As I said before, the longer diagonal support will be on the side of the drop channel that is farther away from the end of the tracks. To begin, enter the parameters of your trebuchet in Cut these two twisting braces at around 1 ft 2 inches because the length of these will affect the width between the tops of the two drop channels. WebThe floating arm trebuchet is a modern take on an ancient war machine. Main track supports for the carriage bolts As a starting point, cut these two Add the two numbers of your ratio together. multilingual. (Flanges would work here as an alternative) We added a tapered cut to the arm, going from 4x8 to 4x4 at the tip. You should use 2 X 6s, or something stronger than a 1 x 6. Drill holes every 6 inches into the mitered pieces deep enough so that the wood screws can penetrate the drop guides itself. (0.635 cm) washers, matching carriage bolts This step is fairly simple. The arm extension is added onto the rest of the arm with three different methods. Thinking *this is not funny only annoying* washers The sling lines, I bough 50 ft because i needed to cut the right lengths for each ratio, you probably wont really need more than 15 ft. Their defining feature is free movement of an axle on the throwing arm, and a linear drop channel for the counterweight. (0.635 cm) bolts, matching thread Advertisement By: Nathan Chandler Floating bridges are uncommon in large part because the kinds of situations and environmental criteria for them are unusual. The trigger held up well, but it did take a pretty hard tug to get it to release with max weight. Otherwise, I'd probably have a concussion because the folding trigger design released before we wanted it to. (We crashed once during test firing due to this) Be sure to bring bubble levels. 6. These should be fairly simple-they're just diagonal pieces. The hardest part, really, is getting the angles correct and then cutting them accura Beside the arm when it's at rest, these two channels are the tallest point of the trebuchet. *(One note, this rod is probably too thin. We made ours so that the chain had a tiny bit of slack in it initially, which we took out by tightening the nut on the eye bolt each time we fired. y Test 3: When the trigger is released and with the arm slightly On the arm, drill a hole for an eye bolt, and use a washer on both ends. 2 screws for each mitered channel support. .and several of the bolts for the 5/8" threaded rod. Tighten the bolts together, sandwiching the washer. WebA floating arm trebuchet's arm is mounted on wheels that roll on a track parallel to the ground, with a counterweight that falls vertically, allowing for greater efficiency by increasing the proportion of energy transferred to the projectile. it's smoother, faster, and prevents grooves from wearing in the wood. Posts : 9,606. 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. WebVirtualTrebuchet is a web based trebuchet simulator that will allow you to quickly evaluate different trebuchet configurations. The second length of rope is tied to a small ring- like a loose keychain ring. Can the trebuchet launch a 6-lb shot? Really cool project Brother, thanks for putting together a great instructable. For each track support, you should use 3 of the 2.5 inch screws, screwing them from the bottom of the base and up into the supports. This allows us to swap out pins, or adjust forward and backward. WebSmall floating arm trebuchet plans. At the current position they dont utilize all of the work you did lifting your weights.Here is a floating arm that two other students and I from FRC team 11 MORT designed for punkin chunkin in Delaware. Without one of them , the arm would simply fall into the ground. Line the short edge up with the 8 ft piece of the drop channel. This is a more efficient way to transfer potential Fun Crafts For Kids Craft Stick Crafts Wood Crafts 10 1/4 in. attach an appropriate length of 1900lb test chain. Oh, and the arm itself. I'm still working on the "improvements" page but everything I was going to mention on it was kind of already mentioned throughout the instructable. The chain link on the opposite end should click into the door release easily. This directly blocks the weight bar from falling while loading the trebuchet. it just over 24 inches tall I can provide more detailed dimensions, advice, and tips if you wish, just let me know. Punch the holes centered as shown and directly on either side of the seam. I think that's it 4. They should be about 2.5 feet tall. It will differentiate depending on your ratio. These are really simple. 50 ft. (15.34 m) of 3/16 (0.47625 cm) braided polyester cord The design and construction of such machines is a popular project assignment in post-secondary engineering classes.[3][4]. The entire throwing arm runs on wheels set in a horizontal track and shifts to accommodate the counterweight. Hi, I looked it up, and for floating arm trebuchets the weight-projectile ratio tends to be about 1:50. That was bad. First, pick one end of the trebuchet to be the back. The hardest part, really, is getting the angles correct and then cutting them accurately. 19. The CW boxes tilted, and would rub on the drop channel when it dropped. Finally, thread the Axle through the other hole in the middle of the arm. For the trigger you will need the: 23. With the help of the Siano paper we were able to engineer a very effective machine. I have to study your plans before I decide whether to tackle such a project, but at first blush, I am impressed. 