with the weight. Theres a older gentalmen in Europe that made a realy big 1, (Trebucket), throws small cars/painos anything he can get the hook in. Throwed that little Volvo about a 100 yards!
Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 5:40 am
by rna_duelers
And for weights go to a train yard and see if you can get some old busted train wheels,nice and heavy and easy to get.I made a small trebuchet it was only about 40cm tall and had a 1.2kg weight and its farthest shot was about 21 meters(68.8 feet)if i can remember.And also fi you do choose the weight method made sure you add wheels to counter-act the backwards momentum because one of them rolling ontno you wouldnt be fun and also you can move it around.
Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 10:57 am
by sgort87
Not quite. Swinging basket type: no wheels. Solid arm type: wheels. There is logic, calculations, and testing behind this. Go research it.
BTW, I have built quite a few of these and have one of them that stands 16' tall in my backyard.
Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 11:07 am
by )DEMON(
these are easy to make ,but be sure to use a whieght because springs wount be safe.
Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 4:53 pm
by sgort87
What makes you say weights are exactly "safe"?
Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 5:29 pm
by saladtossser
weights go down only, a spring can shoot itself in any direction
Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 5:34 pm
by jrrdw
Boing!! Your rite about the springs can go anyway they want. A lot of times when working on lawnmowers i have to deal with staubern springs and them puppies have a mind of there own! (sometimes).
Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2006 3:47 pm
by Torch
Well..I built a small pvc trebuchet that will fling eggs 40 ft...I used Trebuchet.com for ideas and they have links to other sites aswell, Hope it helps!
Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2006 8:34 pm
by frogy
I made a cool mini Trebuchet type thing, it flings rocks far...
I don't recommend springs, one time I was working on a garage door and the giant door spring came out and went through drywall, framing, and concrete walls.... I'm affraid of thoose things now
