If anyone takes the time to do a thorough dynamic analysis on an F2K trebuchet, and would like to share their results, please post them below. catapult. (Hopefully your friends haven't deserted you over this trebuchet obsession. jigsaw the one I used here Summary The floating-arm trebuchet, a modern variation of a medieval weapon, is a popular project for physics and engineering instructors.We develop and analyze a model of this device as an introduction to constrained Lagrangian dynamics. Basically make a box that can contain your counterweights, whatever they are. I know the rod is 5/8", but this will minimize any friction in case the channels were cut slightly curved. Cut the threads off of the long eye bolts. Before we start, there were a few problems. at this point, we used a ratchet to tighten the eye bolt, until the chain was in tension and the weight bar no longer made contact with the safety bars. Friction when the counterweight is dropping down to the glide strike can be reduced by using silicone grease or a thin film of plastic on the drop channel. WebThe floating arm trebuchet is a modern take on an ancient war machine. This ring will be what loops around the pin. It was built to be strong, but because of that it's a bit heavy and inflexible. X 3.5 in. I may or may not fget a response considering it is 2013 and not 2010 but I need to build a trebuchet for my physics class and i came across your model and had a few questions. To launch such a heavy projectile will require much more weight than the approx. I'm still not sure. First, grab your counterweight bolt (hopefully thicker than 5/8") and use some sort of clamp to keep it pushed up against the top piece of wood, as if it was being loaded. 9 years ago WebThe 5DOF Floating Arm Trebuchet This is the floating arm trebuchet with a sling. Additionally, the bending of the CW bolt meant that it was not perfectly aligned with the drop gap, so it would slow down and bump on the way down. erm Ok, find a flat surface and 3 scrap pieces of 2 X 4. I won't tell you which one was the best yet, although you can probably guess. Unfortunately, there were some problems in the sketchup base that I made (and could not be easily corrected) that threw off a couple of measurements. http://youtu.be/MS9OepeTELc, Reply Also, 1 inch thick wood would would be stronger.Hardware Then, using the claw hammer, hammer out these slivers of wood. your best bet is to experiment with different sling lengths and pin angles. 2 segments of 1 ft., 0.5 in. We drilled holes in the upright beams perpendicular to the weight bar, directly below where it would hover when the trebuchet is ready to fire, and stuck a piece of 1" steel bar though on each side. All you are really doing is putting the arm in the drop channels. Push them up against the drop channel. Our arm was made of many pieces of layered plywood held together with resin and deck screws. So if I could toss the weight a 100yds would be perfect. The Drive 2 screws through the drop channels and into the supports. Fairly simple trigger design. You can pretty much change the positions of these pieces as much as you want, but the positions they are in now worked great for me. Strap-On Cleats for Ice and Snow Traction, Hollow Wood Surfboard - Plywood and Cedar. It will prevent frame strikes, jams and other problems later on. The axle will have to easily pass in between them. Get everyone away from the back and front of the trebuchet. (Left or right) 8. Lastly, cut through the plywood rectangle so the wheel does not bump over the edge of the plywood as the arm falls. 9 years ago I would probably actually be dead. If gym weights are not available (we arrived at the competition and found out they were, so this was basically a waste of time for us, and gym weights are more dense and easier to lift into the weight bar) then make your own counterweight using concrete and steel pipe. Remember, though, that if your short arm is shorter you will need fewer bolts. The trigger held up well, but it did take a pretty hard tug to get it to release with max weight. The pinis crap. when the counterweight is raised, the trigger pins are slipped through one eye bolt, under the counterweight bolt, and through the other eye bolt. (0.635 cm) diameter, 5.5 in. Large scale designs require special trigger mechanisms that can hold the weight of the throwing arm. (Hopefully a strong someone) We will be building this for our college pumpkin launch later this summer. Virtual Trebuchet is a free web based trebuchet simulator. In contrast, a floating arm trebuchet features an axle on the arm freely moving along a horizontal glide track. (Flanges would work here as an alternative) We added a tapered cut to the arm, going from 4x8 to 4x4 at the tip. Miter off one end of each at a 30 degree angle (with respect to the length of the board) This angle just makes it look cooler. The 3/8" eye bolts go at the top of the drop channels. Yeah, this happened to me. I would get more in case some of their heads strip [3] If you these are the trigger pins Forming tube is expensive, so instead, cut a cardboard barrel into strips or tack thick cardboard onto a piece of plywood to make forms. Have fun and be safe. Otherwise, you might pull the trigger and one side of the CW will get stuck. (0.635 cm) washers, matching carriage bolts Again, not critical. 