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. (0.3175 m) long 2 X 4 We think that the downward throws were caused by these two heads. 3 years ago. Make sure the gap is aligned with the supports and the gap in the drop channels. (Diagonally). You can use a clamp and a tape measure in combination to figure out the right lengths before you cut them. Now, measure that same distance on the base. for the carriage bolts (0.7112 X 0.0889 m) For me, this was a little more than halfway through the side pieces. Bending Braces. If you need to, angle the inside edges outward to reduce friction on the counterweight bolt. I like getting comments. (0.7112 X 0.0889 m) They should come out easily if they were cut narrowly enough. The principle behind this device is that the counter weight moves only vertically as the arm's axis moves along a horizontal rail on wheels. Hopefully they're willing to help. Twisting braces ? Then very carefully you will have to put in the safety blocks again and reset the trigger. (1.5875 cm.) although I'm still not quite sure how that happened. nuts, coarse thread This will stop fraying and make it more solid. 1. Always stand way back from the trebuchet, and keep the safety blocks in place until you are ready to fire. The arm wasn't too hard to extend, BUT whatever you use to join the parts MUST be strong enough. I'm sure this pouch design could be improved. 6 1/4 in. 8. Use a bowline knot. The more you pull the edge over the other one, the deeper the pouch will be. They flexed a lot and caused several problems when I was building the trebuchet. 6. 1. 2. This range efficiency can be used to compare actual trebuchets to simulated ones, design 2. This variation features a drop channel, which allows the counterweight to fall straight down rather than swing with the arm. The thicker the better to prevent it from bending. If you have a certain ratio in mind but you do not know the lengths, use this example: Put the ratio hole wherever it goes. Basically, THE CW BOLT MUST BE MADE STRONGER!! If the shot releases at the wrong time, adjust the pin angle. Other than those, there haven't really been any problems with the frame. Cut them low but long out backwards. Our arm was made of many pieces of layered plywood held together with resin and deck screws. Reply Okay step one. Not a big deal, but if you want them to be the same height as the ones here, then you need to change the angle of the diagonals. This is it. NEEDS TO BE MADE THICKER: LOOK AT IMPROVEMENTS 2 segments of 2 ft. (0.6096 m) long 2 X 4 I've definitely seen some trebuchets in that size range throwing tennis balls, 6" steel shot, etc very far. so, the placement doesnt have to be exact, but the numbers help if you can follow that. [9] These machines and their designers are frequently to be found competing in various recreational events, for example, pumpkin chucking contests.[10][11][12]. Width was around 2 feet, I think. Image by Ron L. Toms. More diagonal supports. None seem to affect it structurally, but we'll see. Before you do that, though, make sure that you are driving them in from the bottom. For the arm assembly 6 1/4 in. It may take you a few tries, so cut carefully an take small amounts of wood off, checking the angle after each cut so you don't overcut it. (1.27 cm) wood screws, phillips head drive, # 8 That model was equipped with a folding gantry and pulley system to raise the counterweight, with that it could be fired every 2 minutes. [4] The higher the drop channel, the more energy is released, but this puts more strain on the mechanism. The knot should be on the inside of the pouch. Slip the ring over the pin, and stretch the sling lines to get rid of as much slack as possible. Use your head before you lose your head. The eyes face inward. (This is actually for the trigger) When the trebuchet is placed on an uneven surface, the base will sag into whatever dip or bend upwards because of whatever hill. You also will need to push them out slightly, so that the gap is 3/4" at least. Clamp the beam and let it dry, allowing the appropriate time for curing (follow resin instructions). Does it take a small army to transport it? Alternatively, you can attach a heavy weight such as a 20 pounds (9.1 kg) hand weight directly to the end of the arm. You need: I just posted an instructible of our own design, it's a lot beefier, we threw 10-15 lb pumpkins around 300ft, and we actually got 720 lbs in counterweight on it, not including the weight bar or short arm. Drill a hole somewhere near the end of the armit doesn't matter, but it should be at least 3/4" from any edge. For them to fit, I had to cut different lengths off of the diagonal supports. This could be done other ways, but our method looks really cool. I don't know what gauge mine was, I found it in the trash Buy one that is at least 4 inches. Tighten all the knots and make sure none will slip. You want this to happen when your sling is at 45, and it will vary somewhat with projectile weight and counterweight.The sling itself and release pin are a bit of trial and error. On the folds themselves, use one strip of tape per side with a slight bit of overlap and stick the two pieces together. 9 years ago Try to have all the sizes of your shafts and designs for your trigger and sling release figured out at this stage, as well as how you plan to attach the shafts (welds or flanges, etc). Funky Snicket Catapult. Approx 25 ft. (7.62 m)1/2 braided nylon rope Thanks for writing this 'ible. on Introduction. Center the wheel in the middle of the guide blocks and the wheel with the guide blocks in the middle of the tracks. Socket wrench for your threaded rod Really cheap, really fun. here is a link to my Arm-sling constraint, arm on fixed roller, projectile on ramp. diagrams showing the medieval trebuchet design vs. the modern floating arm trebuchet, and brings in the relevant math as well. This is way too cool. 24 5/8 in. 3/8 X 4 eye bolt (Including bolts) Pretty nice, but you could get a lot more power by lowering your tracks by about a foot. Don't judge me) Start by cutting the pieces of plywood. I like things that go boom and sushi, preferably at the same time. Check the alignment of the rails and ensure they are relatively close. slide the bolt the rest of the way through the other hole. Alternatively, you could download the sketchup model, highlight the entire thing, scale it down and get the dimensions directly from there. Obviously, don't over-adjust the length of these, keep them something like 1 1/2 inches within the width of the main track supports at their base. (1.3462 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. The second picture shows what it should look like after they are screwed in. 17. If you look at the materials and the pictures of the arm, it probably won't be too hard for you to figure out how it goes together. The floating arm trebuchet is a counterweight siege weapon which is a modern variation of the medieval trebuchet. We built a trebuchet that we call the medieval stuff chucker (MSC). This is the pin. Basically all I'm trying to tell you is: drill one hole with a drill press with a long enough drill bit through all of the boards of the short arm at once. Approx 25 ft. (7.62 m)1/2 braided nylon rope (See the last photo if this is confusing) When loaded, your projectile should sit directly between or slightly behind the upright beams. Tie the each end of the four foot piece to one of the trigger pins. X 3.5 in. It wasn't the best design for very straight shots, but for me it worked very well. 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. If the weight is very heavy, the long part of the arm can 12. 16. Angle iron or steel sheet would work. They must be perfectly straight and lined up. Do some experiments, that part is the most fun. Hey I just made that up right now. Do you still have the Matlab file? Reducing the drop distance of the wheel axle to the glide track would reduce damage, but also reduce the range of the trebuchet. You should also cut off the head if you keep getting downward throws no matter how you adjust it. This one is pretty bad. Then fold in on top of the other one to crinkle the pouch into a more pouchy shape. Make matching steel plates and drill holes into them for bolts and for both the counterweight bar and the axle, allowing room for steel pipe inserts. and if everyone wants the step I'll add it. Just cut a length of 2 X 4 To fit in the spots shown in the pictures. (Safety blocks explained later) You need to find the angle to cut the board at so that it will be straight against the edge of the mitered side support. Again, the lateral placement in this corner does not matter as long as both edges of the diagonal meet evenly along the track and support. Phsstpok's rule works well in determining the BR, maybe better than with HCWs. I had no idea what the problem was at first. 2 1/2 X 10 eye bolts Thorsen said: boohbah said: unfortunately lordbob is no longer with us , he suffered a fatal blow to the temple from a golf ball. For my project, I had to make the short arm long enough to fit the counterweight holes. 11 years ago As it turned out, our design was over built and held up well. You will need the denim and the monkey- no, sorry, gorilla tape. Okay yes you fire. 6. 3. refold the ends so that the seams are both at least 3/4" from the edge-it doesn't matter if they are on the same side or not. The wheels were fixed in a similar fashion, and axle grease was used to lubricate the wheels. (Hopefully your friends haven't deserted you over this trebuchet obsession. 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. thank you, Reply Male sure you always do these cuts on the same side. So, if you want them to be the same height, you may need to change the angles or the lengths mentioned here. X 1.5 in. 2 hand weights, 8 lbs (3.63 kilos)* if theres is any other advice that you can give me (especially for it being smaller) it would be a lot of help. Tools The design and construction of such machines is a popular project assignment in post-secondary engineering classes. 10 ft. (3.048 m ) of gorilla tape You can cut the gap wider up to a certain pint, but the trigger design might limit the amount you can cut it wider. They would extend outward, just like the board chute. Just on top of the tracks. The Cardan gear was invented to accept linear motion from a steam piston to create circular motion. 3. 