19. Just in case you didn't know Use your head before you lose your head The seam will help prevent the string from pulling through and takes all the force of the swinging pouch. The oddity with this trebuchet is that it has no arm ratio as the counterweight sits at the very end of the arm, and the arm itself tends to be shorter. This makes the arm much stronger than regular lumber, allowing for more counterweight, larger projectiles, and a stiffer, more efficient arm. 2 segments of 6 ft. (1.8288 m) long 1 X 6 2 segments of 6 ft. (1.8288 m) long 2 X 4 Tie a metal loop on one side of the rope to go onto the pin, and tie the other end to one end of the sling. WebExample: Floating Arm Trebuchet The floating arm trebuchet is similar to a fixed fulcrum, with the exception that the fulcrum of the arm can move horizontally, and hence should be tested the same way, with one additional test to check to ensure the arm does not roll downhill. The ball did slip out a few times. It includes what I used at the time. Stick a few inches of tape over that area, making sure you get it on the inside and outside of the seam. Use a door release mechanism from a car for your trigger. Remember the bumping problem. Don't judge me) 1 X 6s flex alot. They would extend outward, just like the board chute. Also, the diagonal track supports are different heights (As you can see in the sketchup model) because in the original plan, the two mitered side drop channel supports were not included. Then cut the short arm 2 X 4s about 3 inches longer than your short arm number for strength. If I need to bring the scale down, what would the dimensions be? (Order from inside to outside.) The radios of rail height/overall drop, arm length, counterweight/projectile weight, wheel size, etc were all guessed based off existing trebuchets from internet sources. WebThis is a floating arm trebuchet. Remember that for a different (larger) ratio you will need to shorten the entire short arm. Now, cut very carefully and very straightly down the lines you made. So, you need to drill the holes four inches deep into both the arm and the extension. This was done with the safety bars in place, as well as the chain clicked into the trigger. 2. And, I'm not looking to chuck this 200yds. COMMENT RATE (0.4318 m) long 2 X 4 2 hand weights, 10 lbs (4.54 kilos)* Really cheap, really fun. so its looks like this if you can use some imagination :P and if it doesnt get messed up once i post this (======arm=======--)(----------rope------------)(sling)(----------rope------------)0 ^that's the pin tied to sling ring tied to end of rope^ I realize that wasn't an awesome explanation, let me know if you still don't get it. (0.635 cm) bolts, matching thread 2 hand weights, 8 lbs (3.63 kilos)* if you buy pt lumber make sure they are approved for use in it.. diagrams showing the medieval trebuchet design vs. the modern floating arm trebuchet, and brings in the relevant math as well. Two last things How much will this cost? 4. The main problems would be the extra weight needed to really make the 6 pound weight fly, which would put extra strain on the wheels on the arm and the bolt holding them, the counterweight bolt, the counterweight boxes, the sling, the sling lines and the trigger assembly. 2. A thin steel cable might work better.Axles and Shafts: We used small segments of steel pipe and drilled holes in them to make bushings. for the carriage bolts Keep the hole in between the main track supports and the diagonal track supports. If you are going to use a thicker CW bolt, you need to make the drop gap wider. [2] This allows for a higher drop height for the counterweight,[2] which is allowed to fall down a sturdy linear vertical "drop channel". Then, obviously, drive in the screws. the short arm is the 1 (In the ratio) and the long arm is the 3.5 (in the ratio) -3.5 times longer than the short arm. It should be drilled all the way through the flatter 3.5 inch edge side. 9 years ago they would be horizontal, not angled. look out for flying cats [2] The arm then jerks forward and releases the projectile from the sling. I have real pictures, but no sketchup ones. I'm pretty sure I made my dowels 1/2" wide and 8 inches long. it would be much appreciated!! WebAn important part of whipper performance is the beam ratio, the ratio of long arm to short arm. upper arm/lower arm length 4 9/16 inch (115mm) / 2 3/32 inch (53mm) Lower it below the base, just rest it on the floor. 9 years ago Essentially, beef up the arm assembly. Line up one edge of the bottom of the track with the 2.5 foot mark. The first recorded use of traction trebuchets appeared in ancient China and were probably used by the Mohists ps-mohist are a scientific lead version of the chinese What is the floating arm Trebuchet, and how does it work? There's tons of assumptions involved there (what's the drag coefficient of a pumpkin? If you want to, you can glue the joint, but only if you are sure you won't need to take it apart later. [4] The higher the drop channel, the more energy is released, but this puts more strain on the mechanism. again for the threaded rod Next center the arm itself in the middle of the drop channels, so there is the same amount of space between the arm and the drop channels on either side. WebThe 5DOF Floating Arm Trebuchet This is the floating arm trebuchet with a sling. When the trebuchet is placed on an uneven surface, the base will sag into whatever dip or bend upwards because of whatever hill. This list of materials is copied directly from my science fair project. 1 segment of 7 ft. long 2 X 4 On average these machines could fling material of 350 pounds onto an enemy territory. The more energy is released, but this will minimize any friction in case the channels were cut slightly.! 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