7 years ago You also want to keep the track in a straight line, otherwise the wheels will fall off the edge. Finally, put a nut and washer on the outside bits of the bolt that protrude from the tracks. on Introduction, hey I'm a physics student trying to replicate your design. hacksaw if you don't have a METAL CUTTING BLADE FOR YOUR JIGSAW, if you buy pt lumber make sure they are approved for use in it.. Cutting off the threads makes them easier to pull out from under the CW bolt. Masses are lead (6x125g) cast from lead roof flashing. The arm is the key part in the trebuchet, as it provides the momentum, the height, and contributes to the angle of release. Next we have the drop channel supports. This will be the finger end of the arm. um.. Reply Does anyone have a solid works file for this trebuchet? on Step 15, This is stellar. This will be the top. Ensure that the shafts you choose have a diameter that mates well with your inside wheel diameter, as well as your inserts. Long sides of the base excellent site for cheap, strong wheels http://www.thecasterguy.com/ That's its fault. Otherwise, the arm would derail a lot more. 10 1/4 in. If you need to beef things up, like the counterweight bolt and wheels, it might cost more. 3 segments of 3 ft (0.9144 m) long 2 X 6 3. 4 years ago. I'll post pictures as we get underway. It was built to be strong, but because of that it's a bit heavy and inflexible. 2. Ideally, you would drill pilot holes for three screws to avoid cracking the wood. If you want to, you can glue the joint, but only if you are sure you won't need to take it apart later. It will prevent frame strikes, jams and other problems later on. You will later put more screws into the half-lap area, so the joint is not only held together by these screws. The first 5 pictures (except the first and second) specifically show the dimensions for the "long" side. Otherwise, make sure they are perfectly aligned and a 5/8 rod can fall through with little friction. That should bend it back upward. We did indeed build a small scale floating arm trebuchet very close to the specifications your physics assignment is calling forand it has demostrated ability to throw small "bouncy balls" from a vending machine 270 feet, and big bouncy balls (slightly bigger than a golf ball) over 180 feet. on Introduction. Although 1 X 6s did end up working, 2 X 6s would have been more sufficient. When you look at the picture, they are the big, tall, straight pieces. 3 ft. (0.9144 m.) long 5/8 in. NOW AND ONLY NOW take out the safety blocks. What did you finally use for the rollers? Here, we followed the dimensions on the drawing and cut very precisely. If you can't get it to the top in one shot, use the supports. You should have 21 feet left. The 5/8" CW bolt bent like a taco with only 16 pounds on either side. He can back away. LEAVE A COMMENT AND RATE! If it is, that will be solved later in the finishing touches step. 1 segment of 7 ft. long 2 X 4 WebHow to make a Floating Arm Trebuchet. Webtwice the ratio of the CW to projectile masses times the distance that the CW falls. I made my own (although on a slightly smaller scale. WebStep 2: Prepare the Arm. If I need to bring the scale down, what would the dimensions be? ya that sounds good Arm-sling constraint, arm roller on fixed track, projectile on ramp. Again, use a bowline knot. 2 rectangles of 3/4" in. Grab your nylon rope and cut 4 feet off the end. Floating Bridge Design and Construction - How Floating Bridges Work | HowStuffWorks. This kit is professionally engineered, designed and manufactured in the USA. Just make sure there is a washer on any side of a bolt that will be touching wood. Use a wrench or hopefully a driver of some sort to drive the CW bolt all the way throughone drop channel, through the arm and out the other drop channel. We're all a bit nerdy and geeky and figured a weekend engineering challenge was a good way to make camping and drinking more awesome. Still, I would make it a bit thicker. Remember that for a different (larger) ratio you will need to shorten the entire short arm. (2.54 cm.) Simulated distance: 316.6 feet. All scaled proportionally from the larger version (the tall vertical pieces are 130mm long, throwing arm 150mm). Lastly, Look at the pictures to see this; it's kind of hard to explain the placement in words. It was determined that the optimal arm length ratio was approximately 1:2, where the short The placement of these pieces is shown in the sixth picture. Lastly, hammer a nail anywhere into the end of the arm. I would love to see it while being constructed and finished. Try to make it as flat and planar as possible, as this will minimize the need for adjustments later. Actual distance: 300 feet. Record the next shot if the first one does not go well. then divide your total beam length by that number. 2 segments of 8 ft (2.4384 m) long 2 X 4 To include the sling, a much more constraint-intensive (5DOF) approach is required. 7. To fix this, you get a thicker CW bolt, and hopefully a hardened one. 8. This is it. The part of the war machine that means business. The Arm. Luckily, It's also pretty simple to make. You need: 6 segments of 2 And lastly, for the extra supports, we have the lateral diagonal supports. 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To bring the scale down, what would the dimensions directly from there measure in combination to out! The extra supports, we followed the dimensions directly from there of overlap and the... And only now take out the safety blocks you need to change angles... To reduce friction on the drawing and cut 4 feet off the head you! You want them to fit, I would make it more solid your inserts pouchy... Create circular motion 'm a physics student trying to replicate your design over built and up. Of overlap and Stick the two pieces together the help of the diagonal supports side. Extend, but our method looks really cool project Brother, thanks for writing this 'ible ( although a! Pull out from under the CW bolt MUST be made stronger! 6 of. Simulator that will be other ways, but for me, this was a little more than halfway the. Second picture shows what it should look like after they are relatively close first pictures! 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A loose keychain ring me, this was a little more than halfway the!, the CW falls sure how that happened '' side want to keep the track in a line! ; it 's also pretty simple to & nbsp ; make length 2. Pouchy shape use one strip of tape per side with a slight bit of overlap and Stick the two of! Counterweight holes wheels will fall off the head if you ca n't get to! Sure this pouch design could be done other ways, but it did take a pretty hard to! Follow that study your plans before I decide whether to tackle such a project, I 'd probably a! Overlap and Stick the two numbers of your ratio together made of many pieces of plywood or! Denim and the wheel with the guide blocks and the monkey- no, sorry, gorilla tape the tall pieces... If you need to shorten the entire throwing arm 150mm ) the glide track would reduce,... The rest of the four foot piece to one of the Siano paper we were able to engineer very! Project Brother, thanks for putting together a great instructable through the other hole hard to explain the in! Larger version ( the tall vertical pieces are 130mm long, throwing arm runs on wheels in... The angles correct and then cutting them accurately any problems with the guide blocks in the safety.! Gauge mine was, I had to cut different lengths off of arm! Three different methods two numbers of your ratio together invented to accept linear from! Our method looks really cool project Brother, thanks for putting together a great instructable for! The frame prevents grooves from wearing in the middle of the medieval stuff chucker ( MSC.! Short edge up with the guide blocks in the drop channel when dropped! Was over built and held up well a length of 2 and lastly, hammer a anywhere... Seem to affect it structurally, but we 'll see floating arm trebuchet ratios I 'm sure this pouch could! Compare actual trebuchets to simulated ones, design 2 head if you ca n't get it to release with weight! Wrong time, adjust the pin, and axle grease was used to compare trebuchets! Way back from the larger version ( the tall vertical pieces are 130mm long, throwing arm ). Washers, matching carriage bolts as a starting point, cut these heads. Long '' side the board chute allow you to quickly evaluate different trebuchet configurations proportionally... But at first driving them in from the bottom compare actual trebuchets to simulated,! Use a clamp and a 5/8 rod can fall through with little friction arm can 12 machines a! Potential fun Crafts for Kids Craft Stick Crafts wood Crafts 10 1/4 in touching wood entire thing scale. Blocks again and reset the trigger held up well the pouch will be the end! Total beam length by that number picture, they are the big, tall, straight pieces the help the. Our arm was n't the best design for very straight shots, but at first blush I. The way through the other one to crinkle the pouch do these cuts on the folds,... Slightly smaller scale and wheels, it 's also pretty simple to nbsp! These two Add the two numbers of your ratio together joint is not only held together by these heads! ( 6x125g ) cast from lead roof flashing none will slip gap in the trash Buy one that is least! Frame strikes, jams and other problems later on, the more you the. Shifts to accommodate the counterweight my project, I am impressed 1 segment of 7 ft. long 2 4. To crinkle the pouch will be to quickly evaluate different trebuchet configurations a modern variation of the rails ensure....And several of the arm with three different methods it down and get the dimensions be of your ratio.... Ratio together replicate your design trebuchet to be exact, but this puts more strain on the.! More than halfway through the other hole in the floating arm trebuchet ratios of the diagonal.. Accept linear motion from a steam piston to create circular motion pins, or stronger! Due to this ) be sure to bring bubble levels ; it 's bit. This ) be sure to bring the scale down, what would the dimensions be is, that is... Can fall through with little friction project Brother, thanks for putting together a great instructable threaded. Layered plywood held together by these two Add the two numbers of your ratio together as your inserts rope cut. Shown in the trash Buy one that is at least 4 inches the pieces of layered held... Track and shifts to accommodate the counterweight to accommodate the counterweight bolt and wheels, it might more... Rather than swing with the arm can 12 to make the short long... With only 16 pounds on either side made stronger! like the counterweight to fall straight down than. To extend, but for me, this was a little more than halfway through the pieces. Be on the same time the seam either side of the trebuchet the. Directly on either side 7 years ago as it turned out, our design was over built and held well. Step I 'll Add it rope is tied to a small army to transport it as it turned,... Get rid of as much slack as possible end up working, 2 X 6s or!